ARN 99, Yusof

The journey of how Yusof became one of Dubai's renowned news presenter is remarkable. Following his father's advice, Yusof started out and majored as an electrical engineer. However, he realised his passion for TV and presenting and finally worked his way into Arabian Radio Network. His unusual journey of becoming a news presenter is inspiring to all students, and it shows how one's career in media can take you on many twists and turns. Yusof's strong yet distinct voice makes him one of the most sought after news presenters in Dubai.

Volunteer guide at Jumeirah Mosque, Najat Alsaejni

With the concept of "Open Doors, Open Minds", Najat Alsaejni, a volunteer guide at Jumeirah Mosque gave us an introduction to the Muslim faith. No questions were restricted and we were impressed with her openness in addressing stereotypes and current issues revolving Muslims in the world. She hopes that there can be better understanding across all religions as "only through understanding, can we build the bridge of communication and better peace in the world".

Memac Ogilvy Public Relations

In a time where far too many creative advertisements have already been created, we wonder how ‘out-of-the-box’ can our ideas get? We visited a Public Relation company in Dubai known as Memac Ogilvy. We sought their advice and tips on developing ideas far greater than what has met the human eyes. Simply put into words, Mr Sami Moutran, PR Director of Ogilvy said: “Come out with a ideas that scare you.”

The process of building “crazy” ideas requires a thread of meetings with people from different backgrounds. If you think you’re not a “creative person”, fear not. Just like Ms Zeena Ismail, Digital Strategic Planner of Ogilvy said, “It’s not a one man’s job”. In fact, it takes an entire team with different skills like “writing, observing, reading people or calculating” to come out with an unconventional idea. You’d be surprised what you can bring to the table if you’re put into a right environment with people who push you forward!

Deira Souks

We can vouch that Souks is one of the best markets to shop from. A massive market that sells almost anything you’re looking for at a bargainable price including Arabian spices, clothings or goodies. In a place filled with vibrant and friendly shopkeepers, we were always travelling in groups for the benefit of two things – Safety, and better deals.

In a city so diverse, we wanted to search for local Arabs in the heart of Souks. Lucky enough, we bumped into a group of local Arab men relaxing under a hut! After bargaining and shopping for hours, we settled for some local delicacies at Kojranwala Restaurant where we only spent about SGD$2 each!

Chocolate Makers

Chocolate Makers can be found along the skirts of Alsekar Avenue which is a hidden gem for anyone with a sweet tooth. Not only do you get to taste their mouth- watering unique flavours that even incorporate spices like Saffron, there is a huge glass window behind which is the actual factory that produces the chocolate! Everything can be seen by their customers, from the process of making them to the final packaging.

Erwin Sagun, Sales Manager said, “It is very transparent for them to see all the procedures, how we are making our chocolates, and apart from that there is the retail area where they can see all the finished goods and try all the chocolates available.”

Dune Bashing

When asked by locals or expats what our favourite experience in Dubai was, we would always without fail chorus “dune bashing”. Living in a tropical climate, we are surrounded by lush greenery and the sight of a desert was a treat to us. Especially when we buckled up in 4x4 SUVs for a rollercoaster ride through the sand.

From the outside, it may look like the car is out of control and we’re trying to escape the eternal hell of sand, but it is actually intentional and we were definitely in control, or at least our drivers were. Using skillful maneuvers, they drove the cars along the peaks of the dunes, then let the car “slip”, and we went sliding down towards the sand at a high speed. It was both exhilarating and just a little bit terrifying.

IMG Worlds of Adventure

IMG Worlds of Adventure boasts of four “epic zones” - places where adults and children alike are able to enjoy to their heart’s content. The four zones include Marvel, Cartoon Network, Lost Valley - Dinosaur Adventure, and lastly IMG Boulevard. Within the Cartoon Network zone, IMG World has built the World’s first 5D Ben 10 Cinema and the largest Ben 10 Store.

We couldn’t have visited IMG Worlds of Adventure on a better day and timing - there were practically no queues or crowds, so we had the entire theme park to ourselves. IMG World’s biggest thrill rides such as Thor, Velociraptor, Predator and Powerpuff Girls were by far our favourites.

Located in the City of Arabia, IMG Worlds of Adventure is part of the establishments built to turn this city into one of the world’s largest entertainment districts.