Live like a Local in Dubai

Hey guys! Because I have several amazing friends in amazing places all over the world, I wanted to try something new this week and have a guest blogger. I want people to see not just what traveling is like, but what living abroad is like! Moving to Singapore was one of the best decisions of my life, so I love hearing other people’s stories. 

Hit me up if you want to guest blog!

One of the first people who popped in my mind was a friend from high school who is currently in Dubai! Jenn and I have many similarities, but at the fore-front is being raised in the south, leaving the south, and loving Jesus and people! I’ve recently heard some conflicting views of what the Middle East is really like, so I went straight to my source! 

Here’s a bit of our chat (her words in green, mine in black): 

*All pictures are hers!

Hi, Jenn! Introduce yourself, and tell us what led you to move to the UAE?

Hi there, I'm Jennifer Zachary and I met Katie 10 years ago in high school (How are we really this old?). I've been following Katie's travels for a few years... mostly in hopes that our paths might cross somewhere in the world. A few years ago, I started working with a nonprofit that partners with churches globally, which naturally meant that I get to hop around the globe! My organization recently asked me to join a team that would serve churches in the Middle East/ North Africa region, and that landed me here in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)! 

Meet Jenn. She's rad.

That’s amazing! What is a typical day like for you?

My job is pretty diverse, so most days I'm communicating with partners in Nigeria or India, writing in a coffee shop, or meeting with church leaders in our city. About once a month, I usually get a chance to travel overseas for work (#goals), which is easy to do when you live in the Middle East since it's conveniently tucked in between Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

When I lived in Singapore, it was summer weather year-round (minus a couple months of the rainy season). Is it similar in the UAE?

Summers (lasting from April-September) don't really see a temp below 100 F. Some days are 117 F, but feel super nice because its dry. Other days are 110 and feel like death because of humidity. As I'm writing this, the weather channel says that the heat index is 131. All of that to say...don't come in the summer. October-March gives us a relief from the heat, with daily temps in January around 70. Everyone takes advantage of the clear skies and the beaches are full of people. There are tons of festivals and farmers markets and concerts during these months. Something about the dreadful summers really makes everyone grateful for the "winters". 

Global Village in Dubai

Wow! What has been hardest adjustment so far?

Before living in the UAE, I lived in Kenya (and Arkansas before that). Africa and the American south have a lot in common: hospitality, slow paced lifestyle, community, and greenery. So, moving to a fast-paced desert where everyone works way too much and keeps to themselves was the hardest adjustment. Luckily, there are tons of opportunities to meet people who enjoy the same things as me!

Dubai is a popular tourist destination; what's your favorite tourist attraction?

There are a lot of tourist attractions here (the tallest building on Earth, the largest mall on Earth, one of the largest Mosques on Earth ... the "biggest, best" everything really). While those are neat, my favorite attraction is the desert. Everything outside of the city is desert, so its super easy to drive out and cycle, ride a camel, hang out with falcons, or explore mountains that look like they came straight from Mars. 

The mystical desert!

The desert sounds amazing! On the flipside, what is your favorite local hangout?

Since only 10% in Dubai is Emirati (actual citizens of the UAE), it’s difficult to find "local" spots. I've heard of many people who have lived in the UAE for years and never even spoken to a local. In my opinion, they are missing out (I agree! My favorite part of Singapore was meeting locals!)! As I've tried to search out the local hangouts, I've found that my favorites (and maybe the only ones with easy access) are coffee shops. There are many near Jumeirah and Safa Park that are always full of locals. Drop Dubai and Stomping Grounds are two of the best. Just keep in mind that if you're hanging with the locals, you'll definitely be fancy, but theres a slim chance you'll be frugal (you'll probably drop a literal $6.50 on a cappuccino)! Sounds like NYC prices ☹

An actual Starbucks in Dubai! Wow!

Favorite weekend trip:

Hands down, OMAN! In a two-hour drive, you can escape the UAE for the wadis of Oman (I had to google what wadi means: it’s Arabic for valley). Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival for $50, and there are tons of places to camp in the desert and see more stars than you knew were even there. If you're not sure you want to chance finding the wadis on your own, there are tons of tour groups that will take you from the city. There are also a few wadis in the UAE if you would rather not cross a boarder. 

What an awesome adventure… sign me up! What about your favorite local food?

So... Lebanese food isn't exactly "local", but you can seriously get any food you could ever want in this city. The Lebanese restaurants on every corner are my favorite, followed closely by every Indian restaurant in the neighborhood of Al Karama. 

Yum! Can you get by speaking only English?

Absolutely. Every sign is written in both English and Arabic. 

How long is the flight, and how can I get there affordably (budget airlines, etc)? 

With 16 hrs of flight time from the States, Emirates Airline will get you to Dubai nonstop. Emirates is the definition of "fancy", but sometimes has really reasonable flight prices! Delta and American Airlines also have tons of flights that might be cheaper. At the right time, you can find a roundtrip flight as cheap as $800 (again, sign me up!). 

Two reasons everyone should visit?

1) There are over 200 nationalities living in the city. Everyone is from everywhere, and there are only a few places on Earth where you will find more diversity. 

2) The UAE presents an opportunity to learn about Middle Eastern culture and Islam in a tolerant society that is one of the safest in the world. 

Abu Dhabi Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque

So, whats next for you?

Hmm... I actually have no idea! I've signed a 3 year contract with my team, so I will be in Dubai at least until 2020. I've dreamt of everything: staying in Dubai, teaching English in Saudi Arabia, art school in Europe ... but overall, I've tried not to plan too far ahead for now :) 

Jenn, that's amazing! I’m so happy for you and proud OF you! No matter what you decide to do, I know you’ll continue impacting lives all over the world! Thank you so much for showing us a side of the UAE that is sometimes misunderstood. 💗 It sounds amazing, and I've added it to my list (definitely before 2020 😉).

Friends, I hope you have enjoyed this taste of UAE local life! Feel free to leave a comment and show Jenn some love! Or let me know if you want to collaborate and be a guest on my blog!