They had a comfortable life in Dubai — stable work, a familiar routine, and years of experience living in the Middle East. But behind that comfort were questions about long-term security, citizenship, discrimination, salary differences, and whether Dubai was really where they wanted to build their future.

In this episode, Gio talked why they decided to leave Dubai, what pushed them to consider Spain, and whether moving to Spain on a Digital Nomad Visa was truly worth giving up the life they already had.

If you’re a Filipino living in Dubai or anywhere in the Middle East and you’ve ever wondered, “Is this where I want to stay forever?” — this conversation might feel very familiar.

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00:00 Intro
01:30 Guest Intro
03:25 Gio’s Life in the Philippines Before Moving Abroad
02:34 Who Is Gio?
07:45 Deciding to Go Abroad
14:28 Why Gio Moved to Spain
15:07 Visa in the Middle East
16:39 How Gio Discovered Spain
18:53 How He Discovered the Digital Nomad Visa
21:00 Goals Before Moving to Dubai
26:19 Filipino Population in Dubai
28:51 Realities of Living in Dubai
30:58 How He Explained the Move From the Philippines to Dubai to His Kids
33:01 How the UAE Handled the Pandemic
33:01 Drinking Culture in Spain
36:59 Best and Worst Experiences in Dubai
38:53 Discrimination in Dubai
40:32 Why Not Move Back to the Philippines After Dubai?
42:28 What Pushed Him to Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa?
43:53 Why the Digital Nomad Visa Process Took So Long
46:41 When Did They Move to Spain?
49:12 Did He Get Help From a Consultant for the Digital Nomad Visa?
51:38 Cost of Living in the UAE vs. Spain
54:00 Comparing Jollibee in the Philippines, UAE, and Spain
55:27 Culture Shock
58:39 How Gio Discovered Salamanca
1:01:04 Siesta as a Kid in the Philippines
1:01:04 Culture Shock in Spain
1:06:20 How Are the Kids Adjusting to Spain?
1:12:13 Getting Help Finding a Home in Spain
1:14:40 Why Are Children Not Allowed in Some Apartments in Spain?
1:16:18 Biggest Changes From Life in Dubai to Spain
1:19:33 Will He Stay in Spain or Return to the Philippines?
1:23:17 BPO Experience and Previous BPO Jobs
1:24:46 Gio’s Advice for Families
1:26:53 Is Moving to Spain Worth It?
1:39:13 End of interview