So you've accepted a position in Abu Dhabi - well done. Congratulations on moving to the capital of the UAE! Didn't know AD's the capital? You're not alone. AD's more famous neighbor up the coast, Dubai, garners much of the attention in the nearly fifty-year-old Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation, but there's plenty to know about the capital of the largest of the seven Emirates.
First time living abroad? The joy of attestation...
If this isn't your first time, you can probably skip this first section, but Abu Dhabi is a common first overseas appointment destination, so this might be a worthwhile review.
You are going to have to have your pertinent documents notarized and attested by the state and federal governments (for US citizens) before they can be submitted for consideration by the AD authorities who will eventually issue your work visa. This process includes professional credentials, degree copies, transcripts, and anything else that speaks to the reason your company hired you. We didn't have to have our marriage certificate attested, but it's not a bad idea while you're at it in case you intend to stay abroad and move elsewhere. Some countries do require it.
Your employer should give you specific, detailed instructions. Better yet, a good employer will communicate with you regularly throughout the entire process. Barring this sort of support, however, just remember that everything must be stamped in this order: notary, state-level Dept. of State, US Dept. of State, AD Foreign Ministry. The state won't touch it if it's not notarized, and so forth. Also be prepared for notaries to be clueless. Some documents - university degrees, for example - can be copies; some can't. Know before you head to the notary. Get those stamps, champs!
It's All About Sheikh Zayed
His face is everywhere, often flanked on either side by his eldest son (and heir) and his cousin, Sheikh Rashid of Dubai. Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi led the unification of the Emirates and the foundation of the nation on December 2, 1971. He is universally revered throughout the UAE for this act of modern statecraft.
Born in Al Ain, an oasis city in the AD emirate near the border with Oman, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ruled Abu Dhabi before becoming the first President of the UAE. The leader of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid, was the first Vice-President. To this day, federal decisions must still carry the seal of approval of both AD and Dubai, the two most influential emirates, whose leaders are, respectively, the President and Prime Minister of the UAE. These leadership roles and titles are hereditary; leading families in each emirate are considered royalty.
You can visit Sheikh Zayed's birthplace, Qasr Al Muwaiji, in Al Ain. If you're in town for the beautiful Al Ain Oasis, it's worth stopping in. His personal history is quite the tale.
Do not ever speak ill of Sheikh Zayed in front of an Emirati - it's sort of a King of Thailand situation. Not that you'd ever really have any reason to, but just don't. The Emirati people are extremely proud of their founding father - and for good reason. The UAE has done quite well for its people since its inception. It is a safe, peaceful nation with a strong international economic presence in a region that has certainly had its share of difficulties over the last fifty years, and Sheikh Zayed was the architect of its stability. Although not every aspect of his life is fit for an after-school special, he was a remarkable individual.
In fact, if you live in the UAE, it's not unlikely that you'll meet a direct descendant. I once had an HH in my grade 12 English class; he was an excellent student.
Have a read of the History of the UAE page at the UAE government's official Website for more on the nation and the region.
Customs and Culture: Quick Tips
Good news, ladies: you don't have to cover up in public to the extent that you might think. Covering the shoulders and knees will do as long as you're not visiting a mosque, and if you are exercising outside, shoulders and knees aren't a big deal - you might get some looks, but you won't get arrested.
Any time you do visit a mosque, you must cover fully. Gentlemen must cover up at mosques to some extent as well - no shorts unless you'd like to borrow a kandora at the door.
Regarding any Emirati - but especially Emirati women - make sure that you don't snap a photo in which one might be recognized. This aspect of privacy is taken very seriously in the UAE. Technically, the law states that no one may be photographed without permission, but it's only really a thing when an Emirati is involved.
You may not swear or spit in public, and be sure you don't swear around an Emirati. Also make sure never to argue or fight with an Emirati. You will lose every time no matter what.
PDAs are a no-no. Sorry, lovebirds. Get a room.
Moving to Abu Dhabi is, in a way, like moving to 1985. Everyone hangs out at malls. After you've seen the sights, which doesn't take long, standard options are Netflix, delivery food, and malls. You'd do well to find a hobby. I took up running, and The Boss stepped up her already formidable running game. Still, we were often bored.
If you like art, you might like to become a member at the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Umm Al Emarat Park is also nice when it's not absolutely boiling-hot outside. Neither of these is likely a frequent activity, though, so you might also consider video games. We became quite good at Crossy Road, a modern Frogger of sorts. Yes, our gaming needs are primitive. There's also a lot to do at the Zayed Sports City complex. We ran a couple of races there, in fact, and there's a good bar with good food in ZSC: The Sportsman's Arms.
One other option that can eat up your time on the weekends is the long, extravagant, free-flow-alcohol brunch. It's pretty much the thing to do on the weekends, but it's very expensive. We actually never went to one because we could never justify the ridiculous cost, and it's been years since drinking all day seemed like a good idea to me. AD brunches are pure gluttony. If you're into that sort of thing, god bless. You might not end up saving as much as you'd like, though, if AD brunch becomes a habit.
Eating
Abu Dhabi has a great selection of regional and Western cuisines.
Being in Arabia, let's start with the traditional Arabic meat wrap, shawarma. Shawarma is cheap, easy, delicious, and everywhere. If you need a quick bite, a chicken shawarma is perfect.
Also - being in Arabia - pork is haram, forbidden. You can find it in Abu Dhabi, but it is treated much like alcohol: it is for tourists and it is to remain out of sight. Western-style grocery stores such as Spinneys carry pork products in what can best be described as the porn section of the store - sealed off from the rest of the store where no Muslim may enter. That's where you'll find your pork, bacon, salami, ham, and Pop Tarts. In the porn section.
At breakfast time, if we felt like going out, Jones the Grocer was typically the go-to. Jones does very well with good fats and 'super-foods' - their dishes with eggs, smoked salmon, avocado, and sweet potatoes are all excellent, and their coconut flour pancakes are a treat. Two under-the-radar items were what really kept us coming back, though: the almond croissants and the hash browns. Coffee is also a plus at Jones, and - somehow, perhaps through some habibi magic - they are able to serve alcohol.
Most of the places where we preferred to dine-in were breakfast spots. We do love brunch - if not 'UAE brunch.' Cafe Arabia and The Living Room Café were our other two favorites. Unfortunately, it appears the tiny Living Room Café has closed, which is too bad because they easily had the best cakes in town. The much larger (and apparently more Covid-proof) Cafe Arabia is located near Umm Al Emarat Park and has a great atmosphere - bright, spacious, and cute. You'll walk upstairs and see giant stuffed bears sitting on chairs. Cafe Arabia's shakshouka is excellent and comes in several different varieties; we preferred the Palestinian.
We also enjoyed going out to Jazz @ Pizza Express at the World Trade Center. They have happy hour BOGO wine and they really do have live jazz every night - or, at least, they did before Covid-19. We would typically celebrate the ends of semesters or the ends of tough weeks...or the ends of tough Wednesdays...lounging in the back corner booth at Pizza Express with pizza and wine.
If you don't already know, Lebanese food is amazing. Eat all the Lebanese food. Our favorite place for Lebanese was Mosaic, but there are great Lebanese places everywhere. Zahrat Lebnan, a small chain, is also quite tasty. Wherever you go, order either strawberry juice or mint lemonade and plenty of hummus and garlic paste...and everything else is also good. Order delivery.
Egyptian food is also delicious. We became smitten with koshari, and we had a great place for it right near our house: Koshari Street. Order delivery.
Our novelty selection for Abu Dhabi fooding is Game of Toast, the kind of place that could only exist where there is absolutely no regard whatsoever for copyright laws - thanks, AD! GoT's burgers, fries, and onion rings are all delicious, greasy fun. Their old location was the size of a closet - a well-decorated closet, but a closet - but we understand they're moving soon. Still, once again, you probably just want to order delivery.
If you'd like to use your kitchen, Hello Chef will deliver a box of ingredients to your door every week. It's Abu Dhabi's version of Blue Apron and other meal-kit delivery services around the world. We liked most of what they offered except the fish - we weren't crazy about their fish, and we love fish. However, we liked their pita pizzas so much that The Boss continues to make her own versions of them.
One treat place of note: Camel Cookies - fat, stuffed cookies with fantastic branding. They have coffee, too. There aren't a whole lot of great treats in Abu Dhabi (once again: RIP The Living Room Café), but Camel Cookies are pretty good. Delivery again.
Finally - yes, you can find camel burgers. They're a thing, and they're not hard to find. Cafe Arabia has them, and so do a lot of other places. You can also find camel milk and camel milk ice cream, but we didn't like either one very much.
Grapes and Hops
One of the things that still makes us chuckle about Abu Dhabi is the ubiquitous aversion to using the words 'wine' and 'beer' - establishments are clearly compelled to call them grapes and hops like it makes a difference.
Along the same lines as the grapes-hops silliness was once the AD Liquor License, but huzzah! In September of 2020 the alcohol licensing system was discontinued. See? 2020 wasn't all bad! The licensing system in Dubai, however, remains. Point: AD. Licensing only matters, though, if you want to purchase at a liquor store; one does not need a license to get funky at the bar. Make sure not to get too funky in public, though, or you'll get arrested, too.
The main liquor store chains in AD are Africa and Eastern, Gray Mackenzie, Peninsula, and Spinneys Liquor. There are various other windowless dens of shame and debauchery, but you are almost always going to purchase your haram beverages from one of these named.
What you can buy at said liquor stores is way overpriced liquor and wine and beer that is far cheaper than what you pay at the bars. The bars are highway robbery - more on that in a minute. Until very recently, there wasn't a whole lot of selection. Heineken, Guinness, Budweiser, Stella, and Corona, mostly. Brew Dog from Scotland has solid footing in the UAE, too, but that was it...until Side Hustle. This guy Chad decided recently that he was tired of having no beer to turn to but those of overpriced megabreweries, so he started making his own. He still can't make it in the UAE - he makes it in Pennsylvania, which I love - but it's brewed and branded for the UAE, and he started out selling it at Stars N Bars out on Yas Island.
Now about the bars and such...
Alcohol can be purchased at liquor stores and consumed in private residences or purchased and consumed at hotels or establishments that are affiliated with tourist establishments or certain sports clubs. That's the law. Some places appear to be above the law - no hotel affiliation, no official tourist or sports club designation; just the ability to serve as though it's not a thing. So there's that.
Alcohol at designated establishments is stupid-expensive unless the hours are happy, and even when the hours are happy, there's a hefty tax on alcohol - a 'sin tax' if you will. Hotels also charge super-silly service charges. All in all, you're looking at at least 30% in excess charges on your already overpriced bar purchases when you hit the town.
What do we recommend? Go to Carluccio's at the Eastern Mangroves for happy hour wine - good Italian stock - and huge affogatos! Oh, and they have regular food, too. Also, The Sportsman's Arms at Zayed Sports City, mentioned earlier, has decent happy hour deals.
Shopping
Groceries: Typically, the nearest Spinneys is the way to go for a regular grocery trip; they're all over town. For a convenience store, we normally went with Zoom. When we wanted the really good stuff, we would also head to Organic Foods and Café (OFC) in the Nation Towers. There are also a bunch of OFC locations in Dubai, including one right on Sheikh Zayed Road on the way into (or out of) Dubai. Can't miss it.
Avoid Carrefour and Lulu - stores somewhat comparable to Wal-Mart - on the weekends unless you really, really love suffocating crowds. Better to try on, say, a Tuesday night if you really need that beach towel or discount frying pan.
Clothes and shoes: Abu Dhabi Mall might not be the newest, sparkliest mall, but it has most of the most useful stuff; there are Marks & Spencer stores at the Marina Mall and Yas Mall and down in the thick of town at the Fotouh Al Khair Centre.
We also went to Abu Dhabi Mall for camera equipment.
Books: You really need to go to Dubai for a real bookstore - go to Kinokuniya at The Dubai Mall.
An IKEA and an Ace Hardware are adjacent to Yas Mall, which also houses a large Apple Store and plenty of other high-end boutiques. Yas Mall is the largest and perhaps the most popular mall in Abu Dhabi, and it also connects to Ferrari World, which boasts the world's fastest roller coaster. For the world's largest mall, though, you need to head to where the books are, The Dubai Mall.
Health Care
Before any international trip, make sure your vaccinations are up to date. You can always find the latest information regarding vaccination and other critical notices on the CDC's Travelers' Health page. Even if you think you're fully vaccinated, chances are you'll need a booster or two, and if this is your first international move, you probably need at least Hepatitis A and Typhoid pills. Don't wait on Hep A - it's a series. Go to the CDC site.
As The Boss and I gaze into our crystal ball, we think that the Covid-19 pandemic will create a push for vaccination information to be part of international travel - perhaps as a new section of passport information...perhaps in a chip. We predict that whatever tech entrepreneur can make this happen smoothly will attract loads of fat government contracts. Why did I not go to school for computer science? Oh, right...calculus.
Once you're in Abu Dhabi, go to Harley Street Medical Center. See Dr. Hady Jerdak if you can. Virtually any expat insurance will cover it. They have all the specialists, too. Harley Street also has a dental clinic (at a different site than the medical center). If you go somewhere else and receive alarming news, get a second opinion at Harley Street. Another clinic once told The Boss that she had a rare form of leukemia, and she definitely didn't. Just go to Harley Street. It's out on the marina in the residential area behind the Marina Mall.
There is a Cleveland Clinic, but it is primarily there to serve Emiratis. Some people we knew went there for things that either couldn't be done or couldn't be done well elsewhere, but not all insurance covers it. Check before you go. At best, some people we knew had to deal with the frustrating process of reimbursement. We went there once for malaria pills (Malarone) before an Africa trip.
Try your best not to have major surgery in the UAE. No opioid painkillers. No thank you.
Banking
You will, of course, need to open a bank account to receive your salary. In Abu Dhabi, what one would call a checking account in the US is called a current account. Same same. Your employer will most likely hold your hand through this process when you arrive, and there is a chance your employer will guide you into the loving arms of a particular bank. Ours hand-delivered us to Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB), which wasn't awful, but we probably would have gone with HSBC if we had been given more opportunity to consider our options. We think HSBC would have helped us get our house in order regarding financial planning a couple years earlier than we did. ADCB's Website and mobile app were still pretty stone age as of 2019, but, again, it really didn't make that much of a difference. ADCB does have ATMs everywhere, so that's nice.
Even if you are a married couple, good luck opening a joint account if you're not Emirati. No, I don't know why.
Taxes and the FBAR (US only)
If you are a US citizen, you must file a Federal tax return every year no matter where you live. Many other countries where your colleagues are from don't have such a requirement. The US does. Don't be stupid - just do it. Let's say you repatriate in five years - or ten years - and you haven't filed any tax returns, and then you file one your first year back. And you are audited. And the IRS asks what you've been doing for five years. Or ten years. And you have to explain. And prove. With evidence. Don't be stupid. Although the first year abroad might not be great for taxes if you move partway through the year and don't qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that first year, you will qualify for it once you've lived abroad for a calendar year. Then all you have to do is satisfy the tax laws where you are living and file Form 2555 - Foreign Earned Income. We implore you to hire an international tax expert - someone who works with expats for a living - to do your taxes. Better yet, find yourself an expat financial advisor. Once you settle in, ask people you trust at work who they use. You'll be glad you did.
Now this part is what most people miss: The Foreign Bank Account Report (FBAR). If at any point in the tax year you held the equivalent of $10,000 USD or more in any foreign account, you must file the FBAR within six months of the Federal tax filing deadline - usually this means October 15. Even if you don't file the FBAR out of completely innocent ignorance, the IRS can fine you $10,000, and, as Robert W. Wood writes in Forbes, the willful penalties are significantly steeper, and the criminal penalties for FBAR violations that are combined with tax violations are downright frightening. Soooo...if you didn't already know, the United States hates you and wants you to suffer, especially if you're a US citizen abroad. Now, you might think that there's no way you'll let your account get over the equivalent of $10,000 USD before sending cash home, but sometimes you can't help it, e.g., when you are given a lump-sum housing allowance or an end-of-service severance payment. Pay attention to your balances, and take solace in this: the FBAR is super-easy to file; it takes about five minutes.
Rent and Utilities
If your employer doesn't simply put you up and pay all your living expenses - which it might - you'll have to wrestle with leasing offices and utility companies.
A reputable employer will almost certainly provide a generous housing allowance - one that likely allows you to save a bit, even. We rented a modern 1-bed 1.5-bath apartment in the Embassies District, Al Muroor, not far from Zayed Sports City. It had a nice laundry room with a full-size dryer. It cost the equivalent of almost $22,000 USD for the year (80,000 AED), which breaks down to about $1,800 USD per month, but one doesn't pay by the month in AD. One pays half in advance and the other half no later than six months after the first payment. We were still able to save about $11,000 USD from our combined housing allowance, and ours wasn't even the best in town. No complaints here.
Rent may be expensive, but utilities are annoying. Avoid Etisalat like the plague for cellular service. You may have to go with Etisalat for Internet, though. Sorry and best of luck to you. Regarding cellular service: locate a Virgin Megastore - Abu Dhabi Mall will do - and get Virgin Mobile cell service with no contract. You can even get started with Virgin Mobile cellular service before you have your visa or resident card. Just bring your passport, and they'll take care of the rest. When you do finally receive the resident card, you must let them know immediately - and they'll remind you. Go to Virgin on day one - you can't do anything without a mobile number in AD. Anything.
What's nice about renting in a boiling-hot desert - even if you're on your own for utilities - is that most apartment buildings in AD provide unlimited AC. They don't want their properties to get all moldy, so your electric bill probably won't include the cost of running the AC to your heart's content.
Ramadan
During the holy month of Ramadan in the Hijri (Islamic) calendar, Muslims except young children and people with serious medical conditions fast from dawn to dusk. In our increasingly global society, this creates an interesting time for expatriates in Abu Dhabi.
In Abu Dhabi, if you are not Muslim, you can eat and drink during the day, but you must do so behind closed doors. You can eat at home or in an office full of non-Muslims, for example. You can not, however, eat or drink anything in public, not even water, and not even in a private car.
The idea of eating in hiding, though, brings about mixed opinions, even - perhaps especially - among Muslims. Many Muslims we knew in AD, including people in my office, would argue that the act of hiding your eating and drinking from Muslims when you are clearly not fasting is pointless, that the point of fasting for the truly faithful is not to pretend that food and drink aren't there or don't exist but to know that your faith is stronger than your desire to eat or drink. Muslims I know have, therefore, argued that compelling people to hide out to eat in seclusion is actually antithetical to the entire point of fasting during Ramadan and does not help Muslims to gain strength through their faith, which is the whole point. They would rather that people just do what they would normally do in a moderate, respectful manner. Obviously, it would be disrespectful to feast gluttonously in front of people who are quite hungry - but when is that not the case? Muslims we know who argue this side don't mind when people take some water or a sandwich midday because it actually helps them reaffirm their own faith. A co-worker once told me directly that seeing people go about their normal business during Ramadan made her feel closer to God.
However, the authorities have a different perspective, and this makes sense as well: people get hangry. I get it - I get hangry myself from time to time. Requiring non-Muslims to avoid visibility when eating during Ramadan very likely reduces potential conflict. Ok. I get that. But fining people for drinking water in public? I suppose the preemptive alleviation of hangry tension justifies it, so don't push the envelope, Globepouncers. Just find a quiet spot behind the curtain of shame to eat your muffin.
The Sights in the UAE
The number one tourist attraction in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (and Mausoleum), pictured below and at the top of the article. It's worth seeing it during the day and at night; the evening lighting is very well-done.
Emirates Palace is resplendence, opulence, and all their synonyms. Some people like to take staycations at Emirates Palace just to say they have. Why not? Luxury is nice.
There is a long promenade along the Abu Dhabi corniche that includes eateries, beaches, and plenty of space for walking, running, cycling, etc. On one end is Port Zayed where you'll find a lively fish market, an extensive produce and spice market, and Warehouse421, a modern arts and cultural space where you can enjoy exhibitions, workshops, and other events; on the other end are the marina and Emirates Palace.
There is plenty of adventure to be had in the vast Arabian desert. There are dune-bashing rides, sandboarding, camel treks, desert feasts, and overnight desert safaris. Check out Arabian Nights Village for a high-end experience.
Chances are your new employer will whisk you out into the desert for some team-building early on in your tenure. Ours did. No matter who you're with or why you're there, it's always a pretty good time.
Dubai is, of course, a major tourist draw. When people think UAE, they think Dubai; they think super-modern towers shooting into the sky and hovering over the water. The tallest building in the world is still the Burj Khalifa, which connects to the Dubai Mall. Note: Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia will easily be the tallest building in the world once it is completed, but its construction has been held up for several years due at least in part to the Saudi Arabian purge of 2017-19.
The Burj Al-Arab, designed in the image of a sail and perhaps the most recognizable hotel in the world, lives with most of the expat community in the posh Jumeirah district, which is also home to the beautiful Jumeirah mosque and Jumeirah beach, from where one can find an unobstructed view of the Burj Al-Arab. While you're in Dubai, you should also pop into Al Fahidi Fort, which is now a museum of the history of Dubai.
A boat ride on the Dubai Canal is nice, and one can disembark near the spice souk, which is adjacent to the gold souk. We also enjoyed doing the 2019 Dubai Canal Run, which gave us a sunrise view of the Dubai skyline. We found it to be one of the better running courses in the UAE.
Al Ain, on the outskirts of the AD emirate near the border with Oman (as mentioned earlier), is home to the Al Ain Oasis and Sheikh Zayed's birthplace. We recommend taking a weekend in the winter months in Al Ain. If you show up to the oasis at opening time, you'll have the place to yourself.
Many also enjoy the beach resorts in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, two of the other emirates, but we never partook.
Traveling outside the UAE
For residents, Abu Dhabi International is one of the most - if not the most - convenient airports in the world. That more countries haven't picked up on AD's retina scanning is an unnecessary tragedy of travel - in fact, even Dubai (so far as we're aware - this might have already changed) hasn't jumped on the retina scan wagon yet. Even if you're not a resident, the lines that are significantly shortened by the fact that so much of AD's traffic just walks through retina scan stalls are much easier to manage than most international border checks.
Although there are several lovely excursions to undertake in the Emirates, we at Globepouncing are often quick to point out that the best thing about living in the UAE is the ease of travel in the region - particularly to our two favorite Middle East destinations, Jordan and Lebanon. In the region and nearby we also enjoyed Oman, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, and Georgia. It's a great region for travel, especially if you enjoy history.
One road trip we recommend is to drive up the coast to Oman's upper peninsula, Musandam. There are lovely places to stay in and around the town of Khasab. We stayed at Atana Khasab. While you're there, you can take dhow cruises around the desert fjords to see dolphins and swim, and visit Khasab Castle.
Mail and Shipping (including your furry friend)
If you are bringing your fluffy one(s) to Abu Dhabi, it will not be cheap. Inshallah your new or soon-to-be employer offers a generous relocation package, but even if your package does include shipping, most packages do not include pet transport. If yours does, forget this section exists and let out a full-throated Hamdallah! that you have found what is likely an exceptionally benevolent new corporate overlord. Chances are, though, that you will have to shell out some serious cash to bring the fluffers. If everything else is covered by normal shipping, though, at least this is all you'll have to pay for regarding relocation of stuff.
When we first moved to AD in 2017, we received a door-to-door full-service quote of about $5,000 USD. I know - and that was just for one little cat. Logistics can be rough in this part of the world. In the Middle East, the vast majority of people still use landmarks and nicknames instead of actual addresses. Addresses exist, yes...sometimes, but most people just don't use them. You'll get used to that. You'll also probably get used to having all your mail sent to work because work is a far more likely-to-be-found landmark destination than your apartment building. If you want your mail, you typically want it sent to work.
Remember that $5,000 USD kitty shipping quote? Yeah. Difficult though it was, we declined to follow through with that because we realized rather quickly that we would decide to leave after our initial two-year contract. No worries, though! The little guy spent what I can only describe as kitty heaven with my sister, who is a bona-fide cat whisperer, and he has since rejoined us in Vietnam (where we plan to stay considerably longer) for the somewhat more tolerable price of $3,000 USD. Both quotes were provided by Air Animal, who we absolutely recommend without hesitation.
Check out our article Moving Your Pet Abroad for more on moving your fluffy friend.
If you're interested in the specifics on our little guy's trip: Sis dropped the fluffens off at JFK in New York with an Air Animal rep; little buddy flew to Dubai - ironically enough - for a pit stop where he was able to stretch his paws; finally, he flew from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City, where he was chauffeured to our door for a glorious, fluffy reunion. How that cost $2,000 less even though the flight was twice as long and more complicated is beyond me - sometimes the Middle East just doesn't make sense, and that's ok - they have the best hummus.
If you found this article helpful, sign up to become a member and find us on your favorite social media platform. Paws for travel!
Comments