After living in this crazy city for four years I have made the decision to return to the UK…
Here’s some of the things I will miss about living in Dubai…
The Convenience. Want your laundry or a McDonalds delivering at 1am? No problem! Need to pick up something from the shops after work or on a Sunday? No problem- malls are open until 10pm on weekdays and midnight or later on weekends. Need to go to the Doctors but work until 8pm? No problem! Need a…ok I think you get the point! Dubai’s convenience contrasts with the strict, regulated opening hours of the UK, which are quite annoying and highly inconvenient when you also work those same hours. I am certain that I will miss the many conveniences of Dubai’s (almost) 24/7 status.
The Sun. The sun?! I hear you cry, but.. but..Dubai is a desert – it’s crazy hot why on earth would you miss the glaring sun?! Well you know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen… But actually it’s a misconception that Dubai is unbearably scorching hot at all times. Yes, Dubai is incredibly hot in the summer. BUT, the rest of the year, Dubai largely experiences glorious, pleasant sunshine. It’s soo nice to wake up to blue skies and sun on a daily basis and not have to worry about taking a cardigan or umbrella ‘just in case’ or having to plan events around the weather forecast (which often means cancelling at the last minute or braving the downpours and having to grin and bear it).
Exotic Travel. Being a huge lover of the Middle East and Asia, a massive draw for me is that Dubai has some fantastic destinations just a few hours plane ride away. From Jerusalem to Jordan. From Sri Lanka to Lebanon. Feeling a bit stifled in Dubai? Fancy a change of scene? No problem- have a quick break in Istanbul or Goa. I’ve certainly enjoyed my travel experiences in and around the Middle East region.
Beaches. Being a sea and beach lover, I will miss the lovely clean beaches of Dubai. Kite beach is one of my favorites, as is JBR. La Mer is one of the more recent beach venues. The sun sets over the sea, so heading to the beach for sunset and an ice cream is a must!
Lebanese food. Yum, I love Lebanese food- especially the mezzes – oily hummus, tangy baba ganoush, delectable moutabal, fresh tabbouleh, crispy fattoush… the list goes on. There’s plenty of amazing Lebanese restaurants in Dubai to tickle your tastebuds.
Ladies Nights. Yep each night of the week different bars and clubs give us lucky ladies free drinks just for being female! Time out and What’s on have regularly updated lists of the most popular ladies nights in town…
The Dubai Skyline. With the tallest building in the world, not to mention hundreds, maybe thousands of other skyscrapers Dubai has incredible views whether you’re gazing up at the skyline from street level, or gazing out at the city from one of its rooftop bars.
Dubai Fountain Show. Possibly my favorite Dubai attraction is the fountain show. I love heading to Dubai Mall and popping out to watch the half hourly fountain show. Read more about it here.
Overall, leaving Dubai is going to be a bitter sweet moment. I have genuinely had some of the best times of my life here, and I’m sure this will always remain a stand out chapter in my life with many memories of happy, fun and exciting times. Moving to Dubai enabled me to get out of a really low point of my life when I was struggling emotionally, mentally and financially, and was just generally a bit lost, depressed and directionless. I have Dubai to thank for helping me get back on track and in a stronger position to move onwards and upwards.
Other Dubai posts you may enjoy…
Got a layover in Dubai? Read my guest post on Hippieinheels blog here about how to make the best use of your time in this fantastic city that never sleeps.
Staying longer in Dubai? Check out my post here for ideas on how to spend a week in Dubai.
A bit skint? Don’t worry as there’s plenty of free or cheap things to do in Dubai too! Check out my ideas for how to do Dubai on a budget here.
Here’s some ideas for 100 things to do in Dubai.
Heading out of Dubai on a roadtrip? Check out Al Ain, Hatta Dam or the abandoned Soviet aircraft.
What do you think you would miss about Dubai? Is there anything I’ve missed off my list?
Thanks for reading 
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