UAE: Are you feeling lonely? You are not alone.

Khaleej Times

26-06-2025

For many expats in the Gulf, it may seem normal to live in a high-rise building with almost 400 flats and still not know the person who lives right next door.
But maybe it shouldn't be. According to the World Happiness Report 2025, simply expecting kindness from a neighbour — as measured by the 'wallet test' — has a stronger impact on well-being than income or physical safety. The test, which asks how likely a lost wallet would be returned by a neighbour, stranger, or police officer, highlights that people often underestimate the impact of kindness on their mental health.
Gallup's 2023 Wellbeing Survey found that while most people want connection, only a small percentage actively greet neighbours. Just 27 per cent of US adults reported greeting six or more neighbours, a behaviour linked to the highest well-being scores. Those who greeted none reported significantly lower life satisfaction scores.
For Samer, a 40-year-old marketing manager, the data reflects his lived experiences as a resident in a large urban metropolis like Dubai.
'In my home country, people live in the same houses or flats for most of their life. Everyone knows their neighbour and it's common for people to check in on each other all the time. Here in Dubai, I've lived in the same building for more than six years and it's very common that I meet my neighbours in the elevator and they don't even say hi or return my smile,' he says.
Engaging in niceties
Samer never expected friendship from his neighbours, but he agrees that interactions with them can impact well-being. 'After a long day at work with all of the drama there, seeing a friendly face in my personal space would be nice. It would help me feel less isolated and alone.'
Urban loneliness is on the rise globally, especially in expat-heavy hubs defined by rapid growth and cultural diversity. Insiya Dsouza, a counselling psychologist at UAE-based OpenMinds Psychiatry, Counselling and Neuroscience Centre, explained: 'Urban loneliness in Dubai is shaped by transience and cultural fragmentation. People typically move to the Gulf for work and upward financial mobility, not to permanently settle. So, much of the expat existence, identity, bandwidth, and focus is tied to the work that other aspects of their personhood shut down.
'This form of loneliness creates a disconnect from oneself and others. When so much of one's life is focused on work and other life responsibilities in a place where they won't permanently settle, there's an impact on social life and community building — things that are essential for mental well-being.'
The UAE is also incredibly diverse, with more than 200 nationalities living and working across the country. This multicultural landscape makes it one of the world's most globally represented nations, but it can also exacerbate feelings of urban loneliness. 'Social groups in expat and local communities tend to be quite insular,' explained Dsouza. 'This also has an impact on our willingness to connect with neighbours from different cultures. We walk on eggshells around people from other races on account of unfamiliarity, our preconceived notions, the transitional and transactional nature of the region, and out of fear that we might unintentionally offend them. This comes in the way of breaking barriers and having genuine social interaction.'
Some demographics — single people, people with disabilities, minorities, and people who don't engage in normative work, for example — are more vulnerable to urban loneliness. These populations are at higher risk because urban loneliness isn't just about proximity, it's about inclusion, accessibility, and trust. Without intentional effort to foster neighbourly connection, these groups are more likely to feel invisible in the places they live.
According to Dsouza, urban loneliness doesn't always look like solitude — it often feels like not having anyone to turn to when it matters.
'In my experience, clients are self-aware about the contribution that loneliness makes to their stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental-health concerns,' she said. 'They also notice the difference in their mental well-being when they feel seen and understood. So, in therapy, we focus on self-compassion and building communication skills so clients can self-advocate for their connection needs.'
Make the choice
But despite the alarming statistics, it's not impossible to keep loneliness at bay in big cities like Dubai.
For Sonal Chhiber, a senior corporate communications consultant and 18-year UAE resident, a neighbour's small act during the pandemic changed everything. 'She would check in, drop off groceries, send over food,' Chhiber said. 'It reminded me of home — and how powerful kindness can be when you're far from everything familiar.'
Back in India, Chhiber said, neighbours are 'like extended family'. But in the UAE, those relationships don't form automatically. 'You have to be intentional. But once you break the ice, people are more open than you'd think,' she said. 'A smile in the hallway, a shared cup of tea, a kind word in the lift. We don't always need grand gestures, just more human ones.'
Neighbourhood watch
We asked residents around the UAE what their experiences have been like living here. Here's what they had to say:
'I didn't expect to have a community of good neighbours in Dubai like I did back home. Initially, I didn't find it friendly or welcoming of newcomers. That changed when one elderly neighbour asked me how I was doing. I had spent a hellish night staying up with my then seven-month daughter and burst into tears. She sat with me and talked, and held the baby. It was a small thing, but I've never forgotten that kindness and try to pay it forward. I have now been in the same apartment complex for 15 years. One of the reasons I haven't moved is because I love my neighbours!'
­— Shalaka, senior communications strategist
'I moved to Dubai without my family. It's been tough. It's not socially acceptable for a man to be friendly in public. When I am friendly with kids or families in the building it's only because I am lonely and they remind me of my boys. It would be easier if my family were here with me.'
— Anonymous, 37, finance manager
'I started my neighbourhood WhatsApp group and many of us have become close friends. I'm always offering to include people in WhatsApp groups and connecting with them in real life. Being helpful is my love language. Otherwise it can be lonely and isolating for so many of us.'