Just days before regional tensions escalated with bombings involving Iran, KayBooz was enjoying what she describes as one of the most memorable and meaningful trips she has ever taken to Dubai. Now safely back home, she is reflecting on the experience, and the emotional weight of learning about the violence shortly after leaving a city she remembers as vibrant, welcoming, and full of life.
KayBooz shared personal notes about her time in Dubai, describing a place defined not by fear, but by warmth, diversity, and a powerful sense of community among people from around the world.
A City That Felt Safe And Welcoming
During her visit, KayBooz said the atmosphere in Dubai left a lasting impression on her and her friends. She was struck by how many cultures peacefully coexist in the city and how welcoming everyone they encountered seemed to be.
One of the highlights of the trip was their tour guide, who shared stories about moving to Dubai before it grew into the global hub it is today.
“He had us laughing the entire time,” KayBooz recalled. “Hearing how proud he was of the place he calls home really showed us what Dubai is all about.”
She also spoke warmly about her photographer and others she met during the trip, describing the people as kind, friendly, and proud of the multicultural city they live in.
That positive experience has made the news of the bombings even harder for her to process.
“It’s really scary to think about how we were there just a little over a week before the bombings,” she said. “I’m grateful we’re home and safe, but this isn’t about us. My heart breaks for the innocent people who are living through this right now.”
Laughs, Wine, And Stunning Views
KayBooz traveled to Dubai with three friends, and from the moment their journey began, the group embraced every moment of the adventure.
The fun started even before they arrived.
“We drank way too much wine and laughed almost the entire flight,” she said of their trip, which included a layover in London.
The group stayed in an Airbnb with a balcony view of the Burj Khalifa, where they spent evenings watching the tower’s LED light shows.
“The first time we saw the lasers and lights across the tower, we were all so excited,” she shared.
A phrase from one friend’s mom quickly became the group’s running joke whenever the city impressed them.
“In our friend’s mom’s words, ‘Go head on, Dubai!’ and that quickly became our saying anytime the city amazed us.”
Adventures Across The Desert
The trip also included some unforgettable adventures across the UAE.
One of KayBooz’s favorite spots was the Miracle Garden, where she was captivated by elaborate floral displays.
“I absolutely love flowers, and seeing them displayed in such a spectacular way was nothing short of beautiful,” she said.
The group also embarked on a desert excursion filled with adrenaline and laughter. They drove side-by-sides through the sand and experienced dune bashing, which KayBooz described as one of the funniest moments of the trip.
“Our guide showed us all kinds of crazy tricks,” she recalled. “I don’t think any of us stopped laughing the entire ride.”
They also traveled to Abu Dhabi, where KayBooz’s husband Daniel participated in a driving experience at the Formula 1 track, even managing to lap other drivers during the session.
Honoring Her Grandmother In A Special Way
Beyond the sightseeing and excitement, the trip held a deeply personal meaning for KayBooz.
She used the journey as an opportunity to honor her late grandmother, whom she affectionately called “Meme.”
Her grandmother had seen KayBooz and Daniel leave for their first Dubai trip in February 2020, just months before she passed away that April.
Before KayBooz’s wedding later that year, which took place on her grandmother’s birthday, her grandfather gave her one of her grandmother’s Pandora charm bracelets.
Now KayBooz brings the bracelet on every international trip.
For this visit, she planned something special: a yellow flying dress photoshoot inspired by her grandmother.
“My aunt has always said that I should do a yellow dress shoot for Meme because my pawpaw loved when she wore yellow,” KayBooz explained. “He even remembers she wore a yellow dress on their first date over 60 years ago.”
KayBooz wore the charm bracelet during the shoot as a tribute.
Signs That Felt Like Messages
Throughout the trip, KayBooz also experienced moments she felt symbolically connected to her grandmother.
She often says her grandmother appears as a hummingbird, and during this trip, the symbol appeared more than once.
Three days before her photoshoot, she found a crystal light featuring two hummingbirds in the gift shop at the Museum of the Future.
Then, the night before her shoot, the Burj Khalifa displayed an LED show themed around nature.
“Hummingbirds appeared flying around flowers,” KayBooz said.
For her, it felt like a meaningful sign during a trip already filled with emotional significance.
Now, as she watches the news unfold from afar, KayBooz says her thoughts remain with the people she met during her stay.
“Having experienced the kindness of the people there firsthand makes it even harder to watch from afar,” she said. “I’m hoping for protection, safety, and peace for everyone caught in the middle.”