Christensen and many other expats live in Arabian Ranches, 24km south of downtown.

Bombs were going off everywhere and all of the other expats were being evacuated.

But for other expats, making friends with locals may not be such a necessity.

Ask other expats and check out the city's ranking in consultant Mercer's quality of living rankings.

There were a few other expats around, mostly unattached men with an air of desperation... or secrecy.

That roster should include other expats who are going through, or have been through, similar situations, said Fitzgerald.

My initial reason for moving was, I'm sure like a lot of other expats, for the opportunities a first world country has to offer.

I think the most uncertainty and opposition has come from other expats, in which I've seen plenty of comments on Twitter or Facebook, she says.

Photo: AFP Other expats are in favour of staying in the EU for more practical reasons.

Other expats are also easy to meet -through the office, kids' schools and even around the playgrounds and pools of their apartment complexes.