United Arab Emirates

The UAE is an act of defiance against nature. It is a place where glass needles pierce the sky in a landscape that was, until recently, ruled only by wind and sand. Beyond the influencer-filled beach clubs of Dubai, this is a country of staggering ambition and surreal contrasts. You will move from the blinding white heat of the Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) to the arctic blast of air-conditioned malls that feel like independent city-states. It smells of expensive Oud perfume, roasting coffee, and the metallic tang of construction. It is a sci-fi movie set brought to life, offering a glimpse into a post-oil future.