I don’t have kind words for any man who lets his wife, girlfriend or baby mama hop on that Dubai-bound flight unless she’s going there as a professional—doctor, engineer, lawyer, something with a title. But if she’s off to work as a Kadama (housemaid) or some vague “sales executive” position that doesn’t require a CV, sit down and hear me out.

You might be back in Uganda, chest out, telling your boys that your woman is “hustling in Dubai.” But my guy, have you ever asked yourself what exactly she’s doing to sustain herself in one of the world’s most expensive cities? Let me tell you: Surviving in Dubai on a Kadama salary alone is like trying to fill a jerry can with a teaspoon—impossible. And when the struggle gets real, some of our dear sisters turn to “alternative income streams.”

The reality of the Dubai hustle

First of all, Dubai isn’t Kikuubo. You don’t just land, find a job waiting and start making money. Many ladies arrive, passports in hand, dreams in their eyes, only to find themselves stranded with no job, no money and no support system. They’re forced to “survive,” and in a city where beauty is currency, some opt to exchange more than just phone numbers.

For those working as Kadamas, the situation isn’t much better. Salaries are low, employers can be brutal, and homesickness is a demon that whispers the sweetest lies. Now, here’s where things get interesting. When the madam of the house isn’t around, and the boss is feeling “generous,” some Kadamas find themselves in situations that were never in their job descriptions. Some give in willingly, exchanging their “services” for extra money or better working conditions. Others aren’t so lucky.

The side hustles you don’t hear about

The beauty of social media is that it only shows you what people want you to see. Your wife is posting pictures from Marina Bay, standing in front of expensive cars, living her “best life.” But what you don’t see is the price behind that lifestyle.

Many women, even those who started out with “decent” jobs, find their way into the “cookie” industry. Some start escort services; others entertain wealthy men, and some enter relationships of convenience—marrying a Sekadama for a visa and monthly upkeep. And let me not even talk about the ladies working as “hostesses” in high-end clubs. The job description might say “welcoming guests,” but what happens after the guests are welcomed is another story.

And here’s the painful part—some of these ladies are sending money back home to take care of their husbands. Yes, my brother, she’s out there grinding (in more ways than one) so that you can sit in Uganda drinking malwa, bragging about how your woman is taking care of you. Aren’t you ashamed?

Survival mode

But, of course, not every woman does that. Not every Kadama is involved in this business. There are hardworking women genuinely trying to make an honest living. But let’s not pretend that the problem doesn’t exist. It does, and it’s bigger than we admit. Dubai is a city built on money, and if you don’t have enough, you either struggle or find alternative ways to make ends meet.

Many women leave Uganda with pure intentions, but the reality of Dubai forces them into survival mode. The job hunt is brutal. The bills pile up. The loneliness is suffocating. And sometimes an “opportunity” presents itself, and before she knows it, she’s part of a world she never imagined being in.

So, before you send your wife, girlfriend or fiancée off to Dubai, ask yourself: Are you okay with the worst-case scenario? If she’s well educated and has a solid job lined up, fine. But if she’s going with nothing but hope and vibes, my friend, prepare for surprises. Because the Dubai you see on Instagram isn’t the Dubai many Ugandan women live in.