From Souks to Skyscrapers: A Tech Nomad in Dubai
My Journeys and Insights Across the Vibrant Emirate
Habibi, imagine a city that combines the hustle of New York, the excitement of Las Vegas, and the innovation of San Francisco, all topped with better laws, safety levels and cultural wealth. From awe-inspiring skyscrapers to lively souks, this city offers a perfect blend of tradition and ultra-modern lifestyle. I’ve been lucky enough to explore Dubai not just once, every time has been nothing short than mind-blowing for me from its architectural marvels to its heartwarming culinary delights like the ever-present karak chai.
Shifting Sands: How Superteam UAE Transformed My View of the Middle East
I have to be honest, my initial thoughts about Dubai were a bit off the mark. Even though I had seen many people I know visiting the city, I had this idea in my head that it was just another typical Middle Eastern country, dealing with political problems like many others in the region.
I had always been an active member of SuperteamDAO and around that time, local chapters of the community were being established in different regions and UAE was among the very initial chapters after Superteam India. It just so happened that around the same time, I was working remotely as a software engineer a DEX, which was trying to set up its base in Dubai and this got me in touch with the G.O.A.T Alex Scott from SuperteamUAE. Out of curiosity, I hopped into Superteam UAE’s discord server. I’d say I’m super bullish on my curiosity, it has always led me to go into new places and learn valuable lessons. I had no idea that this choice would be such an important moment in my journey.
After a 1:1 call with Alex, I started to see all the amazing things Dubai could offer, and he encouraged me to think about applying for a UAE Digital Nomad visa – something that I'm now seriously considering.
The First Trip: buildspace’s n&w irl
Picture this: buildspace had just wrapped up season 4 of its nights and weekends program, and as one of the few graduates, I got the ticket to the irl event in Dubai.
In case you haven’t heard of buildspace, its a school to work on your own ideas. And yeah, it is the same company which uses small letters all over the internet.
Now, if you thought the energy in their online workshops was intense, multiply that by 100, and you'll get a sense of what the irl experience was like! It’s kind of hard to describe the feeling of being surrounded by 150 builders who are all working on their own projects and ideas, but I’ve never felt more inspired in my life. Being there really changed me as a person. Every single one of those people had such an insane drive and determination to succeed.
This trip was a milestone for me – my first international trip, entirely self-funded. When I thought about Dubai, the only thing that came to mind was how it is the most modern and luxurious place in the world with sky scrappers that seem to touch the sky. Since I was alone, I thought of touring around some popular sites in the city. Let me tell you, even after multiple trips, I still haven't managed to cover all the must-see spots in Dubai!
But here's the kicker – remember Alex, the GOAT I mentioned earlier? Turns out, he was a graduate of nights and weekends season 3! What a small world, right?
Speaking of the projects that come out of nights and weekends, I've got you covered. I recently wrote a Twitter thread that dives into the incredible work being done by the participants:
Oh, and if you're curious to see me at the buildspace irl event, just head over to their homepage. You might just spot me there.
Just like that, my amazing time in Dubai was over. It was time to say goodbye to this incredible city and head back home to India. I left with a heart full of memories I’ll never forget and a mind bursting with new ideas and inspiration.
Sitting on the plane flying home, I couldn’t help but think about the insane trip I had just been on. I was so thankful for all the incredible people I met and things they taught me along the way. Even though I was leaving Dubai behind, I knew that my connections with builders from around the world would only continue to strengthen.
Coming back to India, I was so excited to bring back all of the energy and excitement that Dubai showed me into my own projects and collabs. Seeing what is possible when a bunch of passionate like-minded people get together at buildspace irl event made me want to keep that vibe going forever and make my own dent in tech + innovation scene.
So yeah, Dubai changed everything for me. 10/10 recommend! Time to bring it all together & keep building cool shit while chasing dreams. Let’s go!
Dubai Round 2: Time for Founders’ Villa and Falling Even Deeper in Love with the City
Alright, buckle up, because it's time to dive into my second Dubai adventure! This time around, I was headed to the Superteam Founders' Villa in February. And can I just say, Superteam is the absolute MVP when it comes to supporting builders like us! The Founders' Villa brought together over 35 Solana founders for an epic month of coworking and coliving in Dubai. It was all about meeting investors, learning the ropes of setting up a company in the UAE, and diving deep into the local ecosystem. I mean, how dope is that?
I was so hyped for this trip, but of course, my luck decided to test me. I caught a nasty fever two days before my flight. I thought I might have to cancel, but popped a paracetamol and decided to power through. And man, am I glad I did!
The second I landed and rolled up to the Nas House, everyone was getting ready for a desert safari. But before I could even catch my breath, I found myself in the mountains of Hatta with my new squad! I was exhausted after being awake for 20 hours straight, but somehow, the fever didn't stand a chance. That's when I knew this trip was going to be epic.
The next day, I went on a mission to explore the Souks and old Dubai.
Now comes the next day, we made our way to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the U.A.E. (shout-out to prado for waking me up at 6AM) for some business-stuff.
Back in Dubai, we hit up the Ibn Battuta Mall, and I've gotta say, this place is the hidden gem of all hidden gems! It's like taking a trip to six countries at once - India, China, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Andalusia. Mind Blown!
One of the biggest things I took away from this trip was that Dubai is THE place to start your own venture. The authorities are super supportive, and the freezones offer sweet tax exemptions. It's like Dubai and the powers that take care of everything, so you can focus on crushing it in your work. Not only that but it's safe and organized with a great quality of life (did I mention 0% tax?). I mean, is this even real life?
Most of the trip was all about building connections and exploring opportunities, and you can catch all the deets in my Twitter thread:
I straight up fell in love with the Nas House, so as soon as they announced memberships, I was like, "shut up and take my money!" Trust me, it's worth every single penny!
I once read that everyone has a place they call home away from home, and these trips and the money we spend on them help us find that special spot. So, it's always worth it. And yeah, this trip was the same for me.
Now, let me hit you with a quick story about Landour - that's my happy place, my escape from the madness. It's where I go to clear my head when life gets a little too crazy like when my visa gets rejected. But this time, even after my Landour getaway, I couldn't get Dubai out of my mind. I was already counting down the days 'til my next trip in April for the Solana Hacker House Dubai. I'm telling you, Dubai had me hooked!
Third Trip: Solana Hacker House ft. Storm
I was super stoked about this trip, so I decided to leave five days before the Hacker House and arrive in Dubai on April 10th. But little did I know, this trip was going to be one for the books. You see, while I was here, the city had its biggest storm in 75 years!
Listen to the numbers: the city got hit with 254mm of rain in a single 24-hour period. To give you some context, Dubai's annual rainfall usually hovers around 80mm. That means Dubai got roughly the equivalent of London's six-month rainfall in just one day! As a developer, I can't help but think – damn, this city knows how to scale!
By the way — I stayed at the Novotel throughout this whole thing… And let me tell you — those people handled everything like pros. But what really shocked me was how not chaotic it was during such an insane storm. The government had everything under control; they were even doing free repairs for residents’ houses after the flood (yes… you heard that right).
Like who does that? Who supports their people on that level?
But that’s Dubai for you. They have an authority named VARA dedicated to regulating virtual assets (crypto and NFTs to be more precise). And get this — the regulator actually showed up at Solana Hacker House and told us “Before you start building — come talk to us; we’ll guide you through product development.” Like MIND BLOWN.
Everyone here is so welcoming – there’s just a different kind of warmth in this city (not talking about temperature although it is pretty toasty). It’s safe… It has incredible nightlife (because let’s be real –-days are scorchers)… It just has a vibe that makes you feel home.
This trip was unforgettable, and the historic storm just added to the adventure. I'm telling you, Dubai never fails to surprise me, and I fall a little harder for this city every single time I visit.
Governance with a Difference: The Dubai Model
So, coming back from Dubai, I was really inspired by HH Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership and reading this book on him — “The Sheikh CEO”. Will definitely share my thoughts after reading this.
Here's an excerpt from "The Sheikh CEO" and damn, it's powerful stuff! It describes Dubai’s success story so well – believing strongly in free enterprise, self-confidence and taking risks coupled with quick decision making ability; but you know what makes everything even better? They believe governments should create environments where private enterprises can grow. "What's good for business is good for Dubai." Truer words have never been spoken.
The Principles of Dubai
HH Sheikh Mohammed carved out eight governance principles and Dubai has been living and breathing these principles every single day. I have seen such principles formed in many countries but they are not followed everywhere, and yeah Dubai does it.
First up: “Union is the foundation.” It’s all about realizing that Dubai’s policies and priorities are completely in line with those of the UAE.
“No one is above the law” comes next as number two. In a region plagued by problems such as power struggles or governance challenges; this principle changes everything. In his exact words "Justice is the basis of a strong and proud nation and guarantees prosperity and stability. No one is above the law in Dubai, starting with the ruling family." Mic drop.
Principle three is called “we are business capital”. This one's the secret sauce behind Dubai's mind-blowing economic success. Dubai is a politically neutral, business-friendly global hub that focuses on creating economic opportunities.
But the real gem here is the fifth principle, which lays out the core pillars behind Dubai's growth and the cornerstones of its economic diversification.
Simple enough, right? Well here comes the tricky part — betting on all three horses while ensuring they compete and cooperate just right is what makes it different. In many countries around the world, these sectors compete and cannibalize each other. Either government suffocates the private sector, or the private sector weakens and corrupts government. There are many lessons to be learned and books to be written about this unique and balanced development model.
The Infinite Possibilities
I can't believe I almost wrapped up this blog without touching on one of the most mind-blowing realizations I had during my time in Dubai! People often say that Dubai is highly artificial, that there's no nature here, but let me tell you, they couldn't be more wrong. Nature doesn’t always mean green forests or fields of flowers. In Dubai, nature is the golden sand that stretches out as far as the eye can see, that boiling sun which burns down on this city with such an amazing intensity.
But get this - Dubai’s so-called “artificial” nature shows that opportunities are limitless. Dubai has taken the sand, sun, and heat and transformed them into a canvas where the impossible becomes possible and the only limit is our imagination.
So, the next time someone says Dubai is artificial or lacks nature, just smile and nod, because you know the truth. Dubai embraces its unique environment, celebrates the beauty of the desert, and proves that opportunities are truly limitless.
Dubai isn't just a city - it's a testament to what's possible when you dare to dream big, embrace innovation, and stay true to your core beliefs.
And for all those who share in dreaming big, building great things or seeking new adventures let me tell you one thing: pack up your bags, book that ticket, and get ready to be inspired and fall in love with Dubai. Trust me, it'll be the ride of a lifetime, and you'll come back with a heart full of memories, a mind full of ideas, and a soul that's forever changed by the magic of this incredible city.
Until then keep dreaming big always knowing that there are no limits here where we live our lives large so stay focused on what matters most (the journey). Alright peace out homies!