The Sandy Times

Three Years At Sea: Life Aboard a Cruise Ship

A first-person story: what it is like to call a ship your home

by Barbara Yakimchuk

12 Dec 2025

Animals

Owning a Horse In the UAE: What Does It Actually Cost?

Where to buy, where to keep it, and how much it will cost you

by Barbara Yakimchuk

11 Dec 2025

Fashion

How To Start Fashion Brand In Dubai? Speaking With Jamie Atherton

Costs, common mistakes, and the key pieces to prioritise — in conversation with the founder of "I’ll Write You Letters"

by Barbara Yakimchuk

10 Dec 2025

Lebanon

Art

Lebanese Artists Whose Work Is Shaped By Personal Experience

Five voices, distinct stories, one cultural thread

by Barbara Yakimchuk

9 Dec 2025

Lifestyle

The Talent Visa In the UAE: What It Is And How To Get It?

Checking the legal framework and asking insiders to share a step-by-step guide to securing the Talent Visa

by Barbara Yakimchuk

6 Dec 2025

Music

Meet Kazdoura: The Duo Turning Pain And Memory Into Music

An interview where Leen and Johnny share how their different backgrounds became their greatest strength

by Barbara Yakimchuk

5 Dec 2025

Abu Dhabi

Art

Your Two Days Art Escape To Abu Dhabi

Natural History Museum, Zayed National Museum, Louvre Abu Dhabi — and plenty more to fill your cultural week

by Barbara Yakimchuk

4 Dec 2025

Restaurants

Dubai Insiders: JP On Finding His Place In Dubai

Running a business, finding the balance, and settling into one of the world’s fastest-paced cities

by Barbara Yakimchuk

3 Dec 2025

Festivals

National Day With Emiratis — How It Is Really Celebrated

I turned the internet upside down to understand how locals prefer to celebrate National Day

by Barbara Yakimchuk

28 Nov 2025

Real Estate

Monthly Rent Is Coming To the UAE: What Is the Catch?

Hidden fees, breach terms, and the broader benefits that come with the shift to monthly rent payments

by Barbara Yakimchuk

27 Nov 2025

Vacation

From Lima To Cusco: Your Ultimate Guide To Peru

Food, attractions and a few personal insights for planning your perfect trip to Lima and Cusco

by Barbara Yakimchuk

26 Nov 2025

People

Dubai Insiders: Wathek Allal On His Brand And the Art Of Making Friends

Precious Trust, first self-cooked dish, and how skateboarding helps you find friends

by Barbara Yakimchuk

25 Nov 2025

Fashion

Founders Of The Basement: On Challenges, Hard Decisions, And Why They Had To Close

They told me: “We are definitely coming back”. But what made them leave in the first place?

by Barbara Yakimchuk

24 Nov 2025

Health

Does Matcha Decrease Iron Levels? Insights From Gut Specialist Hadil AlKhatib

Iron levels, weight management, alternative milks and anxiety — all questions connected to matcha

by Barbara Yakimchuk

20 Nov 2025

Music

Deep Purple’s Frontman Ian Gillan: “Creativity Isn’t a Mechanical Thing”

Six decades on: talking to the legendary vocalist of Deep Purple

by Barbara Yakimchuk

19 Nov 2025

Sport

Personal Experience: Inside My First Hike In Peru

Tents, no showers, altitude sickness — and somehow the best holiday we have ever had

by Barbara Yakimchuk

19 Nov 2025

People

Dubai Insiders: Caroline Labouchere On the Art Of Moving To New Countries

A story filled with inspiration — from 100 kilometres running to life across 20 countries

by Barbara Yakimchuk

17 Nov 2025

STR

Dubai Insiders: Ali Chaaban And Lana Qatramiz On Their Lives In Dubai

Art, dating, music, and style — through the eyes of two best friends

by Barbara Yakimchuk

11 Nov 2025

Fashion