Dubai isn't just bling and camels: 13 cliches that we're tired of hearing

What, your life isn’t like Dubai Bling?

I sigh and wonder how to answer my friends. How to tell you, dear ones that most of us aren’t quite bustling down the sidewalk with sequins and gold. How to tell you, that a reality show…isn’t really reality.

But that’s just one of the few cliches. It’s true, Dubai is dazzling, bold, and unapologetically extra, but for those of us who actually live here, some clichés get old faster than a summer sunburn.

So, here are some cliches that you might not want to bring up to a Dubai resident.

‘Do you even work?’

Yes, we work. Hard. Just because you catch us at a beach brunch or an art gallery opening doesn’t mean we’re not hustling. That’s the real Dubai grind.

Dubai hustle is real

Forget the myth that Dubai is some endless goldmine. The hustle is real, with people juggling gigs, visas, rent, and maybe a side hustle selling handmade jewelry on Instagram.

All women love gold and sequins

Okay, guilty. Many of us adore a good sparkle. But not everyone’s decked out in bling 24/7, some days it’s sneakers and sweatpants, thank you very much.

Dubai Bling equals Dubai life? Think again

Netflix’s Dubai Bling is glossy and fun, but it’s not the full story. The drama, the yachts, the mega-mansions, now wouldn’t that be lovely.

For most, it’s background noise to daily chores, traffic jams, and waiting for the metro.

‘Do you get to work on a camel?’

Spoiler: Camels are not your Uber here. Unless you’re on a desert safari, the only thing you’ll be riding is the metro or fighting for a parking spot at the mall.

You will never find love because everyone’s just passing through

True, many residents are on temporary visas, but love still happens,  in the metro, the gym, or even the laundromat. Stranger things have happened.

Every meal is an extravagant feast

Yes, Dubai has incredible dining. We do love and cherish those brunches with our friends and family: And oh my, it is a spread. But er, not all the time. We do get along nicely with simple shawarmas, supermarket ready-meals, and sometimes, just coffee and dates.

Every apartment has a Burj Khalifa view

Oh dear, the amount of times that I’ve heard this. But the truth is, most of us are staring at our neighbour’s laundry drying on the balconies,  or a construction site. And that's on a good day.

No one uses public transport

Tell that to the crowd at BurJuman Metro at rush hour. The metro is clean, efficient and jam-packed during peak hours. It's not just for tourists.