Dubai seems like a perfect, ultra-modern city – futuristic skyscrapers, luxury and flawless infrastructure. There is, however, one big “but”: the temperature. During my visit it was already 42°C at 8:00 in the morning. I love warmth, but after an hour outside even for me it was simply too much. Dubai is a city designed for air-conditioning, not for walking.
Instagram vs reality
Once I saw a photo of Dubai taken from the desert – a road buried in sand with skyscrapers on the horizon. I wanted to reach that exact spot, only to find out that… it doesn’t exist. The internet is full of photo manipulations and fake locations, which can be disappointing when you travel with a specific image in mind.
Burj Khalifa and women-only taxis
Capturing the Burj Khalifa in one frame is a challenge – the building is simply too enormous.
Dubai also offers a great option for women travelling alone:
pink taxis for women only, driven exclusively by female drivers. Landing at night in a foreign country, this gives a strong sense of safety.
Escaping to the desert – Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa
Although Dubai is fascinating, I am much more drawn to nature and authenticity. That’s why I chose to stay at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa – a place that feels like an oasis straight out of One Thousand and One Nights.
What can you experience there?
- swimming in a turquoise pool styled like an ancient one,
- watching the sunset over the dunes,
- camel or horse rides,
- encounters with falcons,
- evening dinners with music, traditional dances and stories about local culture.
Arabic cuisine and a night under the stars
I love Arabic food – especially in its plant-based version. At Bab Al Shams I was offered more vegan dishes than I could possibly eat. Add to that mint tea from a heavy, engraved metal teapot, sipped on a rooftop in the middle of the desert under the stars – it was exactly what I was looking for.
At the end of the evening I was even invited on stage to dance with the band… although after the whole day I could barely move.
Bab Al Shams showed me a completely different side of Dubai – not futuristic, but quiet, desert-like and filled with Arabian magic.
Malvina Dunder 
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