10 Thoughts I Had Watching The Real Housewives of Dubai 

Bazaar Arabia’s Anahita Ghai shares her thoughts and musings after watching the first episode of the series…

The Real Housewives. Either you love or hate the franchise.

The original series, released back in March 2006, followed the housewives of America’s Orange County; the show quickly became a major hit.

Now, with its first international edition in Dubai, fans (including myself) are curious to see if the show will stay true to its glamorous image while accurately representing the region.

As a Gen Z viewer, my go-to TV series include the likes of Gossip Girl, Friends, Stranger Things, and Bridgerton, to name a few. And while my mother is a massive fan of The Real Housewives franchise, I have never understood the fascination with the series… until now. Last night The Real Housewives Of Dubai premiered on OSN+ in the region and, of course, as soon as the clock struck 21:00 I was glued to my screen.

One of the most exciting things about the teasers leading up to the premiere was all the Dubai insider references; whether it was showcasing our favourite spots around town (we’re looking at you CÉ LA VI) or casually throwing around Arabic terms of endearment (Hello, Habibi!) I was intrigued to see how these housewives represented the city I call home.

Here are ten thoughts I had while watching the first episode of The Real Housewives of Dubai (caution: spoilers ahead!):

• Firstly, I love the opening shot of Emirati businesswoman Sara Al Madani, riding a dune buggy in the middle of the desert. The scene was nothing short of a Dubai tourism video, but in the best possible way.

• Drama, drama, and more drama. I knew I had signed myself up for some real tea, but this was a whole new level. The lead stars don’t shy away from sharing their honest feelings about each other. For example, at Nina Ali’s CÉ LA VI dinner Caroline Stanbury conveys her true feelings towards Chanel Ayan, she says, “I can’t stand that woman.”

• If the episode’s theme could be summed up in three words it would be gold, gilded and glamour. Chanel Ayan dazzled in a striking ensemble as she is spotted for a photoshoot in the desert.

• It brings me a lot of joy to see that the episode captures all the housewives in their own homes, spending time with their kids and families. This was a sweet way to accurately showcase the behind-the-scenes from all the glamour and drama. One of my favourites is when Sara Al Madani and Nina Ali take their kids on a trip to the Frame; a scene that gives up a glimpse into the true reality of the Real Housewives.

• Would it really be a show about Dubai if there wasn’t at least one G wagon in shot? Lesa Milan shows up at celebrity-favourite spot Nammos, Four Seasons, in one of the most trendiest cars, a white G-Wagon. While this can be considered the mascot vehicle of the city, it was a nice eye-candy touch. 

• Caroline Stanbury proves that age is just a number — and that true love really does conquer all. Throughout the episode, she receives major backlash for marrying Sergio, an athlete who is 19 years younger than her.

• There were plenty of iconic quotes in the making…The ladies have our Instagram captions sorted with their on-point comments and wit. A few to name, Caroline Brooks, “Forget about the new Middle East. This is the new world,” Caroline Stanbury, “In America, I’m one in a million; here I’m one of one,” and Lesa Milan, “We all live in Harmony, well, some of us.” 

• Fashion afficados can rejoice as we get our fix of style, stilettos, and more when the leading actors get ready for the Caroline Stanbury’s hen party. My favourite frame? Caroline’s Hermes handbag collection is every girl’s dream come true. 

• Even though it’s only the start of the season Nina Ali has officially stolen my heart with her elegance, class, poise, and of course, her sage burning and crystals. To maintain peace and positivity at a dinner with the other ladies, she tries her best with all things wellness that truly brings a tear to our face. Is she becoming my favourite character? Possibly so. 

• The episode ends with an.. aggressive twist. Two of the ladies had a showdown at the dinner table. Any guesses who? I’ll not reveal any more spoilers. The ending scene gives us a glimpse of what to expect in the coming episodes.

Is this our guilty pleasure of the summer? Stay tuned to find out more.

Images courtesy of OSN+