Hidden gems, luxury stays and places worth the drive

Umutdxb Best places to visit in the UAE
Umut İlkaya photographed in the desert outside Dubai

About

About Umutdxb

I’m Umut İlkaya, the face behind Umutdxb.

Umutdxb is a Dubai-based UAE travel guide covering hidden gems, hotels, restaurants, destinations, road trips, things to do and places worth the drive across the Emirates. I’m a Dubai-based travel content creator, drone filmmaker and visual storyteller, showcasing the most beautiful and inspiring places to visit in the UAE and beyond. Through cinematic visuals, aerial footage and first-hand storytelling, I cover everything from hidden gems, local cafés and cultural hotspots to luxury hotels, staycations and desert adventures.

Contact me Explore the guides

My goal is simple: to help travellers discover the UAE in a deeper, more meaningful way — whether that’s the iconic locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scenic escapes in Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, or off-the-beaten-path treasures across the Emirates.

Recognition

Recognitions & achievements

My work has been recognised on local and global platforms, showcased in leading media outlets, lifestyle blogs and international tourism campaigns, and reaches millions of viewers across Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

  • CNN Arabia

    Featured twice for visual storytelling.

  • Filmfare Middle East

    Photography Influencer of the Year, 2023 and 2024.

  • UAE Golden Visa

    Granted for creative contribution to the cultural sector.

Work with me

Collaborations & partnerships

I work with hotels, resorts and tourism organisations to produce drone video, Instagram Reels and SEO-driven blog content that highlights the best places to visit across the Emirates.

Collaborate with me

Collaborations

  • The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert logo
  • The Ritz-Carlton Doha logo
  • Six Senses logo
  • Raffles Doha logo
  • Fairmont Doha logo
  • Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority logo
  • White Sand Luxury Villas, Zanzibar logo
  • Dyson logo

What I share on Umutdxb

  • Unique destinations

    Places worth the drive across all seven emirates.

  • Nature & adventure

    Mountains, wadis, mangroves and the coast road.

  • Luxury stays

    Hotel and resort reviews, and staycation ideas.

  • Food & restaurants

    Cooking worth crossing town for, and the cafés between.

  • Drone journeys

    Licensed aerial work over deserts, beaches and mountains.

  • Creator tips

    How the photography and the trips actually get made.

Get in touch

For collaborations, press or anything else — based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

hi@umutdxb.ae