Christmas in the Desert: Doha to Dubai
Jasmine and I had been planning our trip to Dubai for some time. While I was ready to propose a year prior (2015), she'd conveyed that it wasn't yet where she was at - not because she didn't love me, but because there were career and personal goals she'd wanted to achieve first. However, in our talks she'd made it clear that she'd love a proposal while on vacation because it would allow for a place to be forever stamped in her heart. Fast forward a year, our careers were moving and Jas started to discuss marriage more openly as something she wanted, more specifically with me. So as we planned our trip, in my heart, I knew I would be leaving as her boyfriend, but I’d return as her fiancé.
Our day of arrival in Doha we were amazed at how beautiful the airport is. Airports by their nature seem unimpressive, nothing more than a point of transit meant for function; shuttle you from point A to point B, But Doha’s airport is what you imagine airports of the future to look like in design. Sleek, deliberate, and functional, yet striking and inviting. Shortly after retrieving our bags, my cousin picked us up at the airport. Neon lit palm trees lead our way out of the airport and toward the main city.
Our first few days on our trip were spent hanging out with my cousin and his wife in Doha. They hosted us at their beautiful penthouse apartment in the pearl, introduced us to the different types of shawarma (Lebanese and Turkish), guided us through the Doha museum of Islamic Art (which at the timed showcased a Muhammad Ali exhibit with some of his most coveted memorabilia), and shopped with us at the Gold Souq. We spent the evenings laughing over delicious food and hookah, pouring out past memories, while simultaneously creating some for the future.
I didn't look to orchestrate the perfect proposal moment. Instead, I committed to carrying the ring on me throughout the trip until the perfect moment presented itself. When we headed out for Dubai I still hadn’t proposed and carrying something so expensive became rather nerve-racking. However, on our second day in Dubai the perfect opportunity presented itself. That morning we went on a tour of the Burj Khalifa (which I thought would be the perfect place to propose until fear or dropping the ring and watching it roll off the roof set in). After the tour, we wandered around a shopping mall and searched for Parker Restaurant's hidden key. In order to dine at the restaurant, you have to find one of the keys they hide in the mall. Once you have the key you have access to dine as often as you want at any of their locations. Parkers provides clues every day on Snapchat; and this was one of the main reasons Jasmine was excited to visit the mall, she's a foodie. After we ate at Parker's for dinner, which created for one of Jas' most joyous moments during the trip, we walked out to the mall's bridge and watched the fountain show before catching a cab back to our hotel.
Sheikh Sl Zayed Road, Dubai; as viewed from the Burj Khalifa
While in the cab, Jas exclaimed that it had been the best day out of our vacation, which had consisted of five days prior spent in Doha, Qatar where we visited family and friends. Upon entering our hotel room, we noticed housekeeping had placed towels in the shape of swans on our bed. I did not plan for that but took it as another sign. We laughed with each other about how corny the swans were, but how much they added to what felt like the perfect day. Jas took a seat in the room chair, which was positioned between the bed and room window, with a view overlooking the city. After some chit-chat about all we saw and how good the food at Parker's was, I reached for the ring box in my camera bag, got down on one bended knee in front of Jas and asked her to marry me. Jas got teary-eyed, said yes, and pulled me in for a hug. In the moments that followed we laughed, embraced some more, vacillated over whom to call first, second and third.
The next morning we headed back to Doha to celebrate the new year with family. We brought in the new year at a swank hotel. Dressed to the nines we drank top shelf liquor, danced to a mix of house music and hip-hop, and when it was time we toasted to the new year.
As Jas and I were planning our trip to Doha and Dubai, I felt like it would be the perfect time to ask for her hand in marriage. I spent the year working closely with a New York jeweler to craft her desired ring. I spoke closely with a few friends of ours as advisors, showing them images and ring designs throughout the year to ensure I was moving in the right direction. I sold my car, taught summer class sessions, and saved the money made from a commercial I was featured in to have the money for her ring and our trip. For me, there was more time spent getting the ring right, rather than the arrangements of a proposal. So long as the ring was right and the trip was adventurous I believed she'd say yes. Best guess I ever made.
Curated below is our trip itinerary, favorite excursions and places we saw in Doha & Dubai:
Doha Itinerary:
Dubai Itinerary:
