Belgian expat marks 30 years in Dubai, from salsa dancing to photography

Belgian expat Alex de Smet has called the UAE home for 30 years, building a life in Dubai that took her from professional salsa dancing into advertising and photography. She reflected on three decades in the country, from childhood memories of old Dubai to a career shaped by dance, photography and the city's ambitious spirit. Her story appears in a series of expat profiles that also features 27-year-old Karine Yengo Kaisa, who says she learnt by being in the right environment, and Turkish expat Nena Siena. The interviews focus on personal experience rather than residence permit rules, fees or deadlines.