Making Friends as a Mum Abroad: Gentle Ways to Build Connection at Every Stage

Making friends as a mum while living abroad looks different than it once did, but that doesn’t mean it’s harder in a bad way. It simply changes with the season you’re in.

Motherhood reshapes your time, your priorities, and the kind of connection you’re drawn to. Living abroad adds variety, diversity, and the chance to meet women from all over the world who are also building lives far from where they started.

Whether your days revolve around playdates or your children are more independent now, friendship abroad is still very much possible and often deeply rewarding.

For Mums with Younger Kids: Let Everyday Moments Do the Work

If you have younger children, you’re already surrounded by small, natural chances to connect. School pick-ups, playdates, birthday parties, and casual chats all create moments where friendships can gently grow.

Simple things help:

• Saying yes to playdates, even short ones
• Chatting with other mums at drop-off or during activities
• Joining school groups, WhatsApp chats, or the PTA
• Showing up consistently in the same spaces

These everyday moments add up. Over time, familiar faces turn into friendly conversations, and friendly conversations turn into real connections.

For Mums with Older Kids: Rediscovering Connection for You

When kids grow older and need you a little less socially, something beautiful opens up. You have more space to reconnect with yourself, your interests, and the kind of friendships you want now.

This stage is an invitation to:

• Join groups that reflect who you are beyond motherhood
• Say yes to coffee dates, walks, or shared interests
• Attend community events where conversation flows naturally
• Build friendships that fit your current rhythm

Friendships here are often more intentional, more aligned, and deeply fulfilling because they’re chosen with care.

Why Living Abroad Can Make Friendship Feel Special

Living abroad, especially in Dubai, brings together women from many backgrounds who are open to connection. Many are building new routines, finding their footing, and welcoming friendships that feel supportive and genuine.

That shared openness creates a beautiful foundation for connection. Friendships may start slowly, but they often grow with depth, warmth, and mutual understanding.

A Few Happy Reminders, Wherever You Are

No matter your stage of motherhood:

• You don’t need a big circle, just the right people
• Connection grows naturally when pressure is low
• Many women are hoping for friendship, just like you
• Showing up as you are is more than enough

Friendship doesn’t have to be forced. It unfolds when you give it time and space.

Closing Thoughts

Making friends as a mum abroad isn’t about pushing yourself or filling your calendar. It’s about allowing connection to fit into your life as it is now.

Some seasons bring friendship easily. Others invite you to explore new spaces. Both are part of a rich, evolving experience.

And wherever you are in that journey, there is room for laughter, connection, and community, especially when you’re surrounded by women who understand this chapter of life.