UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Expat Contests

Expat Blog Awards 2013

8 Alternative Activities in the UAE - for expats who have done it all...

8 Alternative Activities in the UAE - for expats who have done (or are bored of) it all... Mile after mile of shopping malls, one delicious calorie after another during brunch, endless metres of glittering concrete, glass, and lights stretching up to the sky...For most of us, the UAE is a pretty impressive place where we can go from topping...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Dubai's Top Local Artisans

Dubai has a number of well known destinations, ranging from delectable nibbles to their renowned skyline - all of which shouldn’t be missed by resident and tourist alike! But with thousands upon thousands of stores (and how can we forget the largest mall in the world, based on total area?), navigating shops and finding unique items can be...

Writing Contest October 2012

Dubaistander

Despite Dubai being the most well-known Emirate, it’s not the capital of the UAE, that honour belongs to Abu Dhabi and these two Emirates are the most visited in the region. Much that’s written about Dubai focuses on glamorous hotels, glitzy shopping malls with ski slopes and bling galore, but turn a different corner and find another...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Expat Advice on Making the Move - 5 Tips for Adjusting to Life in Dubai

After eight years of life in Dubai, I can highly recommend it. There have been highs and lows of course, but the overall journey has been an incredible experience that has helped me to kickstart my career and shape me as a person. For anyone looking to make the move, there are plenty of experts, forums and websites (such as Expat Echo and...

Writing Contest October 2012

Making myself right at home

We were sprawled out in a carpeted Arabic tent, our backs propped up against red and black embroidered cushions, our feet as bare as our fingers, our shoes lined up respectfully outside. The trio of diners included a journalist with a commendable track record of Middle Eastern coverage, a well-travelled and incredibly talented photographer,...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Sometimes, It's the Little Things that Mean the Most

Sometimes, It’s the Little Things That Mean the Most There are pros and cons to life as an ex-pat. The most cited advantages usually relate to the ‘big’ things in life – enhanced opportunities for promotion, higher wages, a better quality of life for children, and the chance to experience another culture. In the case of The Gulf...

Working Abroad

The School in the Sand

The CourtyardThe dull orange sand dunes surrounded us everywhere as we drove into the desert silence on the main highway leading to Nahel Town. It was the first day of school and my first day as a teacher in the United Arab Emirates. I was carpooling with a fellow teacher and I was terrified – but why? Wasn’t I the teacher who was able...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Top 10 Archaeological Sites in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates is known for its glitzy, modern buildings and a lifestyle and culture that often make claims of ‘the best’, ‘the biggest’, or ‘the tallest’. Even though it is a clever marketing ploy for luring tourists and their wallets to the region, it gives no hint of its archaeological...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Top 10 natural retreats in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates is best known for its daring architectural ventures. When you visit the country, it's hard not to be dazzled by the gleaming skyscrapers and other man-made marvels. And why wouldn't you be? There's only one Burj Khalifa or Palm Jumeirah or Ferrari World on the planet! However, there is a lot more UAE has to offer...

Expat Blog Awards 2013

Top 10 Reasons You Should Really Come to Dubai in Summer

Have you ever flipped through the glossy travel magazines and stopped at the page, “Dubai – the center of now” and think, why not? There’s a photo of the pristine, turquoise waters off Jumeirah beach, the unbroken blue skies, glorious sun. But really, Dubai, the Middle East (not Middle Earth) in the summer? I say, why not? Don't...