Dubai, UAE
The Journal
Honest, researched notes on living well in the UAE. Fashion, beauty, fragrance, wellness, travel and the city itself.
How Do You Build a Quiet Luxury Wardrobe in Dubai?
Quiet luxury is not about spending more. It is about fit, fabric and a narrow colour palette, and in Dubai it also has to survive the heat.
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How to Wear Bold Prints and Colour With Confidence in Dubai
Wearing bold prints is less about the pattern and more about how you carry it. Pick a print in colours that suit you, ground it wi…
How Do You Care for Designer Bags in Dubai's Heat and Humidity?
In Dubai, store designer bags in their dust bag away from sun and AC vents, keep sweat and sunscreen off the leather, condition a…
How Do You Dress with Confidence and Style in Your 40s in Dubai?
Dressing well in your 40s in Dubai is less about trends and more about fit, a wardrobe of elevated essentials you actually feel li…
What to Wear for a Night Out in Dubai: A Real Guide by Occasion
Dubai nights swing from cold AC indoors to warm air outside, and every venue reads the dress code differently. Here is what I actu…
Beauty
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Where to Buy Affordable Makeup in Dubai (and What's Actually Worth It)
You do not need a prestige budget to look polished in Dubai. Affordable makeup is everywhere here, and a lot of it genuinely perfo…
best makeup for hot humid weather
Dubai summers are a real stress test for makeup. The short answer: lighter layers, a mattifying primer, a long-wear or matte found…
Do Lip Plumpers Actually Work, and How Do You Get Fuller Lips in Dubai's Heat?
Yes, lip plumpers give real but temporary fullness. Some work by gently swelling the lips with a cooling or tingling ingredient, o…
How to Get a Fresh, Glowy Summer Makeup Look in Dubai (Dewy, Not Sweaty)
For a fresh, dewy summer look in Dubai that doesn't slide into sweaty, the secret is hydrated skin prep, cream products instead of…
Fragrance
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How Do You Wear Sweet, Gourmand Perfume in Dubai Without It Becoming Too Much?
Gourmand scents smell like dessert, and Dubai heat amplifies them fast. The trick is to apply less, layer over moisturiser, lean o…
How do you make perfume last in Dubai's heat?
Heat burns off light top notes fast, so in Dubai choose richer eau de parfum scents with oud or amber, apply to moisturised pulse…
What are the best Arabic perfumes for women?
Start with the houses that built Gulf perfumery: Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud, Lattafa Raghba, Rasasi Daarej, Ajmal and Al Haramain.…
Where to buy perfume in Dubai, and how to know it is authentic
Yes, Dubai perfume is authentic when you buy from the right places. Head to the Deira Perfume Souk for oud and attar, official bou…
Jewellery
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How to buy gold at Dubai Gold Souk: the complete guide for women in the UAE
Yes, gold really is cheaper in Dubai than in India, the UK, and most other countries, and the Gold Souk in Deira is the best place…
Where to buy gold in Dubai: the complete guide for 2025
Dubai is genuinely one of the best places in the world to buy gold. The gold rate itself is the same everywhere, set daily by the…
How to Buy an Engagement Ring in Dubai (Without Overpaying)
Buy from a certified jeweller, always ask for a GIA or IGI certificate for the centre stone, and decide early whether you want a n…
How to Buy Diamond Jewellery in Dubai Without Overpaying
Buy the loose stone and the setting as two separate decisions, insist on a GIA or IGI certificate, and compare the same 4Cs across…
Wellness
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The Best Spas in Dubai for a Proper Reset: Where I Go to Slow Down
For a proper reset in Dubai, build a slow self-care morning around one good massage or facial. My go-to spots are The Lana, Talise…
How I Actually Hit My Protein Goals Living in Dubai
Hitting your protein goal in Dubai is simple once you lean on a few high-protein cafes, one delivery service, and a handful of gro…
How to Get Into Padel in Dubai as a Total Beginner
Padel in Dubai is easy to start: download Playtomic, book or join a beginner open match (roughly AED 50 to 90 per person), pick an…
How to Start a Yoga Practice in Dubai as a Beginner
Start small. Pick one beginner-friendly studio or a cool-morning beach class, go twice a week, and build a five-minute home routin…
Hospitality
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Best afternoon tea in Dubai with a view: 7 spots worth the splurge in 2025
Dubai does afternoon tea better than almost anywhere else on earth, and the views are half the reason to go. Here are seven venues…
Where to Book the Best Staycation in Dubai (My Honest Guide by Vibe)
The best Dubai staycation depends on what you actually want from the weekend: beach to switch off, city for late nights, desert fo…
Where to Find the Best Brunch in Dubai, by Vibe
There is no single best brunch in Dubai, only the right one for your mood. Party brunches run loud with DJs and free-flowing drink…
The Best Specialty Coffee Shops in Dubai: My Honest Guide
My favourite specialty coffee in Dubai sits in Al Quoz and Alserkal for serious beans, with New York style bagel-and-coffee spots…
Travel
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How Do You Plan a UK Summer Trip From Dubai With Family?
Start with paperwork, because that is the part that has a deadline. Then split your trip so London and the countryside each get pr…
What Should You Pack for London in Summer When You Live in Dubai?
Pack layers, not outfits. A light jacket, one knit, a packable rain layer and two pairs of walking shoes will carry you through a…
What Are the Best Beaches in Dubai? An Honest Guide by What You Want
The best beach in Dubai depends on the day you want. For a lively, free day out go to Kite Beach or JBR, for calm and views head t…
The Best Weekend Getaways From Dubai
The best one or two night escapes from Dubai are Ras Al Khaimah and Jebel Jais for mountains, Hatta for the dam and biking, Fujair…
Automobile
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How to Buy a Used Car in Dubai: A Practical Step by Step Guide
Buying a used car in Dubai comes down to three things in the right order: inspect the car properly, put insurance in your name, th…
The Best Road Trips From Dubai (and What to See Along the Way)
The best road trips from Dubai are Hatta (1.5 hours), Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah (2 hours), the Fujairah east coast (about 2 hou…
What Are the Best Cars for Dubai's Summer Heat?
The best cars for Dubai summer are the ones with genuinely strong, fast-cooling AC and ventilated seats, built or tuned for the Gu…
How to Rent a Car in Dubai: What to Know Before You Book
To rent a car in Dubai you need to be at least 21, hold a valid licence (a UAE licence plus Emirates ID if you live here, or your…
Retail
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What Are the Best Malls in Dubai? An Honest Guide by What You're Shopping For
The best mall in Dubai depends on what you want. Dubai Mall for luxury and everything under one roof, Mall of the Emirates for a c…
Where to Find Local and Regional Fashion Designers in Dubai
To shop local and regional designers in Dubai, start with concept stores like The Meld and Symphony, follow curated pop-ups, and b…
Where to Buy Home Decor in Dubai: How I Refresh a Rented Apartment on a Budget
You do not need to renovate to make a Dubai rental feel like yours. Shop IKEA, H&M Home, Home Centre and Dragon Mart for the bones…
How to Keep a Dubai Apartment Clean When You Hate Cleaning
Dubai homes get dusty fast because of desert sand, year-round AC and constant construction nearby. A short weekly routine and a co…