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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.