Welcome
Hi, I’m Justine
Hi. I’m Justine! An avid traveler, writer, and California native who now calls Dubai home. When I moved to Dubai with my husband in early 2022, I knew next to nothing about this place and I really didn’t know what to expect. Despite having lived in five different countries in the past decade, this was the move I was the most nervous about (which now seems silly!). Fast-forward to 2024, and I’m so glad we made the leap to live in Dubai!
Like most newbie expats I spent my first year here trying to navigate the unique world that is Dubai. From stumbling through our first apartment rental process to sweating out my first Dubai summer to trying to figure out where to find the best and cheapest avocados in town (yes, I am a true Californian), it was a bit of a bumpy ride.
Along the way, I realized there is a serious lack of helpful information about not only expat life in Dubai but travel in Dubai and the UAE, too. And that’s how Dubai Dreaming was born. As a longtime travel writer, blogger, and expat, starting this site just seemed like the natural thing to do!
On this site, I hope to shed a little bit of light on what life is really like in Dubai. You’ll find helpful guides on living in Dubai, detailed Dubai travel tips, as well as informative posts about moving to Dubai and the many incredible travel destinations in the UAE in general.
So whether you’re researching a potential move to Dubai and want to know what life is really like, a new expat struggling to find information, or a traveler planning an epic trip to Dubai, Dubai Dreaming is here to help!
Fun Facts About Me
countries lived in
seven
countries visited
40
grateful for
my family
Favorite cuisine
mexican
my weekends
exploring dubai
best snuggle buddies
my foster kitties
My Favorite destinations
No posts
My Favorite Foods
No posts
My Favorite Place to go
Where this all began
Over the past 10 years, my expat journey has taken me from living in my hometown of San Diego, California, to living in Jakarta, Phnom Penh, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, and now Dubai – where I plan to stay put!
Along the way, I’ve worked as a travel writer for magazines, newspapers, websites, and travel blogs. It’s out of my experience as both a travel writer and expat that Dubai Dreaming was born. I hope this can be a resource for everyone who’s dreaming about Dubai, whether you’re planning to visit or take the plunge and move here, like me!