Coffee with an Expat community launches in Abu Dhabi

Dubai-based network Coffee with an Expat (CWAE) is expanding with the launch of a new chapter in Abu Dhabi to support expat women in making meaningful connections in their communities. Building on the success of its network of 5,000 people in Dubai, CWAE aims to provide a safe place for women to meet, have valuable conversations, and share their expat life experiences.

CWAE was established in Dubai in 2019 by long-time expat Navine Eldesouki to build a community of expat women who connect through common interests. The ever-evolving theme pillars range from gourmet gourmet groups to business and development groups looking to make professional connections, as well as groups dedicated to health and wellness, parents and kids, POD moms, and hobbies and recreation.

CWAE regularly hosts coffee meetups, networking events and themed workshops led by experts in the relevant fields. Overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic, the network has rapidly flourished and the new Abu Dhabi chapter is the first phase of future expansion plans.

Explaining her motivation for starting CWAE, Navine said: “I have been an expat for over 24 years and I have struggled with loneliness and other challenges of adjusting to a new place. I have always felt the need to connect with people who understand what I am going through. Connect and discuss these challenges in a non-judgmental environment.

“The idea of ​​drinking coffee with expats first came about around 2013, when I was living in the US and I realized that communicating over coffee was a fulfilling part of expat life. When I moved to Dubai in 2016, I Explored some social media groups as a way to connect and met many women struggling with loneliness and related mental health issues. As a passionate expat, I felt compelled to do something about it and give back to the community, which It’s a big part of my life.”

CWAE hosted its first event in the intimate atmosphere of a furniture store, and through word of mouth and a fast-growing Facebook group, it quickly became a strong community of like-minded women, meeting regularly to share experiences, improve skills, and offer support And support to feel connected. In addition to special interest groups, the community now has a monthly book club and recently formed a group for moms of determined kids.

Ela Barnett, a member of the CWAE community in Dubai, shared: “I arrived in Dubai in May 2021 and didn’t know a single person. By accident or by design, I discovered coffee in the expat community. Navine has a way of making everyone feel welcome and in a comfortable manner, in my experience CWAE provided emotional, educational and friendship support. The age range and nationalities of the attendees was one of the widest I have ever experienced. The topics of the event ranged from family and parenting issues to social media and Branding, exercise, food, festivals, and in-depth roundtable discussions on topics such as how to make expat friends. Personally, CWAE provided me with a ‘family’ upon my arrival, for which I will be forever grateful .”

Reflecting on the network’s rapid expansion, Navine said: “The community has grown beyond my expectations and as demand accelerates, we recognize that more needs to be done. We are introducing new membership options and expanding our geographical and Thematic impact. We see real social value in the community, with many women forming new friendships from their interactions, and we are excited to foster this same culture of collaboration through Coffee with an Expat Abu Dhabi.”

Looking ahead, Navine, a finalist for the 2022 Australian Community Engagement Awards, believes communities have the potential to go global. She concluded: “The UAE is my eighth country and I know expat life can be a challenge no matter where you are. We have a global Facebook group and my long-term goal is to connect the international expatriate community with Connect different chapters around the world.”