The Sandy Times

7 Local Artists In UAE You Should Know In 2025

From the artists you already know to the ones you are meeting for the first time

by Alexandra Mansilla

16 Jun 2025

Saudi Arabia

Bedouins Who Race Camels: A Journey Through Tabuk

See how people and camels share daily life through care, celebration, and moments of sadness

by Alexandra Mansilla

13 Jun 2025

Animals

Birdwatchers: Why Do People Passionately Observe Birds?

And is birdwatching only about binoculars and notebooks?

by Alexandra Mansilla

12 Jun 2025

Lifestyle

The Deepfake Dilemma: How AI Is Rewriting Celebrity Reality

Scandals are spreading, reality is bending — and celebrities are caught in the crossfire. How is the world reacting to the new deepfake dilemma?

by Dara Morgan

12 Jun 2025

Sport

‘A Piece Of Wood Changed My Life’: The Story Of Mark Issa

How picking up a skateboard at a young age became the turning point for Mark — shaping the direction of his life

by Alexandra Mansilla

30 May 2025

Books

Dubai

"A City Where Everyone Has a Story": How a Book About Dubai Was Born

Forty real stories. Forty different lives. Together, they make Dubai what it is

by Alexandra Mansilla

29 May 2025

Food

Restaurants

Changing the Mindset Around Filipino Cuisine. Meet Chef JP Anglo

What steps is he taking to make this happen? And where is Kooya Filipino Eatery moving to?

by Alexandra Mansilla

25 May 2025

Fashion

Rhea Jacobs: 'Being a 5'2 Brown Girl Doesn't Make Your Dreams Any Less Valid'

Marie Claire, Vogue Arabia, BAZAAR — Rhea is on them all. Discover the story behind her success

by Barbara Yakimchuk

24 May 2025

8 Local Creatives From Oman Shaping the Scene

Omani creatives are shaping the Sultanate's budding art scene in 2025

by Iffat Nawaz

23 May 2025

Fashion

From Numbers To Seams: About Shreya Juneja

Another good example of what it means to take a leap of faith and follow your dreams

by Sahira Dharamshi

19 May 2025

The Spirit of Jebel Jais: Yoshi’s Live Performance at Mira Coral Bay

Yoshi honours Jebel Jais in a live art performance at the Mira Coral Bay launch

by Sophie She

19 May 2025

Entertainment

Travel

Welcome Aboard: The Gulf Is Becoming One Of the Biggest Cruise Hubs In the World

Angelo Capurro, Global Executive Director of MSC Cruises, explains why ocean liners set course for Dubai

by Sofia Brontvein

19 May 2025

From Bali To Botanique: Jenna Bitar’s Immersive Art Awakening Dubai’s Summer

What began as a casual conversation between two creatives has blossomed into Botanique, a lush, multisensory art experience redefining how Dubai embraces summer

by Sofia Brontvein

16 May 2025

Woven Histories: A Contemporary Take On Al Sadu By Maisoon Al Saleh

Paying homage to Emirati heritage at Mira Coral Bay grand opening

by Sophie She

15 May 2025

Cars

Drive Like a Goddess: Meet Arabian Gazelles, the All-Women Supercar Club

See how the Middle East’s first all-women supercar club is changing perceptions of women in motorsport

by Alexandra Mansilla

15 May 2025

Ghassan Kayed, Burgers & Hoodies: ‘I Want To Put Our Region On the Global Radar’

Discover how the agency seeks to achieve its goal through the means of storytelling

by Alexandra Mansilla

11 May 2025

From Canvas To Camera: 5 Artists From Kuwait To Know

The works you need to see — from photos of Kuwaiti coastlines to sculptures tackling the environmental toll of oil

by Alexandra Mansilla

8 May 2025

Painting the Wounds Of a City And a Self. Interview With Azin Zolfaghari

The Iranian artist who captures the absence of human presence in urban life

by Alexandra Mansilla

6 May 2025

Music

Italo Sound Comes To Dubai. Interview With Otto Kraanen, Bordello A Parigi

Looks like the city is about to have one of its most unforgettable nights yet

by Alexandra Mansilla

4 May 2025

Fashion