After the rain: Stunning sunset on 2021

I’ve watched the sun set plenty of times in Dubai, but after it’s rained and the city is freshly laundered, sunsets can be particularly spectacular. Orange gold stretches far and wide across the desert, and as the sun slips below the horizon, the sky turns vibrant shades of red and pomegranate pink.

This was the last sunset of 2021, and as the year slid away, my dog and I discovered that the sand had turned to quicksand! We had to find firmer ground pretty sharpish! Here’s hoping that the shifting, often shaky ground of 2021 gives way to a more solid normal in 2022.

Wishing everyone a very happy new year!

Silent Sunday: May the force be with you

We hit the desert at the weekend, on a safari filled with falcons, camels, food, fun and dune bashing. The sun really was the star of the show though, with an unforgettable sunset.

We hit the desert at the weekend, on a safari filled with falcons, camels, food, fun and dune bashing. The sun really was the star of the show though, with an unforgettable sunset. Simply beautiful!


This isn’t sponsored, but I really recommend Arabian Adventures if you’re looking for a desert safari tour operator.

Silent Sunday: 50 Shades of Yellow

Returning to the Middle East after summer leave is really the only time you see Dubai through the eyes of a tourist. What always strikes me is the colour palette – the yellows, beiges, saffrons, hints of lemon, touches of ochre, seen on the ground, on villas and buildings, and at the beach. They’re such warm, cheerful colours, but best of all, I love the way the city is bathed in almost non-stop golden sunshine.

Sunset over the land of sand, taken by my friend Elin Boyd