I’m Natalia, an American UX and graphic designer who spent several years as a digital nomad, looking for a place to call home. I took what I thought would be a short vacation in Dubai and didn’t expect to fall in love with it.
I arrived with a little wish list. I love international cultures and food, so Global Village was at the top. I was already a big fan of Epcot at Disney World, and Global Village felt like that multiplied a hundred times. I also wanted to visit the Museum of the Future. When I couldn’t get tickets right away, I extended my trip.
Then I kept finding more to see, do, and eat. I got my first renewal after a month, then a two-year residency. Dubai became my home base, and even after all that time, I still hadn’t run out of things to explore.
One of my first communities began in the lounge of a hotel where I was staying. It had a huge collection of board games, and I learned that a meetup group gathered there regularly. I was a little nervous at first, then delighted to see so many nationalities around the table. Russians, Iranians, Americans, Syrians, Italians, Indians, and others were laughing and playing together. For a while, we could meet each other as people, beyond the political chaos back home. That group helped me make friends and find my way into many more communities.
I chose Habibti in Wonderland because I love the word habibti. When an Arabic speaker calls me that, my heart lights up. “Wonderland” captures how the UAE felt to me: expansive, colorful, creative, and sometimes surreal, with experiences I hadn’t found anywhere else.
Here, I share the places, food, cultural experiences, and everyday details I loved. I hope my stories give readers a glimpse of the warmth, hospitality, cleanliness, and dignity I experienced in the Middle East, one personal adventure at a time.
My background in UX and graphic design shapes both the look of the site and how I organize each article. I love making things beautiful, easy to navigate, and simple to scan. I’m also open to creative collaborations with brands and destinations across the Middle East.