Natasha Amar

Having grown up in Dubai in the early 1990s, one of my fondest memories are of Friday evenings at the beach, my fingers deep in beach sand, in search of seashells, under an orange-pink sunset sky. My parents sat cross-legged on a chatai, a woven bamboo mat, sipping hot, sweet, milky karak tea in plastic cups from a nearby cafeteria.
Much has changed since then. The city’s transformation from a humble fishing, trading and pearl diving hub to a world-record setting, futuristic metropolis full o...

At first glance, the work of multimedia artist Alia Ali is a captivating juxtaposition of color and pattern. What makes her portraits of silhouettes in vivid motif-bearing textiles truly powerful is that at their core, they are a reflection on the inherent duality of things. This reflection, both fearless and nuanced, raises hard-hitting questions about politics, history, identity, erasure, imperialism, racism, and sexism.

Tips + Trends
Looking to escape city life for something different? Whether it’s adventure, culture, wildlife or nature that you’re after, these small towns in the Middle East and South Africa promise to leave you feeling pleasantly surprised by their many experiences and utterly refreshed thanks to their relaxed pace of life.
The best part? They lie just a few hours drive away from major cities like Dubai and Muscat, and most offer breathtaking views on the road trip there.
As always, check f...

Tips + Trends
Across the Middle East and Africa, the holidays are marked by celebrating orange-pink sunsets on the beach, holiday shopping under the glow of fairy lights and watching movies beneath starlit skies. The pleasant weather and abundant daylight during the holiday season make this an excellent time to embrace the festive spirit and explore your own backyard with local travel.
Before you pack your bags and set off on a staycation, check the most current travel rules and regulations i...

Gargantuan shopping malls bustling with crowds of eager shoppers, trendy nightspots and exciting live entertainment, and a vibrant dining scene serving up the best of international cuisines — it’s easy to get caught up in Dubai’s endlessly energetic buzz to see and do more.
But venture away from these popular spots and there’s a whole other side to the city, where it feels like time slows down a bit and where locals turn when they want to pause, reflect and refuel. From lush ...

Dubai’s cultural coming of age has been at least a decade in the making. Thanks to an emerging wave of bold local and regional artists, Dubai is on the cusp of a transformation that positions the city as much more than a hub for the world’s tallest skyscrapers.
And it’s not just the cityscape that’s evolving; today’s Dubai is the manifestation of many cultural shifts that have occurred organically over the years.
These changes tell of a people who value their heritage while looking ahead at a...

“You’re not really going, are you?” my friend Siya asked, frown lines on her forehead, eyes wide open in disbelief. Just like that, the excitement of that morning transformed into a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had just told her that I was going to Bangladesh for a month, on what would be my first trip abroad. I’d been having nervous thoughts all day, but they were seasoned with optimism and a sense of achievement. “I can do this,” I’d been telling myself, but now I wasn’t so s...

Culture + Style
A trip to the Middle East is synonymous with luxury travel, as cities in the region pull out all the stops when it comes to hospitality that makes visitors feel welcome and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that leave them awestruck.
Whether it’s contemporary museums inspired by the region’s heritage, shopping experiences fit for royalty, private seaplane or yacht trips, or memorable meals created by acclaimed chefs, these cities in the Middle East and Africa promise luxury trips...

When the need for social distancing is a top-of-mind priority for even the most intrepid of adventurers, satisfying one’s wanderlust calls for a bit of creativity. In a newly emerging trend being coined “zoning out,” travelers keen to explore are turning to certain times of the day or night (“time zones”) when popular attractions and activities offer a completely unique and naturally uncrowded experience.

If there’s one thing that’s top of mind when I’m packing for a trip, whether it’s two weeks in Sri Lanka or three months in Europe, it’s practicality. When I started traveling in my mid-20s, it didn’t take me long to realize that lugging a heavy suitcase across cobblestone streets in Bologna, or navigating the railway stations of Hanoi under the weight of a massive backpack can be miserable.
Years later, I’m still highly selective about what goes in my luggage. When it comes to shoes, I like ...

Eat + Drink
In Dubai, you can gaze at the city’s sparkly skyline and the brilliant waters of the Arabian Gulf atop the world’s tallest skyscraper, get delightfully lost in the frankincense-scented alleys of an old souk, and watch an orange-red sun sink into golden desert dunes, all in a single day. But a visit to the city isn’t just about what you can do, it’s just as much about what you can (and should) eat at the best restaurants in Dubai.
Dubai’s dining scene is vibrant, cosmopolitan and d...

Weekend Getaways
Whether you associate summer’s joys with feeling sand hug your toes as you soak in the sound of waves, the quiet satisfaction of kayaking through lush mangroves, the thrill of abseiling (rappelling) down a canyon, or the awe of looking at centuries-old relics, one thing’s for sure: These Middle East cities have it all — and do long summer weekends like nowhere else.
The best part? With bright, sunny days extending into and beyond the summer months, the possibilities are endle...

A year as big and unusual as the past one can certainly leave an impact. After months and months of laying low close to home, it’s no surprise that a lot of us have taken some time to reflect on how we might travel differently in the future. Maybe 2019’s bucket list isn’t as appealing anymore. Maybe you’re more mindful of how you travel, where you travel, and most importantly, why you travel. We checked in with some of our past contributors and influencers to find out how they’re doing and ho...

The dishes pile up in the sink and the laundry hampers threaten to spill over. The bed looks like it’s being slept in all day; the grey sheet forever crumpled and an odd person-shaped lump under the empty covers. Grilled chicken strips from two weeks ago (“or was it three?” my husband asks) sit forgotten, wrapped in foil, on the bottom shelf of my fridge. A thin layer of dust begins to form on candles, and books, and lampshades, and photo frames—the many objects that make my house a home—and ...