The Move to Dubai Marina

My boyfriend and I moved into our new furnished apartment! We're on the 12th floor with a balcony looking over Dubai Marina on one side and the rest of Dubai on the other (pics to come). Originally we wanted to stay within the 8k AED price range and this apt was just outside of that range, but after factoring what we would have been paying for bills/utilities, we actually ended up saving money. +2

Previously my bf and I have been taking taxis to and from work but now that we're close enough to the Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) metro station, later this week we will be attempting the 500m walk in 95+ degree heat to the station. Gas is $1.81/gallon and the average taxi to and from work costs $10 so taxis are cheap in Dubai compared to Los Angeles ($20 on average) but we'll be saving even more by taking the metro. 

Inside the metro, there are cabins specifically designated for women and children. These female-only cabins aren't separated from the regular/mixed cabins by any physical barrier, just a posted sign indicating their status and faith that others will respect that space. 

It's still too early to make a firm judgment but being a woman in Dubai is interesting to say the least. I get special treatment (exiting an elevator first, hotel staff flagging down taxis for me) and I also get a lot more men looking at me. Men outnumber women 3:1 in Dubai and the staring has less to do with what I'm wearing and more with the fact that I remotely resemble a woman. You can wear a hijab or a bikini and the men will look either way. 

Dubai is an Islamic country and their law is based on Sharia law (quite different than actual Sharia law) which basically translates into dressing respectfully wherever children may be present (malls, playgrounds). The feminist I am, I anticipated being forced to change how I dress based on someone else's interpretations of modesty, and I was gladly mistaken - I wear the same clothes I did in Los Angeles with different variations based on temperature and work requirements. We'll see if/how my perception of dress changes with time. Until then, thank you for reading this far, and I hope you'll keep traveling with me!