The City

In Dubai, ambition is not confined to its towering skyline; it pulses through the city’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, where startups are reshaping the future. Once a trading outpost, Dubai has become a magnet for entrepreneurs, with Dubai Internet City hosting over 1,600 tech firms, including giants like Microsoft and startups like Careem, acquired for $3.1 billion in 2019. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce reported 500 new businesses registered monthly in 2024, fueled by the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which commits $22 billion to make Dubai a top global economic hub by 2033.

This startup surge is deliberate. The Dubai Future District, a dedicated innovation zone, nurtures ventures in AI, fintech, and blockchain, with 2023 seeing $2.5 billion in venture capital inflows, per the Dubai FDI Monitor. Free zones like the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offer zero corporate tax for many sectors, attracting over 20,000 multinational companies. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) supports this ecosystem with smart infrastructure, enabling startups to leverage IoT and 5G for real-time solutions, from logistics apps to smart retail platforms.

Dubai’s appeal lies in its global connectivity. In 2023, the city welcomed 16.7 million tourists, per the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, many attending events like GITEX Global, a tech expo drawing 170,000 attendees. These gatherings connect startups with investors, fostering a culture of risk-taking. Yet, challenges persist. High operational costs and a competitive talent market test young companies, though initiatives like the Dubai Future Accelerators, which pair startups with government projects, ease these hurdles.

Dubai’s innovation ecosystem is a bold experiment in blending vision with pragmatism. It invites entrepreneurs to dream big but demands resilience in a fast-paced market. As the city positions itself as a global startup capital, it must ensure inclusivity, supporting local talent alongside international pioneers. For now, Dubai’s innovation hubs hum with possibility, proving that in this desert metropolis, ideas can rise as swiftly as its skyscrapers.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

In Dubai, the act of dining has become a cultural crossroads, a vibrant tapestry woven from the flavors of the world. Once known primarily for its glittering skyline, the city has quietly emerged as a global culinary capital, where Bedouin traditions meet Michelin-starred innovation. In 2024, Dubai’s dining scene welcomed over 17 million visitors, according to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, with restaurants like IDAM by Alain Ducasse and Zuma drawing food enthusiasts to a city that has redefined gastronomic ambition.

This culinary renaissance is no accident. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33, with its $22 billion commitment to economic diversification, has fueled investments in hospitality, positioning the city as a rival to London and New York. The Michelin Guide, which debuted in Dubai in 2022, awarded stars to 17 restaurants by 2024, celebrating venues like Trèsind Studio, where Indian cuisine is elevated to an art form, and Ossiano, an underwater dining experience at Atlantis The Palm. Beyond fine dining, the city’s food markets, such as the Ripe Market in Dubai Police Academy Park, showcase local Emirati dishes like harees and luqaimat alongside global street food, reflecting a cosmopolitan ethos.

Technology amplifies this culinary ascent. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) supports smart hospitality systems, enabling apps like Zomato to integrate AI-driven recommendations, guiding diners to hidden gems in Deira’s spice souks or Jumeirah’s beachfront bistros. In 2023, the Dubai Food Festival attracted 300,000 attendees, per official tourism reports, celebrating everything from Emirati coffee rituals to fusion cuisines that blend Japanese and Middle Eastern flavors.

Yet, this culinary boom faces challenges. The city’s desert climate strains local agriculture, pushing reliance on imports, though initiatives like the UAE’s Food Tech Valley, launched in 2021, aim to boost sustainable farming with vertical gardens and hydroponics. As Dubai’s restaurants compete globally, they must also preserve the authenticity of Emirati cuisine, ensuring dishes like machboos remain as celebrated as international fare.

Dubai’s dining scene is a microcosm of its ambition: a city that invites the world to its table while honoring its roots. As it plates up innovation, Dubai must balance global allure with local heritage, ensuring its culinary renaissance endures. For now, every bite in this city tells a story of a culture unafraid to blend tradition with reinvention.

Photo credits: Dubai Instagram. 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

Dubai’s skyline is a breathtaking testament to human ingenuity, a shimmering expanse of towers that seem to defy the desert’s limits. At its heart stands the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 829.8 meters, a needle of glass and steel piercing the sky since its completion in 2010. Its observation decks draw millions, with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism reporting 16.7 million visitors to the city in 2023, many captivated by this architectural icon. From its summit, one sees a city that has transformed from a quiet trading port into a global metropolis in mere decades.

Beyond the Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s skyline tells a story of audacious design. The Burj Al Arab, its sail-like form a symbol of luxury, redefines hospitality with its seven-star opulence. The Cayan Tower, twisting 90 degrees as it rises 306 meters, challenges engineering conventions, while the Dubai Marina’s dense cluster of skyscrapers reflects the city’s relentless ambition. These structures are more than aesthetic triumphs; they are integral to Dubai’s smart city vision. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) oversees the integration of IoT and AI technologies, enhancing visitor experiences with real-time navigation and smart infrastructure. The Dubai Economic Agenda D33, with its $22 billion investment in urban innovation, underscores this commitment, aiming to position Dubai as a leader in sustainable urban development by 2033.

Tourism fuels this architectural spectacle. In 2023, over 1.6 million visitors flocked to the Burj Khalifa alone, per official tourism data, contributing to an economy that thrives on global attention. The Dubai Fountain, choreographed to music and light, and the sprawling Dubai Mall nearby amplify the area’s allure, creating a sensory overload that defines the city’s ethos. Yet, this grandeur raises questions about sustainability. Cooling these towers in a desert climate demands immense energy, prompting investments in renewable solutions like the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which aims to generate 5,000 megawatts by 2030.

Dubai’s skyline is a bold wager on the future, a city that builds upward and outward with unrelenting optimism. It invites the world to marvel at its vision but also challenges itself to balance spectacle with responsibility. As new towers rise, Dubai must ensure its growth aligns with environmental stewardship, preserving the allure of a skyline that captures the imagination of millions.

Photo credits: Unsplash. 

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

At Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, Bombay Club redefines Indian dining with a focus on Western India’s culinary heritage. Chefs Manav Tuli and Kumaran Balaji present dishes like baked guinea fowl samosas, tandoori red snapper, and Bohri lamb biryani, with mains starting at AED 120. “We aim to showcase India’s diversity with every bite,” Tuli told Khaleej Times. The vibrant decor—rattan accents, animal prints, and bold colors—complements the lively menu, while a robust wine list elevates the experience.

Popular among Dubai’s Indian diaspora and food enthusiasts, it requires early reservations. The dress code is smart-casual, making it versatile yet upscale. Bombay Club is where tradition meets modernity, cementing its place in Dubai’s culinary elite.

Photo credits: Jumeirah Marsa AI Arab.

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

In DIFC’s Gate Village, Gaia, led by chef Izu Ani, is a love letter to Greek cuisine, earning a Michelin Bib Gourmand for its value and quality. The menu highlights pristine ingredients in dishes like sea bream carpaccio, taramasalata with bottarga, and frozen Greek yogurt with honey, with mains averaging AED 150.

 “We bring the soul of Greece to Dubai,”  emphasizing authenticity. The dining room, adorned with olive trees and whitewashed walls, evokes a Mediterranean villa, while the terrace offers al fresco charm.

The atmosphere is vibrant yet refined, ideal for business lunches or romantic evenings. Reservations are essential, and the dress code is smart-casual. With outposts in London and Monte Carlo, Gaia’s Dubai flagship remains a beacon of Mediterranean sophistication.

Photo credits: Gaia Dubai Instagram.

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.

At the base of the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain performs a daily spectacle that blends art and engineering. Spanning 275 meters—longer than two football fields—this $218 million fountain, designed by WET Design, shoots water up to 150 meters high, synchronized to music ranging from Arabic classics to global hits like Thriller. Since its debut in 2009, it has drawn millions, offering free evening shows every 30 minutes.

The fountain’s 6,600 lights and 25 projectors create a kaleidoscope of colors, while 83,000 liters of water dance in patterns programmed by a team of choreographers. Its mechanics are staggering: 22,000 gallons of water are airborne at any moment, propelled by high-pressure nozzles. Maintenance divers regularly inspect its underwater systems, ensuring flawless performances.

The fountain’s magic lies in its ability to pause Dubai’s frenetic pace, uniting strangers in shared awe. It’s a fleeting reminder that beauty, even when engineered, can feel transcendent.

Photo credits: burjkhalifa.ae

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.

In Dubai, ambition takes physical form in the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building at 829.8 meters. Completed in 2010, this steel-and-glass spire, designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, redefined what a skyscraper could be. Its Y-shaped base, inspired by the desert flower Hymenocallis, anchors it against the region’s fierce winds, while its central core houses 57 elevators whisking visitors to the 148th-floor observation deck in under a minute.

The Burj Khalifa is more than a feat of engineering; it’s a symbol of Dubai’s relentless drive to transcend its origins as a modest trading port. Named after the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, it was built at a cost of $1.5 billion, employing over 12,000 workers from across the globe. 

For visitors, the Burj Khalifa offers breathtaking views, especially at sunset when the desert horizon glows. Tickets to the 148th floor cost around $100, but booking early online saves time and money. Nearby, the Dubai Mall, with its 1,200 shops, provides a grounding contrast to the tower’s ethereal heights. To visit is to witness a city that dares to dream vertically, even as it grapples with its earthly challenges.

Photo credits: Burj Khalifa Instagram.

Alexander Agafiev Macambira

Alexander Agafiev Macambira is former tech contributing writer for Forbes Monaco.