Tanu Puri, an Indian professional, left her job at Google in the United States, where she earned around Rs. 2.7 crore a year, and moved to Dubai, pointing to limited freedom, visa restrictions, and the need to build independent income streams. While she described her life there as stable, comfortable, and nearly perfect.
Tanu Puri walked away from what she called an ‘almost perfect’ life in the US. It offered comfort but little control. Despite being lucrative, her job came with visa restrictions that limited freelance and entrepreneurial opportunities. Her earnings were growing linearly, not exponentially, limiting long-term wealth creation. It was also tough for her to be away from her family, especially her children. Constantly facing uncertainties in the IT sector only added to her anxieties. Dubai gave her the freedom to explore multiple income streams.
Dubai offered Tanu Puri a mix of financial and lifestyle advantages that the US could not match. The city’s tax-free income structure meant she could retain more of what she earned. This also provided more flexibility to diversify into different sidelines and earn money from various sources without being constrained by visa issues.
The proximity to India was an added advantage. She could easily keep in touch with her family, which was now becoming increasingly important. The growing startup culture in Dubai enabled her to explore options beyond a conventional corporate job.
More Indian professionals are rethinking the US career path, even when salaries are high. Many now value flexibility, stability, and control over their time. Visa limits and layoffs have exposed risks in corporate roles. Cities like Dubai attract talent with fewer restrictions.