Understanding the Russian Exodus to Dubai Following the Ukraine Invasion

• In Event: Middle-Class Russians in Russia and Abroad: Political Attitudes, Migration Patterns, and Narratives of Success during the War

Abstract

The Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions triggered a new wave of migration from Russia and redirected tourist flows. The UAE, specifically Dubai, has become one of the most prominent locations for Russian immigrants, businesses, and tourists. This study, based on interviews with post-2022 Dubai residents, aimed to understand the specifics of post-invasion Russian migration to Dubai, focusing on the well-off segment of the population.

Unlike many anti-war migrants who chose other countries, the new Dubai residents found their economic motivations inseparable from their attitudes toward the war, and entrepreneurial ethics influenced their perception of its effects. They viewed Dubai not just as a refuge but as a place of new opportunities for professional or business development. They found Dubai an easy place to assimilate due to its extensive expat community, widespread use of the Russian language, and cultural and social settings reminiscent of home. Although Dubai is known for its luxurious lifestyle, for the affluent, the true privilege is the ability to discard certain aspects of their former lives while preserving others in this foreign setting. For most Russian migrants in the sample, Dubai represents a form of 'benevolent authoritarianism' that offers security, economic stability, and a degree of political neutrality, contrasting with the authoritarianism in Russia. However, despite feeling in control of their personal and professional lives, successful Russian entrepreneurs and well-paid professionals in Dubai share a pervasive sense of political powerlessness, feeling just as isolated and alienated from each other as ordinary Russian citizens.

Author

• Natalia Savelyeva, U of Wisconsin-Madison