Seven Types of Dubai Housemates to Avoid
We’ve all done house sharing in Dubai at one point or another. Rents can be stupidly expensive, and we’re all here to earn money at the end of the day. Like in any major city in the world, sharing a flat in the emirate can be an excellent way to save up – especially when we first get here. But, sometimes it’s better to focus on getting a raise at work or investing in the stock market – anything but sharing a flat with the following seven types of Dubai housemates. Would-be flatmates, take notes!
1. THE NARCISSIST
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You know the type. He or she is either a professional model in Dubai or someone who really, really believes they are. Move in with a Dxb Narcissist and expect a never-ending stream of selfies, puckered lips (whether they’re male or female), constant Instagramming, hogging the bathroom mirror, insights into trash culture exclusively and, of course, the ‘me, me, me’ talk. Avoid at all costs.
2. THE slob
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So you plan on house sharing with a complete stranger… We suggest paying them a surprise visit to their current place of residence first. It might be sneaky, but it’s is the quickest way to see how tidy they are. If not, there’s a possibility that you’ll wake up one day to find dirty dishes stacked up to the ceiling, despite a perfectly functional dish washer. Couch potato lifestyle? Most probably comes with the package.
3. THE GYM NERD
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This type is very similar to the narcissist, except a bit more… One-dimensional. While there are certainly people around who strive to grow their mind as much as their muscle, Dubai’s no stranger to folks whose life revolves almost entirely around training, gym buddies, protein shakes, supplements, etc. This type of person will choose to go to the gym over just about anything, usually to your detriment. They’re also likely to keep their equipment, gym wear and protein bars strewn across the flat.
4. the SHISHA smoker
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With all due respect to all Arab world, nobody should have a cigarette or shisha in the presence of their non-smoking house mate(s) without asking for permission first. Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, so puffing away in proximity to a non-smoker is a major flat sharing violation in our book – especially if it’s more than just an occasional pastime activity for the Smoker.
5. THE LONER
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“Where you’ve been, roomie? How’s your day? Watch a movie together!” This type of Dubai housemate might be just an expat who hasn’t found his/her clique yet. After all, most of us are guests here, and not everyone adapts at the same pace. But, if someone has been around for a year or two and they’re still lonely and clingy, they’re probably socially awkward or perhaps even completely oblivious to boundaries. Not fun.
6. THE PARTY MANIAC
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Like The Loner, the Party Maniac will drain your energy levels, albeit in different ways. You know the type: early twenties to mid-thirties, single and chasing wild nights every weekend and sometimes even during the week (grape tastings, ladies nights, quiz nights). The Party Maniac might be fun to flat share with for a few weeks, but you’ll soon find yourself bemoaning your disrupted sleep patterns – especially if he or she possesses a liquor licence.
7. the NEGATIVE NORMA / NORMAN
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Negative Norma / Norman is here to ruin the experience of Dubai for you and your house guests. Nothing ever pleases them and drama follows them everywhere. But, interestingly, instead of accepting responsibility for their actions, you’ll often hear Negative Norma/Norman say: ‘It’s all Dubai’s fault!’ or ‘Life is so much easier back home!” To them, we say: life is what you make it.
Have we left anyone out? Which of the types of Dubai housemates do you think is the worst? If you’ve recently found yourself in one of these situations mentioned above or, even worse, you think you might be one of the types, find a new apartment or villa for rent in Dubai on Bayut.
