Hi, I’m Naz. Welcome to Life in the Dunes.

If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be trading the tropical humidity of Southeast Asia for the desert sands of the Middle East, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.

I’m currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after spending a chapter of my life in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Moving across continents, cultures, and climates has reshaped how I see work, home, and what settling down actually means especially as an expat.

I started Life in the Dunes because I realized something important. I was going through massive, life-altering experiences, navigating new cultures, building a home from scratch, but I wasn’t documenting them.

I didn’t want those memories to fade, and more importantly, I didn’t want the lessons I learned (some the hard way) to go to waste.

founder, owner, author, blogger of life in the dunes

Who am I?

By day, I work in marketing as a copywriter and content strategist. I spent 2 years in the corporate 9–5 world before making the leap into full-time freelancing.

That decision changed everything.

It gave me the flexibility to build a career I love, marry my partner, move abroad, and continue working with my clients while figuring out life in a completely new country.

Remote work isn’t just a buzzword for me, it’s what made this life possible.

What is this blog about?

There are plenty of travel blogs that show you luxury hotels, curated itineraries, and perfect sunsets.

This isn’t just that.

Life in the Dunes is the practical, honest friend you wish you had before you booked the flight. It’s about real expat life in the Middle East, especially in places like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.

Here, I share the things you actually need to know from practical lessons I learned, cultural nuances, and realities of expat life in the Middle East. Basically, the stuff I figured out through trial, error, and a lot of Googling—so you don’t have to.

I’m not a government official or part of any travel agency companies. I’m just a writer who lives here, learns as she goes, and believes life abroad gets easier when we share what we know.

A few quick facts about me

  • Born and raised in a small country in Southeast Asia (hint: Kuala Lumpur is my hometown)
  • I can’t start my day (or do my best work) without coffee
  • I moved abroad to follow my husband for his career (without leaving mine behind)

Whether you’re planning a move to Saudi Arabia, already living somewhere in the Middle East, or simply curious about what everyday life here looks like, I’m really glad you found your way here.

Welcome to Life in the Dunes 🏜️