I am so over the moon to start sharing snippets of my life on my blog during 2018. As this is my first post I thought the best way to kick things off would be with a mini guide of Dubai – from must-see tourist attractions, foodie hot spots, and beautiful places to stay, I have it all covered for you. Dubai has so much to offer and it is physically impossible to cover everything but as I am heading back at the end of January I would be able to expand on my list of must-see places in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in general.

After a terrible night flight, I reached Dubai at around 5 a.m., checked into my hotel, had a quick refresh and I was ready to hit the streets of Dubai.

 

Jumeirah Beach Residence

There have always been a few places in Dubai that everyone has recommended in terms of where to stay like Jumeirah Beach, Downtown Dubai and  Jumeirah Beach Residence. I decided to book a suite overlooking the beach at the beautiful Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa. The hospitality, professionalism, and attention to detail of everyone who works there is just second to none and it is exactly what you would expect from the Starwood Group.  A cute little alleyway lined with palm trees leads to the heavenly beaches of the Persian Gulf. Although I could not spend as much time on the beach as I would’ve hoped to, the views from my hotel room gave me a taste of what’s to come during my next trip to Dubai. Firstly, I enjoyed a delicious breakfast and had an authentic Turkish coffee then I made myself at home near the pool every time I happened to have a couple of hours to spare.

Fresh watermelon juice and a pool lounger – what more can you ask for.

 

 

 

What I Wore

Dress: Massimo Dutti ( sold out)   Sandals: & Other Stories  Bag: Dior  (similar)

 

Dubai Marina

The first place I visited was the Dubai Marina and although it was quite early in the morning it felt like a sunny afternoon in the middle of summer. As I live in England I  can sometimes forget how lovely it is to catch the sun rays in the early hours of the day. It felt so surreal to be enjoying such an amazing weather in December. Being at the marina I could not pass on the opportunity to go on a boat ride – hands down best decision ever. With a fresh watermelon juice in my hand, I spent half an hour admiring the beautiful view of the marina. As you can probably tell by now I am kind of obsessed with freshly squeezed juices, especially watermelon juice as it is so refreshing on a hot day and keeps you hydrated throughout the day due to the high water content of watermelons.

Whether you would like to experience the impressive sights of Dubai from a different perspective by going on a private boat ride or you are after a new spot to have a quick bite – Dubai Marina is the place for you!

                                                       

Miracle Garden

I am sure that most of you wouldn’t need a lot of convincing when it comes to visiting the famous Miracle Garden. It has become so popular as every single blogger out there has taken a picture under the gorgeous heart shaped flower arches. I obviously had high expectations about the garden but honestly, it is 100% better when you see it in person. The fact that this gorgeous place exists in the hot temperatures of Dubai is what fascinates me the most.  You would expect that an hour would give you plenty of time to explore the garden. However, there is always something you haven’t seen before hiding in each corner of that magical place. There are a lot of cute little coffee shops, fresh juiceries, food kiosks that offer shawarma and manakeesh, and we obviously should not forget to mention the souvenir shops. If you are obsessed with manakeesh as much as I am or even if you are new to Arabic cuisine, you should definitely give manakeesh a try – my fave has to be zaatar, it is so delicious that I find any excuse to have a couple and get my carb fix. On the way out I came across a souvenir kiosk selling sand art bottles owned by two ridiculously talented Jordanian brothers and I could not pass by and not get myself a little-personalized piece. The beautiful multi-colored sand dunes and camel picture portrayed on the sand can’t be compared to anything else I have seen before. After chatting for a while, the brothers mentioned that it takes years of practice to perfect the craft, its very precise and I imagine it would take a lot of patience to produce such intricate pieces of art.

The Miracle Garden is definitely a must see for any nature lover or even an insta-obsessed person.
(make sure you grab an extra SD card because you will most likely need it!)

 

 

 

What I Wore

Dress: Karen Millen    Slides: Nine West (similar)

 

 

Dancing Fountain

Let’s face it when people mention Dubai most of us imagine enormous malls and the Dancing Fountain in front of the monumental Burj Khalifa. Hand on heart that place is just magical at night time and it honestly makes me want to consider where I would like to live one day. With all the little restaurants and bars around it, it is the perfect spot to have a bite after a day of relaxing by the pool. For those of you interested in acquiring a property here, I’d definitely recommend checking out the prices of flats in downtown Dubai. I was quite surprised to find out that properties are very reasonably priced compared to those in central London.

The illuminated fountain projecting water in various intricate patterns and the beautiful music playing in the background is breathtaking -it gives you the illusion that time has stopped and makes everyone else around you disappear. It is just you and your thoughts at that time…

 

 

 

 

 

Souk al Bahar

Blending the classic with the contemporary, Souk al Bahar is a charming Arabic style shopping mall which offers everything from antiques to carpet shops to restaurants offering an array of cuisines that you will find hard to choose from. As I am a big fan of Arabic Food, I rarely miss an opportunity to try a new place that offers some of my favorite dishes such as tabouleh salad, warak enab (stuffed vine leaves) and of course the ultimate dessert, knafeh. Zahr el Laymon is exactly what you would expect from a Lebanese restaurant and more. Both the food and the view from the outdoor terrace are amazing and regarding the service, they really do go the extra mile. As someone who grew up helping out in my family restaurant, I understand the importance of great customer service and always appreciate hard working people in the hospitality industry, therefore, I must give a shoutout to Maria who was our server that evening.

Souk al Bahar is located opposite Dubai Mall and it is the perfect dining spot if you want to enjoy a delicious meal overlooking the magnificent grand view of the Dancing Fountain.

 

   

Experiencing the energy of Dubai in the few days that I had to spare,  whether it was the shopping and eating, or catching up with old friends, to lounging by the pool and witnessing surreal sunsets daily, my trip was amazing and I can’t wait to be back in February. Although I tried to pack as much as possible during my short stay, Dubai is such a diverse place and it has so much to offer. What are your favorite spots in Dubai? and where shall I go next? share this post with your friends and let the suggestions pour in!  

Yours  Truly,

Tanya