Notes From Dubai

I spent some time in Dubai recently. It’s a place that looks almost unreal when you first arrive. The buildings rise out of the desert in a way that doesn’t seem possible, and at night the city glows in every direction.

What stood out to me most was the contrast between the beauty around me and the air itself. On some mornings, the haze was thick enough that the tops of the tallest towers disappeared. I’m used to coastal air and open skies, so it caught my attention right away. You don’t notice how important clean air is until you find yourself looking for a clear horizon and not finding one.

Mark Edgington and his wife in Dubai’s miracle garden and butterfly garden

I’m not an expert on global development or environmental issues, but I pay attention to the things that affect day-to-day life. Breathing is one of those things. When the air is heavy, people move differently. My daily 6 a.m. walks didn't happen.

Still, what struck me was the determination here. People work hard. They take pride in their routines. They build families and run businesses and help each other, the same way people do anywhere. The beauty of Dubai isn’t only its architecture. It’s the effort behind it. But like any place, there are challenges you can feel.

My time there reminded me how much the simple things matter. Clear air, open space, the ability to take a deep breath without thinking about it. It’s easy to overlook that in everyday life. Travel has a way of pointing out what you’ve gotten used to.

Dubai is impressive in ways that are impossible to ignore. It also left me thinking about the quiet, practical things that make a place healthy to live in. Those reminders help me pay closer attention to the parts of my home I sometimes take for granted.

— Mark Edgington

This article also appears on https://medium.com/@markedgington, where you can learn more about Mark Edgington’s ongoing work.