The UAE’s Desert: Why It Never Looks Exactly the Same Twice

Standing far away, people around often picture the UAE as one uniform place. Desert. Out beyond the edge, golden dunes roll on without end. Rising heat blurs the ground beneath a motionless sky. Through it all, camels step forward, slow and steady, one after another. The land breathes warmth under their feet. A vast stretch…

Most arrive in Dubai expecting a gargantuan city. One with skyscrapers so high that they seem to touch the sky, packed roads, and cranes that stick up like trees all over. It felt huge to me during those first few weeks almost too much. What was surprising was that after living here for a while,…

The lights of the city are stunning. When looking at the city’s skyscrapers all lit up against the dark sky, the cars driving on the highways with their lights and well-lit landmarks feature photographers from all continents all descend on the city. However, the lights of the cities hide something else. The stars in the…

Dubai is often in the spotlight for the spectacular architectural styles that are considered futuristic. It has glass towers soaring over highways, man-made islands changing the shape of the coastline, projects which are so ambitious that they make you think that a city can have such different appearance to the one that you’re used to….

Every place has little things that the locals end up ignoring. The buildings they see daily. The landscapes they drive through without noticing. The small characteristics that seemed nice at first but then became a normal part of their environment. But visitors notice every little thing. In the UAE, new arrivals quite often highlight things…

Early in the morning is when cities typically show their genuine selves. Prior to the start of rush hour, before workplaces become busy, and before the din of the day fades into the background. These early hours might feel nearly serene in the United Arab Emirates. It’s colder outside. Streets that will subsequently see a…