DUBAI… Beyond Awesome

By Senay GOKCEN | Editor-in-Chief

There are times in life when you just want to quit your day job, walk away from it all, and hit the reset button. Sound familiar? Or is that your daily fantasy on repeat? Let’s be real-we’re all in the same boat.

Last month, when my sister-in-law Mutti PORTO suggested a getaway, I didn’t even hesitate. I had just seen Kanye WEST’s adidas collection (enough said), and I desperately needed either medical attention or a faraway place to scream into the void. My mood was screaming “new beginning,” so I said, “Yes! Let’s do it.” We spend every year buried in plans and schedules, trying to keep life tidy and organized. For once, we actually dropped everything and just went.

On our Emirates flight, Mutti and I joked about spotting Tom Cruise at the top of Burj Khalifa. My husband and brother rolled their eyes, unimpressed. The kids, on the other hand, were ecstatic: “Are we going to see the set of Mission Impossible 5?! Yaaay!”

Landing at Dubai International Airport felt like stepping from one planet to another. The captain’s voice was warm and smooth, and after leaving a frozen climate behind, his announcement felt like a welcome embrace. It was 10 PM when the city lights came into view-dazzling, surreal, breathtaking. For a moment, we were speechless, then came the endless chorus of OMGs. Words weren’t enough.

Dubai is a city under constant transformation, with towers rising everywhere you look. The architecture stuns you at every turn, from the artificial islands to the jaw-dropping hotels. Add in the tax-free shopping, world-class malls, luxury dining, and entertainment spots-you suddenly understand why this city is called a playground of excess.

In just a few days, we managed to see Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, the Atlantis, and the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, among other must-sees. But time was never enough. Every time we posted on Instagram, stores and restaurants sent us warm invitations. Sadly, we couldn’t accept them all, so clearly, another trip is in order.

Mutti deserves her own spotlight here. She’s a mechanical engineer, not a fashion insider, yet her sense of style and eye for aesthetics is unmatched. She’s also a DIY powerhouse-designing accessories, crafting creative pieces, and now exploring fashion photography as her latest obsession. I’ve known her for more than 20 years and have always wanted her on our Editorial Board. She always declined-until now. So, I’m thrilled to finally introduce her as Fashion Trendsetter’s new Editor-at-Large & Lifestyle Writer. In Dubai, we took over 10,000 photos together. We’re not the type to live through social media, so only a handful made it to Instagram. The rest are tucked safely away, but you can view three full sets in high resolution on our Flickr at flic.kr/s/aHska1WtMc.

Lesson learned: never try to “do Dubai” in a weekend. Stay as long as you can-or move there permanently-if you want to truly understand the famous saying: “Speak English, kiss French, drive German, dress Italian, spend Arab.”

Dubai is luxury magnified: opulent lifestyles, glittering settings, organic-yet-outrageous cars, cutting-edge fashion, and hospitality that makes you feel at home in a dream you never want to wake up from. Mix all that with a splash of gold and glitter, and you’ve got your “Delicious #MyDubai Dessert,” served right in the middle of the desert.

With admiration for His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and deep gratitude to everyone building this incredible city: Dubai, we heart you.

All images by Senay GOKCEN & Mutti PORTO © Fashion Trendsetter.