Al Bustan Palace Oman a wonderful place to stay Have you been to Oman? Oman is always a bit cooler than UAE, and if you like a road trip you can drive there, depends where in Oman you want to go. If you want to go to Muscat then you can drive but it can take most of the day so you have to set off early in the morning. If you want to go to Salalah from UAE flying is best, you fly to Muscat and then on to Salalah. If you drive to Salalah you would have to have an overnight stop. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 there are travel restrictions to Oman, but hopefully during the winter things will chang ..read more

Dubai Jazz Festival What Bands have you seen in Dubai, share your favourites. I have been in Dubai since 2008, and one thing I have loved about Dubai is the concerts and music events that you can go to. Not so much into the nightclub scene anymore, but love the chance to see some of the old and new bands that come to Dubai. It has always been really easy to get to venues here and actually get to see the performers not as little dots but up close. One of my favourites is the Dubai Jazz Festival. Dubai Jazz Festival I first started off going to the Jazz Festivals in 2008 but they started in 2003 ..read more

Fantastic Air Show in Al Ain This is for those that love the aerial displays. There are a number of different air shows across the emirates each year, but our favourite has to be the Al Ain Air show we went to. There are so many Dubai attractions and other emirates it is hard to keep track of them all. Good reading is Time Out Dubai and Whats On magazines or websites to know what is on each month, hopefully events will slowly start to happen but with masks and distancing. We are very fortunate in the UAE that you see lots of jet displays for UAE National Day and different occasions and if you ..read more

The shifting sands of Dubai When we arrived in Dubai in 2008 we were the newbies and everyone used to say “Dubai has changed so much in the last 10 years” now it is my turn to say this after 12 years in Dubai. Most people come to Dubai for the lifestyle and the Dubai attractions. It is great as a holiday destination and also a place to live. Safety here is way better than anywhere else I can think of, low crime rate, and laws that are followed. Another common phrase when going back to UK “where is your tan”, holidaying out here is different to living out here!!! Yes every weekend can feel like ..read more

This is a big question for a lot of people right now. Unfortunately some people have not had the choice and have had to leave and go back to their home countries. I send my hopes and best wishes to those that have had to leave. The rest of us are still here and it’s hard to plan the future when it is so unstable. I have loved nearly every minute of my life in Dubai, had 12 years of adventure and fun and managed to share it with friends and family coming out for visits. Some friends I  have not been able to see because Dubai is expensive even for a holiday. For anyone thinking of coming he ..read more

Staying in Dubai or UAE for summer Lots of families may have already left UAE, or already planning to fly back home, but a lot will choose to stay in UAE until it feels safer to travel. Kids have been stuck in doors for months now and the weather is too hot for them to be outside for long. Adults are fed up of looking at the same four walls and everyone wants a break. Over the years we have had weekend staycations, meaning we stay in the UAE but go somewhere new or different. A change of scene is good for the soul. Where to stay in Ras Al Khaima We have stopped at quite a few hotels in the UAE ..read more

Summer after Covid-19 lockdown slowly releases So Dubai attractions are opening up again, but they won’t be exactly the same, we have to get used to wearing masks where ever we go for the foreseeable future. Water parks are opening, not sure how you can wear a mask at a water park!!! There are more than just swimming activities at some water parks, you can go rafting, and climbing at Wild Wadi in Al Ain. Water Parks                         Is it safe to start getting back to normal? Some people have worked all the way through Covid-1 ..read more

Another Dubai Attraction The Green Planet some people like the idea others do not, but for me when the concrete jungle and sand get too much and I need to see some greenery, and wildlife, then Green Planet is the place to to go. Also during the summer heat it is somewhere inside that you can go to, to get out of the heat. With it being birds mainly, you and your kids will get close to some you may never see in real life. It is a bit pricey but you just need to take your time and enjoy what is all around you. Also being close to City Walk you can hit the shops afterwards or go for a nice lunch ..read more

Madinat Jumeirah sightseeing Madinat is still one of my favourite places to go, I have been going there for years now and always take visitors. Also a great place for residents to have a fun day out or go to one of the many restaurants/bars or cafes that are there. One of the best places to watch them make your personalised sand art in all shapes of glass jars or vases, mesmerizing to watch. All built in the style of the old Arab houses with the wind tunnels on the top, and the old Abras to take you around the resort. It is like it’s own little village and the Abra takes you through tunnels u ..read more

Catamaran Cruise Around Dubai So we decided to do something different for our first Christmas in Dubai. We found a great deal on a Boxing Day Catamaran cruise around Dubai. One thing to remember if you choose to do a cruise around Dubai in the winter, it gets cold in the evenings so take something warm to wear During the day the weather was superb, but as we came back in about 6pm it was cooling off and we were wrapped up in our towels. As you can see from the photos though you get some great shots of the Burj Al Arab, the wave hotel, Madinat Jumeirah a great place to visit on it’s own lots o ..read more