Now that the conference side of the trip is out of the way, it’s time to get into my first full day in Dubai, the moment the work badge came off and the travel girl came alive.
Landing in Dubai: First Impressions
Touching down at Dubai International Airport instantly reminded me that this city does everything at scale. The airport is massive, spotless, and beautifully designed. You can tell there’s money behind every structure, Dubai has invested in infrastructure that works.
After exiting the plane, we took a train to the other side of the terminal to get our passports stamped. It honestly felt like I was on the Gautrain, smooth, fast, and efficient.
One thing I love about travelling with work is how everyone blends in with tourists. You’re surrounded by people in transit, but no one can tell who’s there for business and who’s there for vacation. I love that energy.
Stepping Into the Dubai Heat:
Once our passports were stamped, our driver was already waiting for us. The moment we stepped outside, the heat introduced itself properly, Dubai is HOT. It felt like the Amazon desert, but with skyscrapers.
On the drive to our hotel, we got to take in the skyline and even caught a quick glimpse of the Burj Khalifa. That alone made me feel like, “Okay, I’m really here.”
Checking In: NH Collection Dubai, The Palm
We arrived on a very hot Tuesday morning and checked into NH Collection Dubai The Palm, located on Palm Jumeirah, yes, the iconic man-made island. Palm Jumeirah is like its own city: malls, restaurants, beach clubs, and luxury everything.
My room was clean, modern, and honestly perfect. But I wasn’t there to sit inside, I took a quick shower, got dressed, and went straight to explore.
Rooftop Views & Infinity Pool Goals:
First stop: the rooftop infinity pool. The views were insane, skyline, water, and that Dubai glow. The pool gets full quickly because everyone wants their picture-perfect moment, so timing is everything. And let me just say: don’t underestimate that Dubai heat.
Beach Club Vibes & Afrobeats:
After a quick soak-in of the views, I went down to the beach club to grab a drink. My friend and I started taking pictures, and then I heard Afrobeats in the distance. You already know I followed the sound. I ended up at another beach spot just vibing to the music, even if it was just for 30 minutes, I still had colleagues to meet up with.
Lunch at Zenzi Beach:
We regrouped, grabbed an Uber, and headed to Zenzi Beach for lunch. One thing about Dubai: they take air-conditioning seriously. It can be 40°C outside, but the second you step indoors, you feel like you’re in spring.
We ordered starters (I’ll show you the picture below because I genuinely forgot what it was), and for mains, I had prawns because I’m a seafood girly through and through. I also had an Aperol Spritz that hit just right.
Dubai Mall & The Burj Khalifa Moment:
From the beach club, we decided to head to Dubai Mall. Traffic was hectic, and it took us almost an hour to get there. By the time we arrived, it was around 7 PM.
We window-shopped, picked up a few things, and then stepped outside, and that’s when everything stopped.
I finally got to experience the Burj Khalifa in real life, along with the dancing fountains. That building isn’t just tall, it feels alive. When the lights hit it, it speaks to you. It whispers reminders that you’re not here by accident. It tells you there’s more waiting for you.
In that moment, I thought about my husband and my son. I missed them deeply, but I also felt this quiet confidence that one day I’ll be back here with them, on my own terms.
Calling It a Night:
We headed back to the hotel to rest because the next morning we were leaving for the conference. But trust me, I still owe you a full post about my five-star Emirates Business Class experience, coming soon.
Dubai Day One was a soft launch into a new version of me.