The Hidden Face of Dubai: Why do locals live differently to tourists?

After a day full of luxury on Palm Jumeirah and in Dubai Marina, a slightly calmer day awaited us. We decided to spend it at an exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Centre – just a few steps from our Voco hotel.

This exhibition was actually one of the main reasons why we even visited Dubai. It wasn’t just a typical vacation. Together with my father, we wanted to get a glimpse into the world of business and check out the international trade fair. Inside the various halls, there were numerous exhibitors from all around the world, looking for business partners – whether for import, distribution, or promoting their products.

What did it mean for me?

Personally, it was a great experience. It was my first time at such an event, and I really liked how professionally everything was organized. We secured our entry online in advance – the tickets were free, we just needed to download a QR code that was scanned at the entrance, and then we could start exploring the exhibition halls. The whole event was focused on hospitality, restaurant services, and everything related to them.

We spent almost the entire day wandering between the booths, discovering everything the hospitality world has to offer. It felt like an endless maze full of different companies – from the French and Chinese to exhibitors from the Middle East and even Russia. Everyone was trying to sell something or close a business deal.

Lunch and continuing the busy day

After lunch in one of the local restaurants, we returned to our room around three in the afternoon. We checked the time and realized the day was far from over. So, we said – let’s hit the beach. But which one? The decision came quickly – La Mer Beach, which we practically had “under our noses”. We could actually “see” it every day from the hotel pool, so now it was finally time to go.

The beach was just a few kilometers away from our hotel, heading straight toward the Persian Gulf. The original plan? Call a taxi right in front of the hotel and get there comfortably. But – reality hit differently. We simply couldn’t get a taxi. We even tried to catch one directly on the street, but no luck.

The reason why we had no luck finding a taxi was simple, though at the time, incomprehensible to us. Even though we saw taxis around, most of them weren’t working – the drivers were on break due to prayer time. In the United Arab Emirates, it’s quite common that during prayer times (salat), which are spread throughout the day, drivers simply switch off their apps and take a break. Prayer is their priority. No one explained that to us at the moment – we just stood there, confused as to why cars were parked and drivers weren’t moving.

The walk to La Mer Beach

So, since we couldn’t get a taxi, we decided to solve it our way. We set off on foot. It was just two or three kilometers, so – why not in flip-flops? At least we got to see a different side of Dubai. No skyscrapers, no luxury. Suddenly, we were walking through neighborhoods where local workers and ordinary people live.

It felt like a different world – poorer houses, broken sidewalks, dirt everywhere, people barefoot or in cheap sandals. The luxury of Dubai seemed to disappear. And you quickly realize that behind all that glamor are thousands of people who keep the city running while living worse than an average Slovak. It was clean only where tourists were expected. Reality you don’t see in the brochures.

And that’s, unfortunately, a harsh fact. Dubai may look like a luxury paradise, but if you wander slightly off the tourist routes, you’ll see its darker side. Places like this open your eyes – as the saying goes, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. And here, that was very clear.

As we approached the beach, we stumbled upon a strange area. It looked like a small town with shops, yet everything seemed abandoned – broken windows, empty spaces, no people. We didn’t really understand where we were – it felt like a forgotten part of the city.

So, we decided to head to the right side of the beach, which at least looked a little more normal. But even there, it wasn’t what we had imagined a “Dubai beach” would be like. The water had a strange brownish color, definitely not crystal clear. Plus, there were still new buildings under construction nearby, which didn’t help the overall vibe.

Simply put – no Instagram postcard. More like a reality check that Dubai isn’t always as shiny as it pretends to be.

But we still went swimming

There were maybe a dozen people on the beach, which immediately told us we probably weren’t at Dubai’s top spot. No wonder – it was already around five in the afternoon and the temperature still showed 35 degrees. Any sane person would wait until evening.

The water in the sea? Literally hot. And not turquoise like in the promo photos – more like brownish, sometimes even blackish, as if it had something in common with oil. It definitely didn’t look like a place where you’d jump in with excitement. But we said to ourselves: it’s better than nothing. We didn’t get much of a cool shower from it, but at least we refreshed ourselves mentally.

Cricket in Dubai

And when we were walking back on foot, our path led us through the poorer district. And that’s where something happened that might stay in my mind for a long time. A group of local guys were playing cricket. Barefoot. On sand. Between buildings and dusty roads. We stopped and watched them for a while. As a kid, I used to eat sand at the playground, but seeing children build their own world between construction sites was something entirely different.

In my mind I thought: this is the real Dubai. Not the one on Instagram. This is the reality most tourists never see.

And yes – cricket in Dubai is no accident. This sport was brought here by the British during their colonial influence over the area known as the Trucial States, which included what’s now the United Arab Emirates. While Dubai itself was never a full British colony like India, the British influence was noticeable – especially in trade, education, and of course sports. Cricket became especially popular among migrant workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who make up most of the manual workforce in the Emirates. That’s why it’s not unusual to see guys playing cricket between half-finished buildings or on Dubai’s dusty streets.

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Cross your boundaries – that’s where the treasure you’re seeking is hidden.

Flying Easterner