‘Home is here’: German-Palestinian family on why Abu Dhabi became their permanent destination

A journey from traveller to settler

Katrin arrived in the UAE in 2004, after a career in hospitality that took her through Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Australia. She was eager to explore new cultures, meet different people and start a fresh chapter. She had no idea the move would lead to marriage, motherhood, a desert business and a life deeply rooted in the capital.

She later met her husband, Murad Saket Mansoor, a Palestinian who had made the UAE his home in 1997. After marrying, the couple settled in Abu Dhabi — the city Katrin has always been drawn to for its greenery, calm atmosphere and family-friendly lifestyle. She also converted to Islam, strengthening her bond with the country and her faith.

Together they have raised three sons born in the Emirates and built a future that blends their German and Palestinian backgrounds with an appreciation of Emirati culture and hospitality.

For many expatriates, the UAE is a temporary stop on the way somewhere else. For Katrin and her husband, it became the final destination.

“After more than 20 years for me and nearly 30 for my husband, leaving has never crossed our minds. This is home,” Katrin told Gulf News.

Katrin’s journey to the UAE began with a desire to see the world. Hospitality and hotel management offered a way to combine her interest in people, languages, food and cultures. Some may have wondered why a young German woman would move to the desert, but she trusted her instincts.

“My instincts told me this was the right next step, and from day one I felt welcomed,” Katrin recalled.

Meeting Murad gave her a deeper personal connection to the country. The couple’s decision to settle in the capital was about finding a community where they could build a future together, despite their different backgrounds.

“As a German-Palestinian family, we never felt looked at or judged. Here, we are raising our three boys, born in the UAE, with Islamic values, kindness, and Arabic hospitality and culture. My heart is here and I hope to grow old here.”

Katrin noted that the openness she experienced in Abu Dhabi helped the family feel accepted.

“Some doubted that a German-Palestinian marriage, far from both our home countries, would last. Today, we are proud of the family and values we have created, taking the best from both of our cultures. Abu Dhabi made this possible.”

Building family and business in the capital

For Katrin and her husband, putting down roots in the capital meant more than establishing a family home. It also meant investing in a business that reflected their connection to the country.

In 2007, Murad founded a travel management company. Around the same time, he started building a desert resort in Al Khatim, Abu Dhabi. The village opened in 2012, offering visitors a desert experience inspired by Emirati and Bedouin heritage. The couple wanted to give guests a chance to step away from city life and experience the traditions and natural surroundings that form part of the UAE’s story.

The project became an important part of the family’s long-term commitment to the country. Instead of treating Abu Dhabi as a place to work for a few years, they chose to invest in a future here.

“Many expats come to the UAE for a few years, earn, and return home. Our story is different: we stayed, invested, and built. Germany is a country many people dream of living in, yet I settled in Abu Dhabi so easily and feel fortunate to have such a choice,” Katrin explained.

Katrin highlighted that one of the greatest privileges of living in Abu Dhabi is raising her three sons in a multicultural environment. The boys were born in the UAE and have grown up surrounded by friends from many countries and cultures. They have access to education, beaches, parks and the desert, while being raised with their family’s faith and values.

“When people ask our children where they’re from, they always say Abu Dhabi,” Katrin shared. That answer means a great deal to her. It reflects a sense of belonging that has developed naturally through the children’s everyday lives. Katrin believes growing up among people of different nationalities teaches children to look beyond differences and value kindness, understanding and cooperation.

“Here children are well-prepared for this new world where kindness and acceptance matters more than ever.”

For the family, Abu Dhabi offers the reassurance parents seek when deciding where to raise their children. Katrin said the combination of safety, comfort, sunshine, education and an international community is a source of peace of mind.

“People from many countries live side by side, working towards the same goal. This new generation can demonstrate that despite our differences, we can be strong together as one nation.”

Abu Dhabi: home and belonging

Although she was far from her family in Germany, Katrin said she did not experience major challenges when she first arrived. Technology has helped maintain relationships with loved ones back home, while Abu Dhabi’s diverse expat community made it easier to establish new connections.

Many residents arrive with similar hopes — to work, live, build businesses or create opportunities for their families. This shared experience encourages people to connect, help one another and exchange advice. Her message to newcomers is to have the courage to take a chance on a new beginning.

“Every new beginning takes some courage and will. But I’m happy to say it is truly worth risking the unknown for something better, sometimes even unexpected,” Katrin said.

Family and business have helped anchor Katrin in Abu Dhabi, but the city’s natural surroundings are another reason she feels at home. Her favourite places are the sea and the desert.

She loves driving along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, particularly during Ramadan, Eid and National Day, when the city is decorated and people come together to celebrate. The fireworks on National Day and New Year’s Eve have become traditions she enjoys with family and friends.

“Living by the sea is a dream and a true lifestyle for me. It recharges me and gives me energy every day. I love watching the water come and go, the beautiful colours changing, and the sun glittering on the surface,” Katrin described.

The desert offers a different kind of connection. “Its dunes and authentic Bedouin heritage remind me what Abu Dhabi was built on. Living between the sea and the dunes is the lifestyle we are happiest and most grateful to share with our family.”

Giving back to the community

Katrin believes contributing to a community does not always require grand gestures. Sharing experiences, helping others and showing appreciation can also make a difference. Friends and family in Germany often tell her she has become an ambassador for the UAE because of how enthusiastically she talks about Abu Dhabi, its people and the values she has experienced.

Her sons also participate in activities through their school and community, including football, swimming, Ramadan meal box projects, beach clean-ups and sustainability initiatives. The family emphasises that small contributions matter, whether through volunteering, environmental projects, cultural education or helping someone who is new to the city.

Katrin underscored that the family remained in the UAE during the Covid-19 lockdown and during the recent regional situation, trusting the country’s leadership and guidance.

“We always felt safe, protected, and looked after. Standing close to the Emiratis and this country in challenging times is part of giving back. Whatever you can do, small or big, is appreciated, and we do it with a grateful heart. For them, supporting the community also means standing by the country during difficult times,” Katrin stated.

For those considering a move to the capital, Katrin recommends arriving with an open mind and respect for different cultures and backgrounds. She advises newcomers to prepare for the heat and humidity, recognise that the UAE does not have the traditional four seasons, and remain flexible in a country that has developed rapidly. She also encourages people not to judge too quickly, but to take time to understand the people and communities around them.

“Be prepared that you might stay longer than expected and perhaps never return home,” Katrin said.

Today, the family’s life moves between the Corniche and the desert, between German and Palestinian roots, and between the traditions they bring with them and the culture they have embraced in the city. For Katrin, belonging is seen in the everyday moments — raising her sons in Abu Dhabi, sharing the country’s heritage with visitors, and helping friends and family abroad understand the place she now calls home.

“We arrived as expats and stayed for decades, building alongside this city and country and calling it home.”

Katrin hopes to grow old in Abu Dhabi, the city where her family has found the stability, opportunities and sense of belonging they value.

“Abu Dhabi gave us a home and we hope to give back every day. Alhamdulillah and shukran Abu Dhabi.”