Transcription
So, I greet you. Icon Musa here with a new video, and there are certain live updates. I hope you are doing well so far. We have now gone through Black Friday, just before Christmas. I hope your shops are all running well. We also had great shops, six-figure monthly revenues. Um, everything is good, but that's not the topic for today. Today is about a personal live update. Um, I have lived in Dubai for 5 years now, and we are leaving Dubai. That means there is a new country, where I am currently located. You are welcome to look around in the background while I'm driving. and guess which country I am in. Uh, I will reveal it shortly, but maybe a brief feedback or just my personal experience with Dubai first. I still like Dubai, so it's not like I'm saying: "Hey, don't come to Dubai." Quite the opposite, I have many clients and friends who have also come to Dubai and still want to come to Dubai. So, we also accompany entrepreneurs in setting up a company here and similar things. Not only from Germany, but even from Austria and Switzerland. That means if you have specific questions, just send me a message on Instagram. But that's not the topic for today. I just want to do a quick review of how everything worked out here in Dubai, how I liked Dubai, and maybe some insider tips for you, depending on whether you are considering coming to Dubai or not. Um, yes, for us, it was like this, we came here in 2020. Uh, actually during the Corona crisis, and that was already a big plus, because everything was closed, and Dubai was relatively relaxed, so there weren't such strict restrictions compared to other countries. Um, but apart from that, um, if you are an entrepreneur and you are thinking, okay, should I leave Germany now, um, Austria or Switzerland, whatever, or Europe in general, and emigrate to Dubai, it is of course always a personal question, yes, because most people think that people who emigrate to Dubai are only concerned with money, that they are somehow saving taxes or similar, and everything else doesn't matter, but that wasn't the case for us at all. Yes, so we are, I would say, location-independent. That means we can actually work from wherever we want with our online shops, yes, or coaching business or social media agencies, no matter what you do, you can take your online business anywhere, and we personally decided to emigrate to Dubai because it was simply relatively easy in terms of the process, and you are really in a new world. Yes. And we just wanted a change of scenery, and uh, if you have lived in Europe for a long time, or I was born and raised in Germany. Valentina is from Colombia, we were also there very often and for a long time, so South America, and Dubai is completely different. So you can't really compare the city with any other city. And accordingly, we just spontaneously decided and said: "Hey, let's try to emigrate to Dubai." And we did that. That was actually originally Valentina's idea, and I followed her advice and am extremely happy about it, that we took this step, because we learned so much and also, um, just had so much fun. Yes. Um, we can go into several topics. One topic is of course lifestyle. I think that's known to everyone who has seen a bit on social media. Um, but that's really not the reality. Yes, so you mustn't forget, social media is social media, and there's always a fight for the highest clicks and views. But you can also live very relaxed in Dubai without having to spend a lot of money, I don't know. So that's for starters. I would even say that in terms of costs, let's say for groceries, the costs are actually identical to Southern Germany, so you can say all those prices in the supermarkets, depending on where you shop, of course. Yes, so if you only shop in the most expensive stores, the most expensive restaurants, then there are no limits upwards. Yes, and that's what Dubai is known for. That means if you want to spend money, and even as a tourist, you will unfortunately spend a bit more money there than someone who is from there or has lived there for a long time. That's just how it is. But nevertheless, I would claim that you can actually get by with moderate expenses there. Yes, I will also go into what I personally think you should bring with you to live in Dubai. Um, but to compare it or, um, in terms of lifestyle, the restaurants for example, yes, or generally all the malls, they are all open until late at night. Yes, so there's no day or no evening where you say: "Hey, everything is closed, now I have to figure out how to get my food" or similar. That doesn't exist there at all. So, it only starts sometimes at night because it's so hot during the day. Um, that's one of the cool things. So, Dubai is a city that lives day and night. Yes, you can go out anytime, and you are always safe, especially for women. So, that's also a huge factor for women, I assume. So, it's definitely the case for us that you can go out as a woman anytime. Um, and it's extremely safe, so we sometimes leave the cars unlocked. Um, you can walk around with a phone, so no stress at all compared to other countries. Um, even, so recently a client came to me from Germany, with a rental car, and he put his backpack in the trunk after parking his car, and I had to smile because it's so foreign to me now that you have to hide your valuables somewhere, because here you can actually leave everything lying around openly. No one would ever think of breaking into your car. Apart from the penalties, so what you shouldn't forget here in the UAE, the United Arab Emirates, are only people who actually have a job or are sponsored by someone. That means there are no unemployed people here or similar, who have to beg or, you know, or people who are drug-dependent, alcohol-dependent, who are usually the ones who then also commit such offenses, and break car windows, and that doesn't exist at all. And that's a huge plus factor that I really appreciate. Um, that definitely puts you in a good mood. You can really just go anywhere without worry. And yes, that's one thing, um, regarding lifestyle, what else can be said? Of course, there are so many beautiful places here, whether it's beaches or I have a special membership that allows you to check into various hotels on a daily basis. Uh, and that actually costs only about, I think it's €150 a month. Sounds like a lot at first, but first listen to what's included. And with that, you also have all the gyms, not just small gyms, so basically every building here in Dubai has its own gym. Those are smaller gyms. Um, but if you are really a gym person or like to work out, all the HIIT workouts, HiiT, or similar CrossFit, then you have all the classes in this app, in this membership. So, I looked, I could book 1000 classes every day, so how do you say in German, class workout classes, I don't even know what these workouts are called in German anymore, you can book them through it, and they are really extremely good classes. So, they are such good classes, you can't imagine. If you compare it, I like to do CrossFit workouts, spinning classes, and that's all next level, so extremely modern, everything new with lights, it's like a club sometimes. Um, you should check it out, or if you want to look at it in detail, just write to me. uh I can gladly recommend it to you. Um, then as I said, hotels are included, and then also day passes to beaches in the hotels. So, for example, the W on the Palm. Yes, everyone knows the Palm, and there's the W hotel, and you can check in there every day and spend the day. So, and we did that every day for the first three years. So, I still go to the gym or have some workouts that I love. And, uh, combined with pools and beaches, it's actually for €150 or whatever it costs per month. No other membership in any city can offer that. So, I don't know. I've also traveled a lot, and that's one of the ultimate things that make it so attractive, because you can really work anywhere with your laptop, on the beach, um, in these five-star hotels, you have to imagine, people pay €300-400 per night, and you are there with a membership that only costs €150, yes, or €160 something like that, plus all the gyms and workout classes. So, you can tell, I am extremely enthusiastic about it and a big fan, and that's a dream in terms of lifestyle. So, doing some workout class somewhere every day, really pushing yourself to the limit, and then right after that, going to the beach or checking into a hotel. So, you can't check into the rooms, but you can be on the beach or use the amenities and work there. Yes, I did that every day for the first three years, and of course, after such a long time, it becomes monotonous, and you don't have the same desire to go to the beach every day or similar. That's why it gets boring after a while, but we still enjoy it. So, that's one thing about lifestyle. Yes. Um, what else can I reveal? So, generally, if you like cars, then you are definitely in the right place. There are exclusive cars on every corner. So, I am also a car enthusiast, and it's naturally very cool when you can see so many exotic cars in one city, and there are really extremely many of them. It's definitely fun. Driving is also something in Dubai that is quite dangerous, I would say, because there are many drivers who don't have very good driving skills. That's just how it is. So, there are very, very many nationalities gathered in one city, and you definitely notice that when driving, and you have to be careful there, people will cut into your lane, and, yes, so I can hardly get by without honking and braking hard. So, be careful there. So, you are currently in the country where I am now, I can drive relaxed without honking. I could even start autonomous driving now. But now, because I am focused on talking, I don't want to control the car anymore, so I prefer to drive manually. Um, but yes, that's a topic, um, regarding lifestyle, what personally for me, after a while, all the Lamborghini Urus or G-Classes, you see them so often that they are no longer special. So, Lamborghini Huracan or, um, similar, that's a bit of a shame. Uh, because wherever else you go, such a car is extremely cool, but in Dubai, it's quite normal. Yes, you mustn't forget that. So, everything becomes relative, even the whole thing upwards. Yes, you have to be a bit careful not to be pushed upwards, so to speak. Of course, it's a motivation on the one hand, but on the other hand, it's also a bit of a shame, because then nothing is special anymore, and, um, yes, that's my personal feeling. Um, but yes, we can gladly talk about rental costs or similar, because I get that question often, what does it actually cost to rent an apartment in Dubai, and of course, there are various regions you can choose from, which I personally recommend. So, we lived in the first year on the Palm in a five-star hotel, in a five-star Hayat hotel, it's called. And, uh, that was of course a dream for us. The first time I was in Dubai, I had a suite at the Hayat for the first time and told myself, okay, I want to have a lifestyle where I have this five-star suite lifestyle hotel and can afford it, and can afford it in Dubai, and I did that, so we went over and then, on the Palm, in a five-star hotel with a huge beach, with a huge infinity pool, we even had several pools. So, amazing amenities with an all-you-can-eat breakfast of the finest. So, it was really like a vacation, just with a larger apartment and all the service that comes with it. I can definitely recommend it, and that was better in terms of prices during the Corona period, of course. I think prices have risen now. Um, but to give you an approximate example, I think we paid about 4 or 5000 euros per month for rent. Yes, and that's already, um, a higher level, I would say. It's relatively cheap compared to other countries. So, you always have to compare, if you look at apartments in Miami for $5000, then those are old apartments. Yes, in Dubai, you get something more modern, and you mustn't forget that. So, I can definitely recommend the Palm. If you have the budget, then it's definitely a cool place. Otherwise, there's also Marina, where many people want to go. JBR, that's the region where most expats are. I personally don't like it there at all, because it's also quite old. Um, so I don't know what the prices are. I think they are also okay in relation to being relatively close to the Palm, um, if the apartments aren't that important to you, because I don't think you have such nice apartments there. That's what I gather, of course, depending on your budget. Um, but in Marina, you already need at least €2000 to rent a small apartment there. Uh, so I assume, maybe you can find something for €1500. Um, then the next region I recommend is, or maybe a bit more about Marina. So, Marina is always traffic. So, you really spend 20 minutes to get in or out. That's extremely annoying. Therefore, that's a deal-breaker for me. Um, you have very small, narrow streets, and it's also not dog-friendly. Yes, I have dogs, and, uh, that's something to consider, and you can hardly walk the dog there or similar, so I can't recommend it. Uh, definitely not for dog owners, but for everyone else who says, okay, that doesn't bother me, I don't have a car anyway, then Marina might be a good option. Um, then there's of course Downtown Dubai, um, around the Burj Khalifa or also, uh, Dubai Mall. Definitely a top location, I can definitely recommend it. Not to be confused with Business Bay. So, right next to Downtown, there's Business Bay, which is not so nice. So, I don't like Business Bay at all, for example, because it looks very industrial and wasn't designed nicely. So, compared to Downtown, you definitely have nice areas there where you can go, so you could walk around in the evening without standing in the middle of the street, because you have to understand one thing, Dubai is a city made for cars. That means there are hardly any footpaths, sidewalks, or similar, for walking or going out. I always experience tourists who thought, okay, I can walk from the Palm to Marina, because it's only, um, 1 or 2 kilometers, and then they walk on the highway, you know, because it's very car-friendly or, yes, pedestrian-unfriendly, as they say. Therefore, yes, if you say, okay, I want to walk around, then Downtown is definitely a cool area. We also lived there for a year. We also had one of our properties there, which we then listed on Airbnb. That was also a cool experience. Um, yes, maybe more about that later. If you say, okay, I want to know more about real estate or Airbnb, then let me know, and I'll make another video about it. Um, then the last two and a half years or two years, we lived in Creek Harbor, and that was also a really nice time. So, that's definitely my favorite community. It's relatively new. Imagine, it's an artificial island with five-star, um, buildings. So, all the buildings there are really top-notch, um, from Emaar. Um, everything nice, five-star level. We also had a nice high apartment on the 40th, over 40th, I think 43rd, 44th floor, um, with a great view. I can maybe show you something about all the apartments I've chosen. Uh, it's difficult to describe. Of course, not everything comes across one-to-one in a video as it is in real life, but it was definitely a dream apartment, um, with a view of the Burj Khalifa, the entire skyline with the water. You could even see the Palm sometimes. So, we were quite high up in the building, and yes, regarding the community, it's very cool. So, if you have a higher budget, I'd say around €3000 per month, um, then I would definitely recommend Creek Harbor, because it's very nice in terms of lifestyle. Um, you have really nice walking paths, you can walk nicely. It's very dog-friendly. That means if you have a dog, you'll be well taken care of there. There are dog parks, the best community, and the people are also from all over the world, many pilots and many students live there. More pilots than students, to be honest. And yes, definitely something I recommend. So, Creek Harbor, definitely check it out. So, these are the three locations I can recommend. Everything else is really far off the beaten track and will probably be cheaper, but it probably won't be as much fun in terms of experience, I assume. There's also Dubai Hills, which many people like. I personally like it too, but it's far off the beaten track and a bit boring, because there are only single-family houses there. But for families with small children, it would probably be perfect. Definitely too boring for younger people. So, that's my opinion, you know. Uh, exactly. So, that's about the locations. We can now switch to business. So, to be able to live in Dubai, you need a company registration, and after that, you can live there, get your Emirates ID, your business accounts. Um, and yes, it's really a great thing. Especially, you save a lot of taxes. So, there was recently an amendment that you do have to pay taxes on corporate income, so on income, 9%, but only if you exceed a certain threshold, if I'm not mistaken, it's, um, 400,000 DHAMS, so almost €100,000 a year that you can earn, and everything you earn above that will be taxed at 9%. Exactly. That means there's now a bit more paperwork to do. Paperwork, so one thing you shouldn't forget, in Dubai, nothing is really done on paper. So, you can actually do everything with your phone. So, I haven't needed a printer once in the last 5 years, which is also a liberating feeling. What is also a liberating feeling is that you don't have a mailbox. So, you can't imagine what a liberating feeling it is for an entrepreneur not to have a mailbox, because you don't have to open that thing and see, okay, how many invoices, what does the tax office want from me, or similar, but it all goes by email or SMS, and that's a huge benefit and also a huge, um, advantage for entrepreneurs, that it's also very, very small in terms of bureaucracy, all the effort that you can really manage with a phone and also get all the papers done accordingly. Um, exactly. That means if you have a business license, you then have to look at what your activity is, and based on that, you will get or have to choose which license. Um, as I said, if you need help with company registration or similar, then just write to me on Instagram. We do this very, very often and already have all the contacts, um, so that we can implement it for you in a very short time. Um, exactly. And then you have to go for a medical check-up, so you have to fly in once, and that's after you have already initiated the whole process, then your lungs will be X-rayed, then blood will be drawn. Um, and then it goes to the Emirates ID. That's like an ID card, and you have that, um, there, and with that, you can then rent. Um, buy, you can buy anyway, so you don't need an Emirates ID for that or similar. Yes, exactly. So, that's about business registration, it's actually quite relaxed. Cost factor, of course, there are different options, depending on how quickly you want it. Um, I'd say you should definitely have about 5 to 10,000 euros to have the whole thing set up cleanly and professionally, and then you only have an annual fee of about €3000. Bookkeeping is maybe €100 a month at most, and then you're on board. Exactly. And then you can of course save a lot of taxes compared to Germany, specifically for e-commerce dropshipping. So, you definitely have to, um, check who is bringing the goods to Europe, and the person who is responsible for bringing the goods to Europe or to Germany has to pay VAT, and there are also different constellations. If you have any questions about tax optimization in general, then just send me a message on Instagram. Uh, we also have very exciting topics, we have accompanied many companies and helped them save a lot of taxes, even get back money on already paid VAT. So, six-figure amounts, I can also show you some here, where dropshippers in particular have received tax refunds. So, six-figure amounts. Really cool. Exactly. Maybe you also have something that you could get back. But that would have to be before 2022. Exactly. Um, but yes, that's it for now, and maybe I should finally reveal, um, which country we have moved to. Um, I am currently in China. That means we have now emigrated to China. Um, a huge step, and, um, what can I say about it? So, many people think: "Hey, why China? Most people don't even consider it." And I have to say personally, I had similar thoughts back then, so, no major contact with China, except for business, of course. Yes, so we have had business relationships with suppliers and agents from China for 10 years now, and we have also come here often, but in the last few months, we stayed here longer, lived in Shenzhen for a month, and then also here in Shenzhen in southern China, where the weather is also extremely good, and realized that even as an entrepreneur, you have similar conditions as in Dubai, and many people don't know that. And after I thought about it, okay, um, what would be the next step for us, if Dubai were out of the question? And there we are, or I personally find China extremely attractive because the weather here is the same as in Miami. So, it's beautiful weather here non-stop, which is extremely important to me. And after 5 years of heat in Dubai, it can get to you after a while. Yes. And we have three dogs, and you always have to make sure that you go out with the dogs every day, and we already miss nature a bit. So, that's about Dubai. If you are a nature lover or like green spaces, then you should definitely not emigrate to Dubai, because there isn't much of that. So, there are of course parks, some beautiful places, that means mountains or beaches or even green land. Um, if you go to Hatta or up there, it's also a 40-minute or almost 50-minute drive, where you would have to drive up, then you are in nature, or of course, the desert is also nature, but it's no comparison to green land. Yes, and, uh, that's the issue. Um, where we thought, okay, why don't we try China? And, um, Valentina also speaks Chinese, for example. She's a huge, um, yes, she's a huge fan of the culture. I am too. Yes, so we, uh, actually love it here, and the food especially, um, and, uh, you can't really put into words how modern and how far ahead China actually is. Most people don't know it, they get it through videos or some viral videos that can be found online. But for example, this car I'm driving now, it can park itself, and I don't mean while you're sitting in it and the thing turns the steering wheel, but you press a button, you get out, you go on, I go to the gym or whatever, and a car in the background parks itself. That's an example. Autonomous driving. I could now drive autonomously, it's driving to my address automatically, and I don't need to do anything else. So, these are just a few examples that I'm throwing in. Yes. Noctivated. Then, so cars, we can briefly talk about cars. The cars here are all next level. I recently found out that even Audi has released new models specifically for the Chinese market, because the market here is so far ahead and has so much competition in terms of price structure that they are now releasing extremely affordable vehicles. Yes, they have now the Audi, I don't even know what it's called, but you can google it, a completely new Audi, extremely modern. So, as a German, I always drove German cars and, as I said, love cars, but I have really befriended Chinese cars that I would buy, yes, and probably will buy, because they are extremely good, much further ahead than other cars on the market, and also significantly cheaper. So, you get here, for example, this is an SUV that I'm driving now with massage seats, really top quality. Sound system of the highest level, so really the best car I've ever driven is this car here, and it costs about $45,000 new, so under €40,000, and used, I looked, you can get it for €25,000-30,000, and that's a 2025 model, and you think, okay, if it's so cheap, it must have some flaws, there must be a catch somewhere. Yes, it's electric, so hybrid, but all with the latest technology. So, the times are over when people said, Made in Germany is simply the best, but in my opinion, Made in China, they are now far ahead, so in terms of technology, automotive industry, EVMT, no one can keep up anymore, and Audi has also realized that. Yes, they will now release everything for the Chinese market and at an extremely low price of, I don't know, €30,000, and these are cars with 700 hp, which have extremely good quality and are fun to drive and modern and so on. So, that's about it. Also, generally in the city, if you are, for example, looking for a nice view. All the cars are electric, there's hardly any noise, and the air quality here is also so good. Uh, in the past, there were many cities that were really bad, but now the air has been cleaned. Yes, so China has definitely got it under control, and you can feel that, especially when you come from Dubai, where air pollution is also extremely high, also due to the heat and of course due to all the cars. Um, you come here, and you can actually walk through the city without sneezing or constantly blowing your nose. And, uh, these are small examples. Yes, so I am criticizing now, of course, on a large, high level, but if you have the freedom to live anywhere, then you make such comparisons. And, uh, China is definitely far ahead for me now. Um, and that's why we're giving it a try. So, we want to stay here for now, and I can keep you updated. If you want more videos about China, please let me know. I'm interested to see if anyone has ever considered emigrating to China. So, I personally haven't met any Germans who have done that, and, um, I'd be interested to know, um, what you think about it, because most people have big prejudices against China, of course. Um, it's also due to the propaganda machine, because China is this superpower, and they try to portray it a bit negatively, and, uh, and to portray the West better, but unfortunately, it's the other way around. Yes, China is already, um, a world power for a long time, and I am sure that in terms of infrastructure and general quality of life here, um, many Chinese cities will experience a similar trend as Dubai. Yes. Um, I am strongly convinced of that. Of course, there is a language barrier here. Um, so the younger people, they already speak English well, the older generation not so much. Um, but there are many translation tools on the phone. So, it's relatively easy to communicate here. And you mustn't forget, you order food in restaurants via your phone, for example. So, everything runs on the phone here, by the way. You don't need a credit card here. So, if you want to come to China, you can leave your credit cards at home, your cash at home. You need to set up WeChat. WeChat is like WhatsApp in China, and everything runs through it, and you can link your credit card to it, and then you pay for everything with it. So, you can just scan QR codes and order food with it. Um, and again, an example. I can now go for a walk in a certain park in Shenzhen with the dogs, walk them, whatever. And then there's a huge vending machine where you can order coffee or bubble tea, so it's huge here with bubble tea, this tea with milk tea, with these tapioca pearls, which tastes extremely good and I'm also a big fan of, you can order it from this vending machine, and after 10, 15 minutes, a drone comes and brings you the drink or whatever you ordered, food, McDonald's, KFC, or whatever, KFC. Um, then the drone comes to the vending machine, then you can get the food out. Yes, and things like that. So, it's extremely futuristic here, and these are all reasons why we said, okay, let's give it a try. And so far, we are extremely happy to have taken this step. Um, yes, so as I said, if this topic interests you, then please let me know, and I'll make more videos. This is now, so to speak, the first video I'm making about it. Um, and generally, if you have questions, just send a message via Instagram. But yes, I'll keep driving for now. I still have a good half hour drive. I think that's it for now from my side. I hope you liked the video and wish you a great day. See you in the next video. Bye.