It’s been over one year since a new post has gone up on Ynique. So much for my 2017 New Year’s resolution. Well like I said in my last post, it’s never too late! That being said, I’m throwing it back to my first ever trip to Dubai, which also took place over a year ago.

Going on my first international vacation in 12 years, I was both nervous and excited to hop on a 16 hour flight out of good ol’ Tom Bradley International by myself. My cousin received me from DXB airport wearing a full abaya. I was definitely not in America anymore. If you don’t know what an abaya looks like, click this link or reference.

When visiting an Arab country, it is advised that you dress conservatively to show your respect to the culture and abide by the dress code enforced in most public places. My cousin’s advice: boob or leg, but not both. In other words, if you are going to show off your legs, cover your chest and vice versa. I visited in the middle of November, so the weather was HOT. It was a bit uncomfortable not being able to dress for the weather, but when in Rome…

The first couple of days were spent sightseeing various tourist locations. One of my first destinations was the Souk Al Bahar, which means “Market of the Sailor,” a shopping, entertainment and dining destination located in Downtown Dubai. The center includes loads of restaurants, cafes, lounges, gift shops and overlooks the Dubai Fountain and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. It has national stone corridors, high archways, subdued lighting, arabesque decor and an endless mix of authentic gifts including jewelry, fashion wear, perfumes, carpets, furnishings and more.

During the week, I visited one of my favorite attractions–the United Arab Emirates’ most coveted, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of UAE. It is the third largest mosque in the world and was opened in 2007 for worship. The marble-clad architecture, elaborate glossy floral flooring, and Swarovski crystal-encrusted decor are absolutely breathtaking.

At noon, a muezzin chanted a mesmerizing call to prayer and I practically cried. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. The chant takes place about five times per day and is broadcasted by satellite to over 250 mosques. I found a link to a YouTube video to give you an audio/visual idea, though it fades in comparison to the realtime experience.

The last weekend of my 10 day trip was one of its notable highlights. I had planned to visit Dubai over Thanksgiving weekend, which fell on the same weekend as one of UAE’s largest events, Formula One: the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix held at the Yas Marina.

It’s an hour and a half cab ride from Dubai to Abu Dhabi–AND we made the trek three days in a row! Our lives consisted of three hours of sleep, trying to stay alive, downing food, getting ready, partying until sunrise, cabbing it back home at 6 or 7am and then doing it all over again. Needless to say, we were running on the heady fumes of the excitement of an annual international event that had brought together people from all corners of the world.

On Friday night, we had dinner and drinks at Cipriani to kick off the weekend, joined by Drake and his crew only a couple tables away. Post dinner, Paris Hilton struck up a bff conversation in the bathroom which led to our selfie after her set at club Iris. Saturday: back to Abu Dhabi because I HAD to see Drake (although, he didn’t end up performing until Sunday). Then, Sunday we were VIP front and center for Rhianna at the Du Arena followed by a very intimate performance by Drake (finally!).

Some of the other photos are snapshots from the James Bond Exhibit at the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Aquarium (highly recommend!) and the Dubai Mall, hands down the best mall I’ve ever been to.

If you are thinking of visiting Dubai, I highly recommend the places mentioned here + a couple tips to keep in mind:

-Visit between October and April to catch the best weather.

-Make sure to bring enough spending money as drinks can be expensive (around $30 USD each).

-Pack with respect to the culture.

-Avoid kissing in public.

-Tipping in Dubai is not expected.

Shukraan liqurayatik (thanks for reading)!