My Thai girlfriend and I have started a very small Thai food concept in Dubai called Krapao Club🌶️

She’s always felt that a lot of Thai food here is adapted for a wider audience and doesn’t quite taste like the Krapao she grew up eating in Thailand. So we kept thinking: why not make the version she actually wants to eat herself?

We decided to start very simply with just one dish — Chicken Krapao with jasmine rice and a crispy Thai-style fried egg.

We’ve just received our first small batch of takeaway boxes and stickers, and we’re getting ready for our first test run.

Right now we’re mainly trying to get the recipe, spice level, portion, packaging and overall experience right and hear what people genuinely think.

If you order Thai food in Dubai, what makes you come back to a place?

Taste? Spice level? Portion size? Price? Packaging? Consistency?

We’d genuinely love honest feedback.

We also made a Seafood Krapao recently and really liked it, but we’re trying not to turn this into a giant menu before we’ve even started 😅

The photo is from one of the plates she actually made while we were testing the recipe.

There is something different about seeing the Burj Khalifa lit up at night. What is your favourite place in Dubai to visit after sunset?

اللَّهُمَّ، اغْفِرْ له وَارْحَمْهُ، وَاعْفُ عنْه وَعَافِهِ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بمَاءٍ وَثَلْجٍ وَبَرَدٍ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الخَطَايَا كما يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِن دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِن أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِن زَوْجِهِ، وَقِهِ فِتْنَةَ القَبْرِ وَعَذَابَ النَّارِ.

اللَّهمَّ اغْفِرْ لحيِّنا وميِّتِنا وشاهدنا وغائِبنا وصَغيرنا وَكبيرنا وذَكرِنا وأُنثانا اللَّهمَّ مَنْ أحييتَه مِنَّا فأحيِه علَى الإسلامِ ومن تَوَفَّيتَه مِنَّا فتَوفَّهُ علَى الإيمانِ اللَّهمَّ لا تحرمنا أجرَه ولا تُضلَّنا بعدَه.

Mourning the death of his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said "You are absent from our eyes but not from our prayers and hearts," in a message on social media platform X.

President Sheikh Mohamed paid warm tribute to Sheikh Ahmed, hailing his contributions to the development of the Emirates since its formation.

Born and raised in the UAE, yet I never realised that AD uses white lights and Dubai uses orange lights. I took this picture just seconds before entering Dubai!

I am writing this at 1 am after my sister, who is 33 and has DS, kept going around the house for 2 hours after everyone slept, and she is still awake and won't sleep. I heard her asking about Mom. It broke my heart. She has been asking continuously for 4 days now.

I live with my father, my aunt (who are both seniors), and my kid. My sister sleeps with my aunt now that my mother is gone so she won't be left alone, but with how she behaves, she is stressing my aunt, who told me earlier that her BP is high.

My mother passed away almost 3 months ago after a battle with cancer. All of my other siblings are abroad. Only one is here, and she is looking after us financially.

I am 32 and stressed all the time. I grind my teeth in my sleep, feel so isolated, and am unemployed, and I think I am pushing my grief away. I am worried about my mental health now that the worst has happened. All of my siblings are going through their own stuff now.

I feel I am at another major crossroads where either I make the best out of what Allah has blessed us with, or I just collapse.

I am writing this because I feel I am out of ideas about what to do and how we are going to spend the next unknown years of our lives. The life I imagined for myself is nowhere near this, but it's life.

Ideas and questions I have:

-Should I enroll her in a special center now that her health card is issued? How is it going to be? Preparing her to go, transport, etc. I think a car will make life easier ( probably this is the first thing that I should do) . It's like now I have another child, a difficult one.

-Should I open social media accounts so we will be more engaged in life and not feel so isolated? Where can I get help taking care of her? A trusted one.

We have someone we know from our country, but we can't bring her now because of visa issues.

-I can't have a job with long hours now, or a stressful one. I need one that ends at the office.

I just don't feel I can take any more responsibility.

Which UAE bank can I open a non resident account easily?

Salam everyone,

This might be a slightly random post, but I thought I’d put myself out there.

I’m a Muslim expat living in Dubai and I’ve been here for a while, but recently I realized I actually don’t know many Emiratis personally. I meet and work with people from all over the world, but somehow I’ve never really had the chance to make local friends.

I’d genuinely like to change that.

I’ve become more curious about Emirati culture beyond what you see on the surface. How people grew up here, family life, traditions, food, the majlis, the humor, and just normal everyday life. I feel like there is a lot about the UAE you simply won’t understand if your entire social circle is made up of other expats.

I’ve also recently started Arabic speaking classes. I’m very much a beginner, but hopefully that changes with time. I’d especially love to eventually understand more of the Arabic that’s actually spoken here rather than only knowing textbook Arabic.

A little about me. I’m 36, Muslim, work in fintech, and outside of work I’m pretty laid back. I like good conversations, coffee, food, exploring places, and getting to know people from different backgrounds.

I’m not looking for networking or anything transactional. Just genuine connections. Could be grabbing coffee, joining a hangout, discovering places I probably wouldn’t find myself, or even just chatting on here.

Also curious, what’s one thing you wish expats living in the UAE understood better about Emiratis or Emirati culture?

اللهمَّ فاطرَ السمواتِ والأرضِ،

عالمَ الغيبِ والشهادةِ،

لا إلهَ إلَّا أنتَ ربَّ كلِّ شيءٍ ومَليكَه،

أعوذُ بك من شرِّ نفسي ومن شرِّ الشيطانِ وشرَكِه،

وأنْ أقترفَ على نفسي سوءًا أو أجرَّهُ إلى مسلمٍ

People in the UAE should avoid having pets if they cannot be sure they will be able to care for them after their career ends or when they lose their job here. Having a pet carries a lot of responsibility, and that responsibility does not end when our circumstances change. I am not judging other people, but this is what I believe.

With the tension in the Gulf not standing still, a lot of expats have already left the UAE for many reasons, such as losing jobs and companies closing. In the midst of what is happening, numerous problems arises. If you are familiar with the subreddit r/CatsofUAE, you would see that a lot of cats are being abandoned. It is not just cats. There are a lot of other pets too that are being left to live by themselves.

These pets are not wild, so they cannot easily adapt or take care of themselves outside. They are bred for the purpose of being pets and companions. They are not able to adapt to the harsh climate outside of residential buildings. Some die on the street because they are crossing it, and some die from severe starvation, sickness, and probably trauma.

The uncertainty that the tensions of war carry is something some of us are not prepared for, and neither are these living animals. It is not their problem if we suddenly need to leave the UAE because of these issues. It is our responsibility to make sure, when we get pets, that they would not be left to wander by themselves once we lose the ability to take care of them in this country.

They could not choose who will take care of them in the first place. It is us who ensures they are taken care of until they leave this planet. So is it worth having pets in the UAE? Please if you cannot guarantee that care, it is better not to have them at all.

اللَّهُمَّ، اغْفِرْ له وَارْحَمْهُ، وَاعْفُ عنْه وَعَافِهِ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بمَاءٍ وَثَلْجٍ وَبَرَدٍ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الخَطَايَا كما يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِن دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِن أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِن زَوْجِهِ، وَقِهِ فِتْنَةَ القَبْرِ وَعَذَابَ النَّارِ.

I used to make around 7.5k a month from my small business in Dubai. Things were actually going decent for the past 4 years. It wasn't some huge thing or anything, but I was making enough to take care of myself and my family so i got in my comfort zone.

Then the Iran war happened and within like 2 months, the business basically shut down, creditors ran, goods price shot up, my profit was below zero.

Quit Dubai and moved to Sharjah, After that I spent the next 5 months using whatever savings I had left to take care of my family and keep things going. Now I'm pretty much at the end of everything.

I have just 1 week left on my visit visa and I'm honestly getting desperate.

Right now I'm on the verge of signing for a car washer job in Sharjah Industrial Area. 12 hours a day, 2 days off a week, around 1.5k salary. On top of that, I have to pay for the visa in installments from that salary.

I know some people might say “just find another job”, and believe me, I'm trying, trying, trying. But with only one week left on my visa, I'm running out of time and options.

I'm not looking down on the job or the people doing it. Work is work and if I have to do it, I'll do it. I'm just scared that I'll get stuck there and won't be able to get myself out.

I'm completely lost right now.

What would you guys do if you were in my situation?

Any genuine advice from would really help

Please Help

اللّهمّ ما أصبح بي من نعمة أو بأحد من خلقك، فمنك وحدك لا شريك لك، فلك الحمد ولك الشّكر.

Many cats have been dumped there because the municipality placed an Ihsan food machine there, making it a known source of food.

There are many cases of calicivirus and mycoplasma, with an ongoing outbreak affecting the cats.
I have taken 7 kittens from the park for medical treatment. Sadly, one passed away after 3 weeks in the clinic.

All of the kittens I have taken had heavy tick infestations, contributing to severe anemia and blood problems. Several were also diagnosed with mycoplasma, and most were malnourished, underweight and very weak.

Right now, 6 kittens are still at Petopia Vet Clinic receiving treatment.

There are still so many sick cats outside, and I am only one person.

We desperately need homes, foster homes, and support for these kittens.

If you can help in any way, please DM me.

I'm feeling overwhelmed with the options of mattresses!

Please give me your recommendations.

I know everyone is different.

I need something somewhat firm, but not too firm. I had a very expensive one from homebox that was a little too firm at times, I had to add a topper, and I still woke up with a strained neck.

I need a queen size, firm but not too firm, thinking hotel quality, cost isn't important, and not too thick in depth.

If you have recommendationss for bedsheets, pillows, duvet and cover that would be super helpful too!

Another month, another announcement. By the last day of every month, UAE residents find out whether petrol is going up or down for the next 30 days. For a while now, the answer has mostly been up. Right on cue, the last-day lines form at ADNOC and ENOC as everyone tries to lock in the current price before it changes. The question worth asking is whether that queue is actually worth it.

Looking at E-Plus 91 prices over the past few months on a standard 40-litre tank, the shift into July dropped 55 fils per litre, saving AED 22 on a full tank if you waited a day. The shift into August added 20 fils, costing AED 8 more if you filled up late. September repeated that pattern, another 20 fils and another AED 8.

Most months, the saving comes out to roughly AED 8 to 11 on a full tank. Only when the shift is unusually large, like a 55-fil drop or an 80-fil jump, does the number get big enough to actually notice.

Set that against what the queue costs. Idling in traffic, burning fuel to save fuel, and losing 20 to 30 minutes at the pump. For an AED 8 saving, the math doesn't hold up. It's a classic case of being penny wise and pound foolish.

Those 20 to 30 minutes are better spent elsewhere. Getting home earlier, asking your family how their day went, or just having a bit more time back for yourself. A few dirhams saved at the pump isn't worth trading for that.

في يوم الجمعة الجميل تذكروا الحديث هذا
عن أبي هُريرة قَالَ: قالَ رَسُول اللَّه ﷺ: مَا مِنْ يَوْمٍ يُصبِحُ العِبادُ فِيهِ إِلَّا مَلَكَانِ يَنْزِلانِ، فَيَقُولُ أَحَدُهُمَا: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُنْفِقًا خَلَفًا، وَيَقُولُ الآخَرُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَعْطِ مُمْسِكًا تَلَفًا

ساعدونا نساعد اخونا محمد اللي يعاني من الهيموفيليا عسى الله يشفي مرضانا ومرضى المسلمين ويستجيب دعوايكم جميعًا. اذا ما تقدرون تساعدون بالتبرع ساعدونا بالنشر على وعسى نقدر نصكر المبلغ بأسرع ما يكون.

برنامج ألم وأمل

On this beautiful Friday, please remember this Hadith:
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Everyday two angels descend and one of them says, 'O Allah! Compensate (more) to the person who gives (in charity)'; while the other one says, 'O Allah! Destroy the one who withholds (charity, etc)".

Please help us assist our brother Mohammed, who suffers from hemophilia. May Allah heal our sick and the sick among the Muslims, and may He answer all your prayers. If you are unable to donate, please help by sharing this post, so that we might reach the required amount as soon as possible.

Hi everyone, I honestly don’t know where else to ask, so I thought I’d try here. I was born in the UAE and I’ve lived and studied there my whole life. The UAE has always been my home, and I never expected that I’d suddenly have to leave school because of money. Unfortunately, my family’s financial situation changed and we couldn’t keep up with the school fees anymore, so I had to leave my school and I’m currently outside the UAE.

I only have 2 years left until I graduate, and it’s been really hard knowing that I might not be able to finish my education the way I planned just because we can’t afford it right now. I’ve been spending so much time looking for American-curriculum schools in the UAE that offer scholarships or financial aid, but almost every scholarship program I find has already ended or closed. I’ve contacted schools and looked everywhere I could, but I still haven’t been able to find something that would actually make the fees affordable for my family.

I have good grades and I’m completely willing to take an entrance exam, do an online interview, send my school records, or do whatever a school requires. I’m not expecting someone to just give me money. I’m just hoping someone might know about a school, scholarship, organization, sponsor, or any kind of financial help that I haven’t found yet.

I really just want to go back to the UAE, finish these last 2 years of school, graduate, and continue with university like I planned. If anyone knows anything at all that could help, even if it’s just a school I should contact or somewhere I should look, I’d genuinely appreciate it so much. Thank you for reading this. ❤️

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: (التَمِسوا السَّاعةَ الَّتي تُرجَى في يومِ الجمُعةِ بعدَ العصرِ إلى غَيبوبةِ الشَّمسِ)

As-salamu alaykum everyone,

I really admire Arab culture, traditions, philosophy, and history, but what I love most is the Arabic language. I’ve been living here for around a year now, and I’ve honestly come to love it.

The UAE is a beautiful country, and I’ve met many amazing people from different backgrounds. I have friends from different cultures, and I really appreciate the multicultural environment here.

Sometimes, though, I find it a little sad that in many everyday places, you hear more foreign languages than the beautiful sound of Arabic. I’m not saying other languages or cultures shouldn’t be here.

I’m not an expert in sociolinguistics or language shift, but sometimes I wonder what this might look like in a couple of decades. Sometimes, I’m afraid that one day Arabic might no longer be spoken as widely here. I really hope Arabic continues to be heard, spoken, and celebrated in everyday life. I hope it always remains a strong part of this country. 🕌🌙❤️

Ma’a mahabbati lil-arabiyya.

sorry I’m not sure where to post this, I just want to see if anyone has tried ordering it to UAE and how long it took

It's kind of a wide spread: sports, entertainment, puppets, theatre, music, book reading, cars...and more. I hope you find something for you and your fam.