A Brit who moved to Abu Dhabi says "don't believe the influencers" - and that it can cost MORE to live in the UAE than the UK."

Rachel Burns, 35, moved to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE and a stone's throw from Dubai, in 2021.

Influencers' endless reels of luxurious brunches, beach clubs and sunset cocktails might leave Brits aspiring to live there - but despite being tax-free, luxury comes at a cost, she said.

Radiographer Rachel, originally from Newcastle, said her £12,700 rent is paid in six-month or yearly upfront payments.

And you have to pay a £500 (5%) commission fee on top of that cost - as well as an air conditioning deposit of £600.

Food, groceries, phone contracts and clothes are all more costly than the UK - and Rachel said she has to almost completely avoid BACON because it's expensive - up to £14 a pack - and bad quality.

But fuel is a fraction of the cost in the UK - just £70 to fill up her Jaguar XE 2017 compared to the £200-a-month she paid to fuel a small Suzuki in the UK.

And water and electricity bills seem to be 50% cheaper than what her family in the UK pay, she said.

All in all, she thinks UK life costs LESS despite having to pay taxes - but "you pay for the lifestyle here"."

Rachel said: "Here, you have to be extremely aware of what things cost or you can fall into traps."

"Some people show you the influencer lifestyle but you have no idea what's going on in the background."

"Day to day things such as groceries are much costlier or small luxuries like getting my hair done is almost three times the price it cost me back at home in the UK."

"I don't have a massive amount spare each month but you pay for the amazing lifestyle here."

"I love it and won't be leaving anytime soon - but you have to be at the top of your game to live here sustainably."

Rachel lives in Abu Dhabi, and a 45-minute drive from central Dubai, in a "more reserved" region inhabited by families."

She said her interest was piqued after seeing another friend living there - whose lifestyle "looked next level"."

She said: "I saw her posts about the weather, the beaches, waking up to an amazing view, and luxury brunches."

Rachel said paying rent is vastly different in the UAE to the UK - where people are paying several months or a year, up front.

"You'd be very hard pushed to find somewhere that charges monthly," she said. "Another surprise was paying 5% commission on top of the rent, as well as your deposit."

"Fees just seem to pop up here and there all the time but it does add up."

The cost of air conditioning can be hefty if it's not included as part of your rent, Rachel warned.

Previously she had to pay a £600 deposit on her air conditioning - along with £100-a-month usage charges.

She added: "The internet is really expensive too - there are only like two providers in Abu Dhabi."

But despite higher rental and living costs, Rachel said lots of modern apartment buildings come with groundsmen, security guards, swimming pools, gyms, saunas and on-site 24-hour maintenance crews.

Luckily, Rachel says she pays just £70 a month for fuel - compared to the £250 a month she paid to cover similar distances in the UK five years ago in a car with a smaller engine.

And she pays just £80 for her water and electricity bills - the same as what she paid in the UK in 2020, before several price hikes.

Groceries are more expensive in Abu Dhabi - particularly if you're seeking Western foods from supermarkets like Waitrose.

But she recommends steering clear of bacon - because it's up to £14 a pack - due to establishments needing a licence to sell it as few residents eat it in the Islamic region - and is "the worst bacon ever"."

Rachel said it does indeed live up to the "high level luxury influencer lifestyle" image online."

As buying individual drinks can be costly, people attend set-menu events with drinks packages such as brunches or ladies nights.

Rachel said: "With ladies nights, it's like £20 or £30 to drink all night. Most people do that."

"You might pay £15 for a glass of wine, or £8 for a pint here if you buy drinks individually."

"I went out to a club in Dubai with a friend for a night, on a Thursday, we had three cocktails each and a snack platter to share - and we paid £75 EACH."

She said another popular luxury pastime in the UAE, with young expats, are "staycations" in fancy hotels with all-inclusive offers for food and drinks during the stay."

While Rachel said the luxury is very much a reality in some aspects of life in Abu Dhabi, she doesn't believe every glamorous influencer is living the life they appear to.

She said: "You have to pay for an influencer permit and trade licence (£500-£3000) here if you make any money online."

"And if you ever take a video you have to get permission from everyone in it, even if they're in the background."

Despite the difference in cost and lifestyle, Rachel loves it and has no desire to leave.

She added: "I'm very settled here and hoping to set up a business here."

"The lifestyle is so convenient - I don't think I'll leave anytime soon."