Guides
How adults actually make friends.
Ten long reads on small groups, new cities and the awkward middle bit — written for people who would rather have three good friends than three hundred contacts.
How to make friends in Dubai as an adult
A practical Dubai friendship guide: where adults actually meet people, which neighbourhoods and nights work, how long it takes, and how small groups of four beat big events.
Dinner with strangers in Dubai: how it works
What a dinner with strangers in Dubai is really like: how groups of four are formed, what it costs, which restaurants suit it, safety, etiquette and what to say first.
Where to book a group dinner for four in Dubai
A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guide to booking a dinner for four in Dubai: where to sit, what it costs, which areas suit first meetings and how to split the bill.
How to meet people after moving to a new country
A realistic 90-day plan for building a social life after relocating: what to do in weeks one to four, which formats work, how to handle the three-month dip and how to keep friends once you find them.
Why groups of four are the perfect social size
Why four is the ideal number for a dinner, a walk or a new friendship group: conversation limits, pressure, resilience and the research behind small-group dynamics.
Social clubs in Dubai: the honest guide
The full range of social clubs in Dubai — sports, creative, professional, dining and members' clubs — what each costs, who they suit, and how to pick one that actually produces friends.
Making friends in your 30s (and beyond)
Why adult friendship gets harder after 30, what changed, and a concrete system for building a new circle around small recurring groups when your calendar is already full.
25 things to do in Dubai that lead to real friendships
Twenty-five things to do in Dubai that actually produce friendships, sorted by season, budget and energy — from Kite Beach run clubs to Alserkal gallery nights and Al Qudra sunsets.
Expat loneliness: why it happens and what fixes it
An honest look at expat loneliness: the timeline, why a busy calendar does not cure it, the difference between social and emotional loneliness, and the small-group habits that help.
60 conversation starters for meeting strangers
Sixty conversation starters for a first dinner with strangers, grouped by stage of the evening, plus what to avoid, how to recover a stalled table and how to end well.