Dubai may dazzle with its skyscrapers and luxury, but Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s powerhouse — funding industries, shaping policy, and quietly setting the pace for the region. In this first episode of our two-part series, we meet Meara He, a Taiwanese entrepreneur and board member of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in the UAE. She shares her journey from Oxford to the UK job market’s struggles, to taking a leap into Abu Dhabi’s unique business environment. Along the way, we explore cultural contrasts, the Arab halas mentality, and why this Gulf capital is becoming a surprising new home for many Asians.