Natasha Amar

These tours in Dubai—which range from lavish desert feasts to vertiginous helicopter tours—are perfect for first-timers.
First-time Dubai visitors should prepare to be awestruck by its bold, futuristic cityscape, surprised by its not-too-distant history, and captivated by the richness of its cosmopolitan culture. The city invites visitors to live the high life for which it’s famous, of course, but there are also myriad ways travelers can explore far beyond preconceived notions of the region.
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Go beyond the skyscrapers by venturing into these culture- and history-rich neighborhoods.
It’s tempting to sum up Dubai as a city of gargantuan shopping malls, glossy neofuturistic skyscrapers, and undulating desert dunes, but that’s just one side of the city, which at its heart is a story of dreams, ambition, and a culture that sits comfortably at the crossroads of many others.
One of the best ways to experience the many layers of Dubai’s transformation—from a fishing and pearl-diving villa...

Oman’s vibrant cultural heritage is deeply intertwined with the gifts of its terrain, and it permeates every travel experience here.
The country’s stories are found everywhere you go, from the atmospheric lanes of Mutrah Souq in Muscat, where ornate khanjars (traditional daggers) and patterned kumma (headpiece worn by Omani men) showcase excellent craftsmanship and pride, to the cliffside villages of Jebel Akhdar where old men in sandals expertly navigate narrow farm trails and distill rose w...

In Dubai, cultures meet and mingle resulting in a vibrant, multifaceted destination perfect for travelers combining business with pleasure. Discover the charm of Dubai through Expo 2020.

Alexander Smalls is no stranger to rewriting the narrative around misunderstood and underrepresented cuisines. Through his illustrious career, the Spartanburg, South Carolina native and James Beard Award-winning chef and cookbook author has made important contributions to New York’s dining scene through acclaimed restaurants Café Beulah, where he showcased Southern revival cooking, Sweet Ophelia’s, The Shoebox Café, Minton’s, and The Cecil, New York’s first Afro-Asian American restaurant.
The...

Weekend Getaways
Most visitors to Abu Dhabi quickly realize that, intriguingly, the capital’s vibe isn’t easy to nail down — though it’s certainly captivating. The largest emirate in the UAE is certainly historic; it’s home to Neolithic sites, ancient agricultural villages and Bronze Age tombs. Still, natural attractions abound, too — from mangrove forests and rugged peaks to pristine oases and a wildlife sanctuary within a protected reserve.
Then there’s the old-meets-new architecture, where...

I felt it the moment I woke up that day in my cozy dorm bed in a hostel in Copenhagen; it was going to be a perfect day. The previous days’ cloudy skies had disappeared, and warm sunshine flooded in through the open window. “Good morning,” my Spanish roommate greeted me from the bed across from me, tying the laces on her fuchsia sneakers. Then with a quick wave, she was gone. I stretched my arms and yawned lazily before getting up. Alone in the dorm, I peeked into the oval mirror on the wall ...

Dubai is known for its luxe accommodations, but there's more to explore when looking for hotels.
If you're craving a boutique experience, book the XVA Hotel, found in one of Dubai's oldest houses.
For a private beach or an infinity pool, check out the Jumeirah Mina A'Salam or Address Sky View.
The XVA Art Hotel offers a unique stay in the historic district
Tucked away in the charming alleyways of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, the boutique XVA Hotel is located in one of Dubai's oldest...

Dubai is filled with vibrant restaurants, from hidden gems and pastry shops to waterfront bistros.
Sample the best cheesecake at Home Bakery, along with chocolate-pistachio kunafa and milk cakes.
Brunch at the Arabian Tea House, enjoy a date night at Taverna Kitchen, and grab a burger at Salt.
Although Dubai is famous for having the world's tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa, the city in the United Arab Emirates is also home to luxe restaurants, delectable pastry shops, and more.
Here are the r...

Travel
This Ramadan, break your fast with flavourful dishes from around the world, from South Asian snacks to sumptuous Levantine desserts.
In Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and the Gulf, a favourite iftar dessert is qatayef, a crescent-shaped filled pastry.
During Ramadan — a month of prayer, abstinence, self-reflection and benevolence, which this year starts on 12 April — Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, foregoing food and drink, including water, until the call to maghrib prayers...

I was born and raised in Dubai, and I'm sharing the best things to do, see, and eat in the city.
Tourists should visit Kite Beach, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Al Fahidi neighborhood.
They should eat at Al Ustad Special Kabab, Salt, La Fabbrica Italiana, and Home Bakery.
Dubai was once a fishing, trading, and pearl-diving hub along the Arabian Gulf, but now it's a modern metropolis home to architectural marvels and expats from around the world.
Although it's famous for having the w...

Previously the preserve of home kitchens in Dubai, Emirati cuisine – with its rich and layered heritage, plethora of colourful ingredients and flavourful dishes – is now stepping out into the world.

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...

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...

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 ...