They Didn’t Plan to Move to an Island — Until They Did

In early 2025, the founder of Island.ai spent time not in investor meetings, but walking the boardwalk, talking to locals, new arrivals, and long-time dreamers who’ve made this place home.

The question was simple:

Why here? Why now?

The answers — surprisingly consistent.

The Family from Madrid

They didn’t move for luxury. They moved for logistics. A safe school nearby. Less time in the car. More time together.Three months later, they were having dinner outside four nights a week. Their son learned to ride a bike. Their daughter learned that beaches don’t just exist in picture books.

What kept them?

• Walkable communities with real neighborhood feeling

• International schools within reach

• Property prices that allowed them to own, not just rent

The Digital Nomad Who Forgot to Leave

Omar, a UX strategist, came for “a reset month” after burning out in Southeast Asia.

He found fiber internet, affordable rent, and warm cafés that remembered his name by the third visit.

What kept him?

• Lower cost of living than Dubai, but a far higher quality of peace

• A supportive remote work community quietly forming

• Water sports before meetings, not just after

“I thought I was pausing my career,” he said. “Turns out, I was just uncluttering it.”

The Entrepreneurial Couple

Mira and Tarek arrived from Beirut with a business plan and a dream to build something real.

They opened a Mediterranean café, hoping for foot traffic.

Instead, they found loyalty. Locals. Guests from nearby resorts. Repeat faces.

What kept them?

• Business-friendly regulations in Ras Al Khaimah

• Access to both a growing tourist flow and full-time residents

• A lifestyle where work fits life, not the other way around

The Semi-Retired Academic

Viktor, 68, had lived through the academic hustle. He thought retirement might bore him.

Instead, he wakes up at 6 a.m. to swim, volunteers at the local library, and leads an unofficial bird-watching club.

What kept him?

• Clean air and warm climate for year-round activity

• Quiet community life with a surprising amount of curiosity

• Property that felt like an investment and a reward

The Young Professional Pair

Zara and Adil weren’t escaping the city — just reshaping it.

They both work remotely in finance and tech. With Dubai a short drive away, they split their time between ambition and real rest.

What kept them?

• The ability to “opt in” to city life without having to live in it

• Reliable infrastructure for remote work

• A strong sense of privacy and space — without isolation

So What’s the Pattern?

It’s not about what people are running from. It’s about what they’re choosing:

• A manageable pace

• A more grounded form of luxury

• Community without crowds

• Calm without compromise

• Growth — personal, professional, and financial — without burnout

A Founder’s Note

The founder of Island AI didn’t arrive on Marjan with a business plan.

She arrived as a mother of two, a visionary with more ideas than hours in the day, and a deep need to redefine what building a life looked like. What she found was a place where new chapters didn’t have to begin with chaos. They could begin with sand under your feet, sea air in your lungs, and just enough stillness to hear yourself think again.

The Bigger Picture

Marjan Island isn’t just a location.

It’s part of a larger trend — one reshaping how people think about where and how to live:

• The global “life beyond megacities” movement

• The rise of hybrid work and flexible education models

• A shift from owning for status to owning for stability and joy

Island.ai exists to help more people make this shift.

We connect individuals, families, and entrepreneurs to high-potential properties and real opportunities on Marjan Island and beyond.

We don’t sell fast trends.

We invite people to a slower, smarter form of decision-making — one that might just begin by listening to your gut. Or, more likely, to the sound of the waves.