Ghanaians in Abroad: Yowome in the United Arab Emirates
Despite relocating to Dubai with her husband a decade ago, Yowome continues to feed her passion for travel, combining home-schooling her son with excursions across Africa
Tell us your name and where you’re from in Ghana
My name is Yowome Williams. I am an Ewe from Sokpoe in the South Tongu district of the Volta Region of Ghana.
Why did you decide to live (part time) in Dubai?
I moved from Nigeria to Dubai in 2015 with my husband because of his work. However, my love for my birth country Ghana and the entire continent of Africa draws me back constantly so I travel in and out quite often. Giving birth to my son didn’t change that; he happily joins me in my shenanigans lol.
What skills were you able to take from your work/career in Ghana and use in the UAE?
I am presently home-schooling my son but I worked in education in Ghana and Nigeria before our move to Dubai. My work experience, in addition to knowledge gained during a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology, has enhanced my journey as a home-school mom and made it super rewarding.
Do you speak Arabic?
No, I don’t.
Are there a lot of Ghanaians there and are you part of any Ghanaian community?
There are a number of Ghanaians scattered around Dubai and the other Emirates. I am not part of any formal Ghanaian community, but I have close Ghanaian family friends that I connect with often. This has been a blessing to me as it gives me the opportunity to express the Ghanaian part of myself fully.
Where do you live in Dubai and what three tourist destinations would you recommend to first-time visitors?
We live in a family-friendly community in the suburbs of Dubai.
For typical ‘proof of travel’ to Dubai (wink wink), you can visit Burj Khalifa at the top, Sky Views, Ski Dubai, Museum of the Future and the Dubai dancing fountain.
Desert safari is an awesome experience especially for the adrenaline freaks – make sure you do the quad biking, dune bashing and desert sledge.
You can also visit a waterpark with the entire family – Wild Wadi, Aquaventure and Aquafun waterparks.
Let me throw in some extra places for the kids - Legoland (there is a waterpark as well), Oli Oli children’s experiential museum, IMG World, Dubai Safari Park and Kidzania. And if you can visit Hatta, please do!
Hatta is an exclave of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, high in the Hajar Mountains. It features the centuries-old Hatta Heritage Village. which includes a defensive tower, stone houses with palm-frond roofs, and a traditional water system known as ‘falaj’.
What positives can you tell us about life in Dubai?
I love that Dubai provides a safe and family-centred environment for families to thrive.
I also love Dubai because systems work efficiently and customer service is top-notch.
There is also easy access to resources for different monetary strengths and that has helped me manage my household effectively.
Dubai is a travel hub as it is central to many travel destinations and this has made our travel life more cost-effective and stress-free.
What similarities do you see to Ghana and what differences?
Emirati and Ghanaian cultures prioritise community and communality.
As a Ghanaian mom, the biggest difference I see between the two countries is the kid-friendly neighbourhoods and the numerous and varied kids’ activities available in Dubai. Ghana offers familiarity with respect to food, friends and family and culture in general.
If you decided to relocate back to Ghana what skills acquired in Dubai would you be able to use and why?
It would definitely be my experience as a home-school mom. Home-schooling allows me to facilitate my son’s learning (approaches to learning, educational opportunities, learning activities, parenting styles, pedagogies) in such a culturally diverse setting.
Why is home-schooling your son is important?
Home-schooling my son has allowed me to customise his education to meet his learning behaviour and needs. I love that my son gets to have a say in when, how and where he should learn.
As a home-schooling family, my husband and I are grateful for how the journey keeps challenging us to be better parents and actively involved in our son’s learning process. We enjoying discovering together!
The flexibility of home-schooling also allows us to travel. It is important to us that our son develops strong African roots; culturally immersive adventures across Africa have enhanced this.
My desire has been to share these enriching experiences with others through penned down narratives. Experience the heartbeat of Africa from an African perspective!
And you’re writing a book, tell us more about it.
My debut book is called ‘Easter Along The River’ and will be launched in August 2025.
In the book, I revisit my childhood – capturing exciting adventures with my brothers in our hometown in Ghana whilst celebrating Ewe history and culture, tolerance and unity. I am excited to share this book with the world.
What advice would you give to a Ghanaian considering relocating to Dubai?
Do your due diligence with respect to cost of living including hidden expenditures, quality of life including spiritual affiliations, social networking, personal interests and mental wellbeing.
Also, speak to Ghanaians who live here with a similar lifestyle as you to get realistic insights.
Be clear about your vision for your life and that of your entire family, if any, and reflect on how a move to Dubai aligns with the vision. Reflect on whether the sacrifices that must be made for the move are worth it.
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