Skin whitening products in 2014: Yes, they really are still for sale, everywhere

And so very many of them for sale.

The daily sign: English is not our first language, hijinks edition

Al Raha Mall

Alexander McQueen's McQ store is opening February 14 in Mall of the Emirates and...

…I think someone should buy me this dress to celebrate.

Cosmopolitan Middle East Pink cover is a sign of the times (in 3 different ways)

I snapped this yesterday at Carrefour on Airport Road. I was lured by the coverline "Will He Text"? I mean, Cosmo terrified me for years with such probing questions - but they always had to do with the telephone. This just seems so 2014, you know?

January in the Gulf: Our own sort of Polar Vortex

Cold guy #1.

In every year that I have lived here, January has provided some of the most amusement. The talk of the weather is particularly fun for someone who spent eight chilly years living in Canada's capital of Ottawa.

Will Smith reunites DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince at Dubai's Barasti for big NYE surprise

What a New Year's Eve for those lucky ducks who turned out to see DJ Jazzy Jeff, aka Jeff Townes, perform at Barasti's Sugar Beach party last night. The legend that is Will Smith hopped onstage and performed at least Gettin' Jiggy Wit It - Townes posted a joyous snippet. Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, were also celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary.

Go here for more + the video.

Happy 2014! Dubai blows the rest of the world all away with amazing fireworks all over the place

This is at the Burj Khalifa.

And for video of the amazingness that was happening over at The Palm, go here. Awe. (Although wild horses couldn't have convinced me to battle the traffic to see it in person)