Scottish Dubai

There are about 20,000 Scottish residents in the emirate. With St Andrew’s Day this week, Minaal Pervaiz and Hannah McCrorie chat to three of the city’s Caledonians Discuss this article

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Suzanne McDonald, 37

‘I’ve been here for 11 and a half years. I’m practically a local now! My husband is a pilot for Emirates, so that’s the original reason we moved here. But if he wants to move now, he’s going to have to take me away kicking and screaming!

‘About six Christmases ago I went home and my aunt, a toffee maker, taught me how to make this traditional sweet called a tablet. Then I realised that this could sell in Dubai because there are a lot of Scots here. When I lost my old job as a PR due to the credit crunch, I thought to myself: Hey! Why not give it a try? That’s when I founded my company, Toffee Princess.

‘I’m a member of the committee for Dubai’s Caledonian Society. We have a lot of balls coming up, specifically the St Andrew’s Day ball on November 19. We’re expecting about 400 Scottish people, all dining and dancing in a room together. My kids are very proud to be Scottish and always take up any opportunity to wear a kilt, such as at the Rugby Sevens in December. My son even sprays his hair in blue and white, the national colours.

‘I love Dubai. I love the buzz here – it’s always busy. When it rains here, it’s a novelty! I also love the fact that there are so many different people and cultures here.

‘People don’t think about it, but the credit crunch has affected the children here because lots of their friends have left. Dubai will pick itself up eventually. Bad things happen to everyone, everywhere, but you can’t let them bring you down.’