10 hours ago
I moved to Dubai and paid 0% tax - on paper it had everything but now you couldn't pay me a million dollars to move back
A man who moved to Dubai has said not even a million dollars could tempt him to go back.
The young Italian re-located to the Arab city in 2022 with his Russian girlfriend hoping for 'safety', 'luxury' and 'freedom'.
But instead of the 'dream' they were met with a 'nightmare' as the pair found Dubai to be 'fake'.
Taking to X, the dissatisfied traveller - who goes by the name Walter Ego - said those who value status, luxury and certainty would love Dubai - but others should think twice about moving.
He described the experience of moving to the United Arab Emirates with his girlfriend, who lived in Georgia at the time.
The couple were tempted to book tickets following the start of war in Ukraine amid fears the country was just '10 hours away'.
And so after two hours of discussion they booked their flights and were off in two days.
Walter Ego said: 'My girlfriend was safe. Finally zero per cent taxes, no accounting, no more uncertainty around my crypto trading income.
'A new adventure had begun. And the dream felt real.'
The trader, who also claims to work as a ghostwriter for CEOs, said the transition was initially 'smooth' as he had a close friend in Dubai.
He added the weather was 'bearable' as it was still spring and he was impressed at first by the door-to-door economy that offered clean, safe, and healthy food.
But soon, as the weather got hotter, things also started to appear more 'boring'.
Walter Ego noticed the architecture, 'despite impressive verticality', was quite dull.
Both real and artificial beaches also felt 'fake'.
When June came, the Italian said he began 'looking for mess' - but to no avail.
He explained: 'Dubai was sleek in every direction. Precise in its routines. Optimised to the minute. But that was the problem. Every struggle came frictionless. Even chaos felt curated.
I'm Italian.
I moved to Dubai in 2022 to pay 0% tax.
On paper, it had everything:
Safety. Luxury. Freedom.
But instead of the dream, I lived the nightmare.
If they paid me $1M to go back, I'd say no.
Here's why (and what no one tells you): 🧵
— Walter Ego (@ItsWalterEgo) June 20, 2025
'And slowly, I started to feel it. The quiet emptiness behind the perfection.'
The couple have now left Dubai and Walter Ego says three years later he is living between Tbilisi and Italy, 'unoptimised, but alive'.
He concluded: 'What matters most isn't efficiency, but living in a place that reflects your soul back to you.'
Since sharing his experience, the cryptocurrency trader's post has been viewed more than three million times.
He has also stated 'If they paid me $1M to go back, I'd say no'.
Many people have since given their own thoughts - with some saying they agree, but others calling Walter Ego an 'insufferable complainer'.
Peter Saddington said: 'Sounds like you went to Dubai so you could write a blog post. Lame. Moving to any location doesn't matter, you still have to deal with you, your baggage, and your lack of self-awareness.
'Find purpose where you are sir. Changing location is an expensive cope.'
There were a lot of social media users who shared in the experience of Walter Ego and also found Dubai to be 'fake'
Winnie. K.M. added: 'Interesting how perspectives vastly differ.
'I moved to Dubai unintentionally last October. My reasons were not financial. I loved the culture, the architecture that you hate, the warmth of the people, the heat you complain about and more.'
And another person said: 'An insufferable complainer who wrote this thread. Absolute loser mentality.'
But there were a lot of users who shared in the experience.
Sankrant Sanu said: 'Something here really rang true. When I visited Dubai I noticed the emptiness. Some friends had oved there. Luxury status efficiency. And emptiness.'
Marti M-K added: 'I've enjoyed your raw, honest story, thank you for sharing the adventure with us.'
A third person concluded: 'Dubai is a weekend/short holiday destination. Despite all its flaws, nothing comes close to Europe.
'Nothing comes close to Paris, its Riviera, or Italy, its lakes, mountains, and sea sides.'
Dubai is the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates and is located on the south-eastern coast of the Persian Gulf.
The area became a regional trade hub in the 20th century after declaring itself a free port.
It is home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and more than 190 miles of artificial coastline has been added as part of extensive land-reclamation projects.
Over the last few years a number of celebrities have shared stories of flocking to Dubai for a new life - though the Foreign Office has issued a warning in the last few days to UK tourists thinking of visiting amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.
In January this year the political journalist Isabel Oakeshott, who is partner of Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice, confirmed she had moved to Dubai with her children and claimed the decision was prompted by the introduction of VAT on private school fees by the Labour government in the UK.
Other celebrities who own property or reside in Dubai include David and Victoria Beckham, Lindsay Lohan and Cristiano Ronaldo.
