He moved to Abu Dhabi in August 2022 with his wife Sarah, an English teacher at Raha International School
Tell us a little bit of yourself
My Name is Mark Soutar. I am a native of Scotland; however, I immigrated to Canada at a young age with my family, where I lived until completing my bachelor’s degree in 2008. Since then, I’ve been the living the ex-pat life, with stints in South Korea (four years), Belgium (10 years), and now here in the UAE.
During this time, I also completed a two-year master’s degree at Ohio University in the United States. My professional background is working within interscholastic sports, where I have coached, taught Physical Education, and led athletic programs and service-learning trips within the International School landscape. I am currently the Academy Manager for Rangers FC Soccer Academy here in Abu Dhabi, where I and my staff work with over 200 players from 56 different nationalities.
How and when did you move here, and what inspired the move
I moved to Abu Dhabi in August 2022 with my wife Sarah, who is an English teacher at Raha International School. After spending 10 years working in Belgium at the International School of Brussels, we were both looking for a new challenge and a new backdrop to continue our ex-pat adventure. We considered other options in both Asia and Europe; however, when we were both presented with our individual opportunities here in the U.A.E, it was a no-brainer as all aspects of the move aligned with the adventure we were seeking.
How has living in Abu Dhabi shaped your sense of belonging and community?
From my own perspective, I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of building the community within our Academy. We started out quite small in 2022; however, since then we’ve gone from strength to strength and have new players/families joining on a weekly basis.
Despite having an initial service provider customer relationship with our community parents, it has been a pleasure to develop so many close friendships with many of them. It has been a great experience building relationships with people from so many different backgrounds and their advice and guidance on living in the UAE as an ex-pat has been invaluable.
Can you tell us about a particular person in Abu Dhabi who has had a significant impact on your life and why?
The positive impact of my life in Abu Dhabi has been a collective effort. As someone who has relocated and started from scratch in a new country several times, I know how daunting it can be to find your people and settle in. Between the members of our football academy community and my wife’s school community, we’ve been made to feel very welcome since the moment we touched down in Abu Dhabi Airport.
Whether it’s being invited out to social events, receiving advice on how to navigate the different aspects of living in the UAE or just being there in times of need, I cannot say enough about how close-knit the ex-pat community is here in Abu Dhabi. I am also a part of many community groups on social media, and it seems like this trend is community wide based on the interactions I see.
What is your favourite thing about the emirate and why?
The variety of things to do. Before we arrived, we always heard that Dubai was the place to be, and that Abu Dhabi was Dubai’s sleepy neighbour where not much goes on. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Whatever your lifestyle, whether it be brunching at the weekends, getting active through sport organisations, or looking for family friendly fun, Abu Dhabi has everything on offer. I particularly enjoy the vibe on YAS Island and try to get over there as much as possible.
A myth about Abu Dhabi that you would like to bust
As mentioned above, Abu Dhabi has a lot going on! Dubai seems to get all the headlines as being the place to be in the UAE (and there is valid claim to that); however, based on my two years here in Abu Dhabi, I feel that it has the same energetic vibe as Dubai without having to deal with the chaotic traffic and the negative aspects that comes along with being a metropolis. Abu Dhabi is a place where those seeking fun and a good time can always find it, but there are also many options if you seek a quieter and more laid-back lifestyle.
Could you share a memorable moment when you felt the genuine warmth and hospitality of the Abu Dhabi community in your own life?
When I first began at our Academy in 2022, we had several Emirati families join at the early stages. They would bring their whole extended family along to watch all training and matches and set up a traditional picnic on the side of the pitch (even teapots and hotplates).
At the end of the sessions, they would invite me, my coaching staff and some of the ex-pat families over to enjoy some local foods, desserts, Arabic tea and teach us about their culture and traditions. Being new to the country, I feel it was very important and beneficial to make that connection with the local community and understand our differences and commonalities. Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of developing many relationships with Emirati families and it has genuinely added to my positive experience living in this country.
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