My fabulous Friday: Ali Al Sayed

You’ll always find scraps of paper and napkins with jokes written on them in my pockets. If I think of a good line while I’m out, I scribble it down. I could record it on my phone but I’m old school. So far I’ve never lost one!

One of my favourite things to do on a weekend is to escape the city and explore the rest of the UAE. I love the Fujairah Friday Market. We drive there and buy some grilled corn to eat, then head up to the mountains or down to the beach. It’s a lovely way to find peace and chill out.

There’s no better place to chill in Dubai than at Al Makan Restaurant in Madinat Jumeirah. I like to go there in winter, sit outside with friends with some food and drink, and just relax and take in the views of the water. It’s perfect.

When I’m travelling, I tend to listen to Al Green. He was the guy I listened to when I first went on tour, and his music has been my travel companion ever since. He puts me in the right frame of mind.

If I could spend my weekend with one celeb, I’d have to choose Chris Rock. He’s my favourite comedian. He’s so sharp and has a refreshing view of the world but at the same time, he’s a little crazy. Time with him would be unpredictable, I think.

Dubai is my home and I’m from the generation that grew up half in the desert and half in this pulsating metropolis. As I grew in size, so did the city. In many ways it is my best friend – you can’t live here and not be inspired to follow your dreams. I love it. I enjoy going on tours and travelling, but there’s no city with energy like Dubai.