“Welcome back!” the AI (artificial intelligence) voice at the Dubai airport said as it swung open its immigration gates faster than I could find my passport in my bag as I entered the city for the nth time a few years back. It turns out, the airport has already recorded my biometrics so I don’t have to scan my passport anymore as I’ve been to United Arab Emirates (UAE) many times either for vacation or transit via my most favorite airline Emirates to Europe.

Apart from Switzerland and London, I feel the safest as a woman to travel alone in the UAE — as long as I stick within the city. Of course, the best thing to do in Dubai is to “do buy,” so whenever I’m there, I do mall-hopping and scouring outlet stores for Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Balmain, Desigual, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and the like that I could get for a bargain. In 2022, I scored one of only two pieces of hybrid scarf and baseball cap designed by Donatella Versace for Fendi, in a very rare collaboration and crossover between Fendi and Versace called “Fendace.” The cap is in the same desert color as my other treasured piece from another designer houses collaboration, a hoodie from the “Hacker” collection of Balenciaga and Gucci in 2021.

Not only is Dubai a bargain hunter’s haven; Filipinos there are the best! Once they learn that you’re a kabayan, they would give you discounts, offer you the best seat in the house or give you more than what you’ve paid for.

Likewise, as a woman, I’ve experienced nothing but respect from even locals in UAE. I’d go to Dubai’s souks alone — but for as long as it’s in daytime because honestly, it’s scary there at night — there are hardly any tourists and many local men walk there in groups. I’d address the Muslim men tending the shops as “brother,” and they’d call me back as “sister,” give much attention to serving my needs and queries, offer me discounts and even shower me with freebies.

I’d buy luxurious, hand-embroidered fabrics from the Textile Souk; jewelry from the Gold Souk; and scents and essences from the Spice Souk. In 2023, I got a one-off silver bracelet embossed with turquoise, Lapis Lazuli and other semi-precious stones. At the Spice Souk, a “brother” concocted my very own personalized perfume he called “Rose of Arabia” — because, as he said, I’m an adopted daughter of Arabia. How sweet is that?