Born and raised in the UAE, but I don’t know if it’s time to leave. I could really use some advice.

Hi everyone.

This is my first time posting here because I honestly don’t know who else to ask.

I’m 23 years old and was born and raised in the UAE. This is the only home I’ve ever known.

Last year, my father passed away. He ran our family business , and after he died, my education came to a complete stop because I had to take over the business.

My original plan was simple: run the business while continuing my university education. I thought I could manage both.

But reality has been very different.

The business hasn’t been doing well since my father passed. I’ve been struggling to keep it afloat while trying to manage rent, debts, utilities, and day-to-day expenses. University here is also expensive, and I simply can’t afford to continue paying for it right now.

Then the regional situation over here has made things even harder, and customer flow dropped further. For the past year, I’ve kept telling myself, “Just give it a little more time. Things will improve.” But a year has gone by, and I honestly don’t feel like I’ve moved forward at all.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing something wrong because, despite trying my best, it just doesn’t seem to be working.

I’ve already completed two years at university and still have two more years left. Now I’m questioning everything.

I have no family here anymore, so I’m completely on my own, and that’s made this decision even more difficult.

Do I stay in the UAE and keep trying, hoping things eventually improve? Do I go back to my home country, even though I’ve spent my entire life here and it doesn’t really feel like home? Or do I try to transfer my credits to another country, finish my degree there, and start over?

The hardest part is that every option feels risky.

If I stay, I’m afraid I’ll keep watching my education slip away while the business continues to struggle.

And even if I leave to finish my degree somewhere else, I still worry about the job market. What if I graduate and still can’t find a good opportunity? It feels like I’m taking a leap without knowing whether there’s even somewhere safe. Right now I just feel stuck.

I’d really appreciate any advice or perspective from people who have been through something similar or anyone who has faced a difficult life decision like this. If you were in my position, what would you do, and why?