A Dubai Resident’s Honest Thoughts on The Premiere of Real Housewives of Dubai, Season 2
From playing Padel to grabbing coffee at local eateries, the ladies are at it again…
After The Real Housewives franchise announced it’s first international edition in Dubai, fans in the UAE could hardly contain their excitement. Long-term Dubai residents were ready to see their beloved city on screen.
As the premiere episode of the second season kicks off this week, promising all the glamour and drama fans crave, the show teases an entertaining ride filled with luxury, tension, and, of course, all the classic Housewives antics. Falah Gulzar, Digital Content Producer and long-time Dubai resident, shares her thoughts on the premiere of Season Two of Real Housewives of Dubai here.
Episode One of Season Two of Real Housewives of Dubai wastes no time diving into drama. Dr Sara Al Madani and Caroline Stanbury lock horns right from the start. Dr Sara also seems to have a new beau. Meanwhile, Caroline Brooks has a heated argument with newcomer Taleen Marie’s husband, the latest cast member to join the franchise.
After a quick catch-up on the ladies’ family lives, the premiere episode takes us to Club Padel Dubai in Al Quoz, where Chanel Ayan and Lesa Milan dive into the city’s latest craze. The sport is massively gaining popularity in the city and it seems like it’s also a Housewives’ favourite as Lesa has also been spotted at Padel 360, another court located in Al Quoz.
During their game, Chanel’s attempt at being relatable, when she says, “Let’s leave the sport to rich people” while donning gloves in Dubai’s sweltering heat brings a hilarious and ironic twist we all know (and love) the Housewives franchise for.
The episode’s most talked-about moment unfolds during a conversation about the VVIP section at Atlantis The Royal’s grand opening, during which Beyoncé performed. Lesa and Chanel boast about rubbing elbows with celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Tina Knowles in the ultra-exclusive VVIP area, while the others were left in the mere VIP section.
There’s no doubt that Queen B’s concert at the Dubai hotel’s grand reveal was not only the talk of the town but a global discussion. After all, Beyoncé had chosen to perform during the ceremony after a four-year break from the stage.
Another scene features Chanel and Caroline Stanbury deciding to have lunch together at the W Dubai – Mina Seyahi, one of the city’s hotspots that boasts 360° views of the Palm. Judging from the height at which they’re sitting at, they were likely enjoying Asian cuisine at the hotel’s Attiko restaurant.
And if you too were quick enough to notice the misplaced cutaway shot of Downtown Dubai, let’s extend some grace to the editors – perhaps there was a shortage of suitable footage?
Amidst all the drama, there’s a brief but important conversation as 46-year-old Caroline Stanbury discusses her IVF journey. It’s a moment that adds some depth to the otherwise superficial and dare I say, planned squabbles. As a much needed discussion needed to be coming from women living in the region, I’m hoping for more on the topic during the rest of the show.
In the mix, Taleen makes her Bravo debut after relocating from LA to Dubai. Though her appearance in the premiere is brief hopefully she’ll steal more screen time in the episodes to come.
At the meet up, Chanel added fuel to the fire by bringing a pineapple as a cheeky gift for Caroline Stanbury as a way to hash out these differences from last season. What’s a RHOD episode without the antics?
During one of the scenes that we do get a glimpse of Taleen is a quick coffee run she makes with Caroline Brooks. As I previously mentioned, I was eager to see what the ladies’ go-to café in the city is, and to my delight, Cassette, a homegrown eatery nestled in Al Qouz’s The Courtyard, made a cameo.
Moreover, fashion is, as always, a highlight on the show. Like everyone does in Dubai, the Housewives took advantage of the cooler weather and headed to a brunch at a beach club that seemed to be at Palm Jumeirah’s Palm West Beach. Chanel arrived in a striking pink dress and sky-high heels, Caroline in a chic Fendi look, and Lesa made a statement in a Versace outfit.
And the episode’s most standout moment? Chanel still couldn’t stop name-dropping her experience at the Beyoncé concert. The rest of the housewives seem just as over it as those of us eye-rolling behind the screen.
In line with the show’s disclaimer stating, “The primary purpose of this series is to entertain,” the episode errr… does deliver on that promise. But seeing our favourite hangout locations in Dubai and everything it has to offer is personally what keeps me watching.
If this has gotten you excited for more, episodes 2 and 3 are expected to be available for streaming on June 11 and 18, respectively and OSN+ is an official carrier of the season in the region. Happy watching!
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