The Man, The Mystery… The Massive Red Flag
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from dating in Dubai, it’s that a man’s Instagram is often more reliable than his words. But sometimes, even Instagram can’t prepare you for what’s lurking beneath the surface—kind of like a luxury yacht with a broken engine.
The Setup: A Promising Start
It all started at a Cruise & Connect event by Luxcierge Group. There I was, cocktail in hand, soaking in the moonlit skyline, when I locked eyes with Daniel. Tall, dark, tailored to perfection, with a deep voice that could make an earnings report sound seductive.
“Consulting,” he said, adjusting his cufflinks. “Big Four.”
The way he said it, you’d think he was the Big Four.
Impressive job? Check. Ambitious? Check. Didn’t start the conversation with ‘So, what do you do for fun?’ Double check.
Unlike the usual finance bros who talk like they’re presenting Q4 results, Daniel was smooth. He asked thoughtful questions. He laughed at my sarcasm. And when he casually mentioned he’d just gotten back from a “quick work trip to Paris,” I thought, Finally, a man who knows how to live.
By the time the yacht docked, I had a date planned for the next evening.
The Date: Where Things Took a Turn
We met at a fancy sushi place in DIFC. He ordered for us without asking (which, I’ll admit, was kind of hot), and within minutes, we were deep in conversation.
And then—the red flags started sailing in like a fleet.
🚩 He refused to say his exact job title. When I asked what he actually did, he gave a vague, “Oh, you know… strategy, restructuring, high-level advisory.” Sir. That is not a job description. That is a LinkedIn buzzword salad.
🚩 He never stopped “name-dropping.” At one point, I lost track of whether we were talking about his job or a Forbes event. Every other sentence was, “Oh yeah, I was having dinner with [Insert CEO Name] last week.” We get it, Daniel. You know people.
🚩 The phone addiction. Every few minutes, he’d glance at his phone like he was waiting for a secret mission briefing. He even apologized, saying, “Sorry, high-priority deal happening.” And yet… no urgency to leave. Almost as if… he wanted me to think he was important.
🚩 The biggest red flag? He had never been in a serious relationship. “I don’t really do labels,” he said, swirling his sake like he was about to drop some profound wisdom. “Why complicate things?”
Ah, yes. The classic I’m too busy for love but still want you to adore me type.
The Escape Plan: Back to the Yacht
By the time the bill arrived (which he conveniently let me split—unacceptable for a man who just “closed a huge deal”), I knew Daniel was nothing more than a walking LinkedIn profile with commitment issues.
Which is why, when my bestie called me the next morning and said, “Luxcierge Group is hosting another Cruise & Connect this weekend. You in?” I didn’t hesitate.
Because if I was going to waste time on mystery men with questionable job descriptions, I’d rather do it on a yacht with a champagne flute in hand.
Final Lesson?
Ladies, if a man is more in love with his job title than he is with the idea of a relationship… abort mission. And if you need a dating scene that offers quality without the LinkedIn flexing, get on the next yacht. 🚢✨
XOX
Sarah DxB
