DUBAI, U.A.E.

Hey guys!

In the beginning of November 2016 I went to Dubai for almost a week and honestly I didn’t have huge expectations. Of course I’ve always been fascinated by the tall beautiful shiny buildings and how a young country of only 45 years was able to newly-create something as astonishing in such a short period of time.

With the time many friends of mine emigrated to the UAE, some to Dubai, some to Abu Dhabi, others to Qatar and they are loving it. They said they felt really appreciated, no discrimination at all and you don’t even need any Arabic skills, even in acknowledged professions like a doctor.

Most people’s English is that well that they could be considered bilingual, most and foremost the kids. The parents teach them to speak English from a young age – what I think is amazing.

You will see Arab people ordering (for example at Starbucks) in English. I thought that was insane! It’s such a progressive country! Even all the street and highway signs are in English.

What I also really liked about Dubai is that everything is so so clean. It basically looks like a mall everywhere, or Disneyland. Things didn’t have the time to age and if the would, they’d probably get renewed immediately. Culture-wise it’s difficult to tell, because you would see influences from all over the world. I was reminded of Las Vegas all the time, because of the architectural style and the artificial shininess. On the other hand I really liked this shininess, because it symbolizes luxury, wealth and prosperity. Sometimes this European modesty and love for or even expectation of understatement and judgemental attitude towards people who are not willing to fit in or simply seem not to care really got to me. I would just travel to Europe or Asia once I start missing the culture and it’s ancient flair.

Time to timest can be looking very American or rather Vegas-ish, all big American brands or franchises can be found there, but also a lot of European, Indian and what not influence is present.

Many people are bias and think that it’s still forbidden to show off skin, but that’s def not the case at all, especially not at the beach. 10 years ago there were signs at every entrance of a mall that would guide you how to dress properly: covering up your arms and don’t wear shorts or mini skirts at all. Nowadays nobody would stare at you anymore or comment on your dress code, but there are public places for sure, like government building and so on where you would be forced to dress modestly. In Europe or wherever I go, I’ve never been a big lover of short or revealing clothes, so for me it was not a big deal, maybe somebody else would feel more restricted, but me or my friends didn’t. It even made me feel want to cover up more or wear longer and wider clothes in the streets and malls because your eye kind of gets used to see local people fully covered up so there is eventually some subconscious assimilating process going on, idk. It was def the other way round when I was living in Miami, it took me some time to get loose and start wearing shorts or crop tops.

I would have absolutely no problem living in a clean and artificial world, because the advantages simply predominate! There is almost no criminality due to first, people having it all, and secondly, the strict laws. Although I feel like some laws are still from the stone age, like it’s illegal to be gay or to have sexual intercourse out of wedlock, even if its not your fault, you can face dead penalty. WTF. There are many many stories like that in the media, where the prime ministers of the victim’s home countries had to beg for an act of grace. Duh. The world is full of contrasts. If you know those things, you can form your own opinion and you know what to expect. Penalties are incomparably strict but criminal acts happen very, very rarely compared to considered “good” places like Europe and North America and make them look outworn. I’m here to inform you guys about the stuff that I know and I could totally live with that and all my female friends apperantly can. There will always be dangers in everyday life, so let’s not focus on that, its small-minded thinking – instead enjoy life to the fullest and let’s go on with some other pics from Dubai.

colorful skyline by day

turquoise mirror skyscrapers in the making, photographed from the highway

Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, changing its colors

It’s really insane how tall it is!

me in Dubai Mall

going for a walk with my girlfriends at night near the house where they live in Downtown

love the shiny pamtrees

the water was so so warm at the Jumeirah beach I loved it! behind me is the Burj Al Arab hotel

Jumeirah beach

Cavalli Club Dubai, I totally need this sink but in rose gold

I used to hang out at the Cavalli Club in Miami all the time so I was like let’s remember home haha

The Palm

roses are red, wine is also red, poems are hard, WINE

look at this huge bottle storage at the wall! and at the left the aquarium is mirroring

Atlantis Hotel / the Palm

beautiful hallway of the Atlantis Hotel at the Palm

just woke up to an amazing bathroom

sephoooraaaa

sephora mirror selfie

Victoria’s Secret – heaven for every girl

beautiful Dubai Mall, I loved this insane waterfall. you can even go ice-skating there!

there is a big aquarium in the mall where you can go diving with the fish

Dirhams look so cool

smoking hookah outside right next to the Burj Khalifa but drinking alcohol outside of a building is legally not allowed

the volt – 78th floor

oh I love ordering both burgers and sushi

OMG why so many sweets

why so pretty

I love how everything is written in English on one side and in Arabic on another

view out of my girlfriend’s balcony – they say everything around you is always under construction and if you come back in half a year your orientantion is gone, you might not find your way back home haha real struggle in Dubai

pool in my hotel constantly changing colors

every half an hour they have the fountain play in front of the Burj Khalifa

look what a desert everything is!!! view out of the window of the hotel where I was staying – I bet I won’t recognize it anymore

there is still so much space to have things built

Burj Park

bye last but not least – I LOVE THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY their avocado egg rolls are heavenly