School drop off in a Lamborghini

Hey it’s Lisa. I recently moved back to Dubai. Here are the best and worst things about living in one of the glitziest cities on the planet. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Hi, I’m [Lisa Fleisher](. I’ve been working with the Bloomberg Pursuits crew for more than six years, but I just moved over to the team full time as we expand our coverage of all things luxury in the Middle East. The timing is perfect. I live in Dubai, and there’s a ton to cover in this slice of the world these days. The United Arab Emirates has become a [haven for wealthy Russians]( looking for a place they can freely spend their cash. [Luxury real estate]( here is booming—and Bloomberg recently [unmasked the identity]( of the buyer of a record-setting villa on the Palm Jumeirah, the man-made archipelago. [Michelin just came through]( and awarded stars to Dubai restaurants. Then there’s [Neom](, the Saudi crown prince’s luxurious urban megaproject. A rendering from an internal “style catalog” for the planned high-tech region of Neom that was seen by Bloomberg Businessweek. Photographer: Iman Al-Dabbagh Another Very Big Deal: We’ve got the [2022 FIFA World Cup]( coming up in nearby Doha, expected to bring more than 1 million fans into the country of Qatar. The big unknown for the games—beyond the speculation around [beer consumption]( in a conservative Muslim country—is whether there will be enough housing and transportation for visitors. Several luxury hotels are still under construction, and the tournament starts Nov. 20. Qatari officials are even offering [desert tents]( for fans. Which could be cool? Or a disaster? Rustic, bedouin-style tents will offer no-frills accommodations for fans during the World Cup Source: Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Fans aren’t going to just spend their time and money in Qatar. [Many are planning side trips]( to Dubai, Oman, Jordan, or elsewhere. I’ve spoken to staff at several Michelin-star-level spots who are planning fan experiences, even placing—gasp!—televisions in restaurant and bar areas. What is this, [a Buffalo Wild Wings](? I’m originally from northern New Jersey, known primarily for its malls. Now I live in Dubai, which is, I guess, also known primarily for its malls. But it’s much more than that. I keep getting asked what it’s like to live in Dubai—especially after the release of the [latest Real Housewives series]( set here. Do I feel comfortable as a woman? (Yes.) What can I wear? (Anything I want.) Can I drink alcohol? (Yes, though it’s expensive, and I just wrote a story about the rise of [mocktail culture]( here.) The nonalcoholic Jaguarete cocktail at Dubai’s Amazonico sells for $16 and incorporates papaya, tangerine, salted cashew, and Perrier. Photographer: Lisa Fleisher/Bloomberg Perhaps the biggest culture shift has been the fact that here, luxury is all around you. (Useful for my new gig.) And it is attainable to people at a lower level of wealth than in other cities. A typical family outing on the weekend might be lounging by the pools at a five-star beachfront resort. Malls, outdoor areas, and cars are constantly sparkling, cleaned of the desert dust, thanks to low-paid foreign workers. Many families have a live-in nanny or two who also cleans, and some have cooks and drivers. When I dropped off my kid at preschool the other day, I pulled up behind a dad in a [Lamborghini Urus]( custom wrapped in Gloss Drosera Green (basically lime green). That $200,000 family SUV looked a little something like this. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg Expats go wild on cars here. A Brit told me once that it’s an opportunity to buy the dream car you never thought you’d be able to afford: There’s no income tax in the UAE, so as long as you’re not American (we’re taxed worldwide, so the benefit isn’t quite as large), you get a massive boost in salary. Plus, there’s only a 5% sales tax on cars. Compare that to a 20% sales tax in places like the UK, or 100% in some countries. But being surrounded by luxury doesn’t mean you have to participate. When I lived here a few years ago, I drove a Prius, and people were stunned. Confused. Why would I choose something energy efficient in one of the cheapest places in the world for gas? I couldn’t actually find one on the market when I tried to buy another recently.  Hotels here are over-the-top, and the forthcoming Atlantis Royal raises that bar even higher. Photographer: Ross Kenneth Urken Yes, there are lots of new, marble-clad [places to eat and drink and shop here]( in Dubai. I take business meetings in cavernous hotel lobbies, [with fresh dates]( offered along with a tissue. But I find myself wondering whether all this luxury makes for a luxurious life. To me, one downside to living here is that I have to get into my car to do almost anything—get a cup of coffee, go to work, hang out with friends. Previously, when I lived in Manhattan, I could walk (on nice days) through Central Park from my apartment on the Upper West Side to work at Bloomberg’s HQ at 59th and Lex. It took 40 minutes, but it was glorious. The ultimate luxury is, of course, how we spend your time—our own individual bear market. I look forward to helping you get more bullish on it in the weeks to come. Connect with Lisa on [Twitter]( or [Instagram]( Some Middle East Stories You Should Read [What to Expect at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar]( This year’s global soccer spectacle will be unlike any other. [Michelin Awards 11 Dubai Restaurants Stars for the First Time]( The list is heavy on European flavors, including French and Italian restaurants, as well as Japanese, Chinese and Indian. [Is This Dubai’s Most Luxurious Hotel Yet?]( A hard-hat tour of the $1.4 billion Atlantis Royal reveals a new tourism strategy for the Emirate. [Dubai to Scour New York Looking for Next Great American Watchmaker]( Officials from Dubai Watch Week will be in town for a pop-up event in September promoting watchmaking and collecting. What I’ve Been Reading About Queen Elizabeth II Like a lot of Americans my age, I grew up viewing the Queen through the lens of Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s relationship. She was already a grandma when I first heard of her. It wasn’t until I watched The Crown on Netflix that I realized the extraordinary position she was put into, someone who didn’t grow up thinking she would be required to lead a nation—a deeply complicated one at that. That’s made looking through [these pictures]( of the late monarch all the more meaningful. [Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s Longest-Reigning Monarch, Dies at 96]( [The Story of the Queen’s Final Public Portrait]( [King Charles III’s First Address to the UK in Full]( [The Revolutionary Monarchy of Elizabeth II]( [In Pictures: The Life of Queen Elizabeth II]( So, You’ve Got Questions? Here’s some answers! Whatever the topic, keep them coming for next week via our [ Bloomberg Pursuits Instagram]( and [ e-mail](mailto:daydreams@bloomberg.net?I%20have%20a%20question). What are the most expensive and prestigious residential areas in Dubai? The first place that comes to mind is the Palm Jumeirah’s fronds—the “branches” of the “tree”—where some of the city’s most expensive homes are located. There are some listed in the [$12 million]( to [$16 million]( range, right on the beach, most with private pools and about five or six bedrooms. Beyond that, branded living is a big trend—essentially, living in a place created by a hotel company like Six Senses, Bulgari or, soon, Four Seasons. Similar price range, actually, like [this four-bedroom]( listed for $12 million. The constant construction in Dubai means there are always new areas that are seen as the most luxurious, nicest, or most sought-after. Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah man-made archipelago, seen here circa 2009. Photographer: Marwan Naamani/AFP/Getty Images Is it fun and easy to travel to the UAE as a single woman without being hassled by men? Yes. It’s very safe, taxis are easy to call via the apps Uber or Careem (owned by Uber) and there are lots of staff members and security at all restaurants and attractions to help out. People are very respectful—legally, you can get in trouble for certain kinds of disrespect. You can wear whatever you want in most places in the city. Just scroll through the [Dubai hashtag]( on Instagram and you’ll see what I mean. There are exceptions, like government offices or places of worship (duh.) My husband once was trying to renew some paperwork and got kicked out of the local “happiness center” (can you imagine calling the DMV the happiness center?) for wearing shorts. Who is your favorite housewife of Dubai? Which of the housewives has the best reputation locally? I haven’t watched the show yet! I know, major fail on my part as an actual Dubai housewife. I’m not sure about what locals think, because it’s a little difficult to get a sense of a diverse population. On the one hand, it’s a big city: nearly 3.5 million people, [31% female, 69% male](, and only [8% local Emirati citizens](. But it’s also small in some ways: I’ve asked a few of my closest friends to get together for a viewing party soon, and one said that she was connected to a few of the RHOD through friends. Real Housewives of Dubai cast member Chanel Ayan. Photographer: Kamran Jebreili/AP What’s the best golf experience in the city? Even though it’s the desert, golf has become a massive deal here. ([Catch up on the Saudi-backed LIV]( and all its [drama with the PGA]( if you haven’t yet.) Anyway, so I don’t golf, but my friends do. I consulted some of the best (only) golfers I know, and they say the Earth course in Jumeirah Golf Estates or the Majlis course in Emirates Golf Club. They also mentioned the Montgomerie and Dubai Hills courses as good backups. Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Pursuits newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, [sign up here]( to get it in your inbox. [Unsubscribe]( [Bloomberg.com]( [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( [Ad Choices](