Shawarmas to sunsets, the Dubai things we miss most when we leave

I think Dubai has spoilt me. I’m far too used to reaching a place 13 kilometres away in exactly 13 minutes. So when it suddenly takes me 40 minutes to get somewhere barely 15 minutes away, I have to actively stop myself from grinding my teeth.

And that’s just one of the many things you end up missing when you leave, thinking you’re ready to swap the desert for leafy suburbs and slower living. But give it a week (okay, maybe a day), and you’ll find yourself longing for things you never thought you'd pine for.

So, we asked around the Gulf News newsroom: What do people secretly, or not so secretly, miss the moment they leave Dubai?

it’s the first thing that comes to Christian Borbon, the Gulf News web editor’s mind. Malls, and the children love those weekends out the most.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged, no one does malls like Dubai. From the colossal Dubai Mall, the Mall of the Emirates, or your neighborhood mall tucked between high-rises, there’s an undeniable joy in spending an entire day wandering through air-conditioned retail heaven.

Chinatown? Absolutely. Miniso and Daiso calling your name from every corner? Irresistible. Suddenly, you’re walking out with adorable stationery, quirky cutlery, and gadgets you didn’t know you needed, but now can’t imagine living without.

And the best part: You swore you were just going in for a quick coffee. Eight hours later, you’re holding a bag of luxury candles, a fresh pair of sneakers, and two tickets to the underwater zoo.

Chaos? Yes. Do you secretly love it? Also yes.

Where else can you take a walk at 3 am. just because you feel like it? Dubai offers a level of safety and peace of mind that’s hard to match—especially for women. There’s comfort in knowing you can stroll to your favorite late-night shawarma spot without thinking twice. It’s the kind of everyday freedom you don’t fully appreciate, until it’s gone.

Speaking of shawarmas…

Before coming to Dubai, I made a mistake declaring that I had already eaten the best shawarmas. I couldn’t have been more wrong, and people around me still remind me of this tactical error. There are so many varieties of shawarmas here, that it’s hard to choose: Shawarma sandwiches, salads, from beef to chicken, accompanied by falafels. And the good news is, there’s always a shawarma store close to you.

Then there’s the hummus. Creamy, rich, drizzled with olive oil and bursting with fresh chickpea flavour. There’s just something about UAE hummus that hits differently. After leaving, the store-bought stuff in the sad black plastic tub just doesn’t cut it anymore.

In Dubai, you're truly spoilt for choice. One day you're craving Ethiopian injera, the next you're lured in by the rich spices of Moroccan tagine. On other days, it’s all about embracing your Indian roots with buttery naans, creamy butter chicken, or a perfectly crisp dosa. The best part: You don’t have to compromise, you can indulge in all of it, whenever the craving strikes.

Where else can you buy Turkish delight, Korean instant noodles, Iranian saffron, and Filipino lumpia wrappers in the same aisle? There’s always a Carrefour or a market around the corner to help out, even at 12 am, when you realise that you have run out of potatoes and there’s nothing for the next day, (believe me, it can happen).

David George, Gulf News’ commercial publisher and head of design, recalls the time an ambulance reached his home in just four minutes when his mother needed urgent medical attention. It was a moment of immense relief—and a reminder of the kind of responsive, dependable emergency services Dubai offers. It’s a level of security you don’t realise, you will miss,  until you’re somewhere else, waiting far too long in a crisis.

Dubai roads are kind of a flex. Clean, well-planned, and wide, they’re built for people who like to actually get somewhere on time. If you’ve timed your trip right, you’ll get there on the dot—no mystery detours, no bumper-to-bumper misery, and definitely no ‘Sorry, traffic!’ excuses. Once you’ve cruised Dubai’s highways, sitting in endless gridlock elsewhere feels,  personally offensive.

Elsewhere, brunch is avocado toast and quiet conversation. In Dubai:  It’s a five-hour feast with a DJ, ten types of sushi, and a vague sense of impending Monday regret. Iconic.

There’s an unearthly beauty watching the desert sunset. And when you're watching a flat grey skyline in your new city, palm-framed sunsets hit differently in your memory.

This one’s a personal favourite from our digital editor, Mark Thompson: in Dubai, you never have to pump your own petrol. It’s a small luxury, but once you’ve had it, doing it yourself again feels like a cruel joke.