As the season changes and daylight hours shorten, evenings in Dubai are starting to feel different. Cooler air, an earlier dusk and the illuminated skyline are giving many residents a moment of calm as the city winds down after work.

During the summer months, sunset in the UAE came between 7pm and 7.45pm. In November the sun sets a little after 5.30pm, which means many people are travelling home from work just as the city lights come on.

UAE resident Arsany Tharwat Eldeeb said he now enjoys watching the bright sun fade and the city's lights gradually take over on his commute, adding that the view still feels new no matter how many times he sees it.

Graphic designer Jithin Roy said the evenings give him daily motivation. He described watching the skyline light up from the last cabin of the metro as "a moving painting made of light", and said his favourite moment is when the train passes the Museum of the Future on Sheikh Zayed Road.

Another resident, Farisa M.S, said the evening atmosphere lifts her mood when she steps outside around 5.30pm or 6pm, however tired she is.

Carolyn Yaffe, a counsellor and cognitive behaviour therapist at Medcare Camali Clinic in Jumeirah, said visually appealing surroundings can affect mental well-being. According to Yaffe, lit-up buildings and evening lights can have a calming effect and help commuters move from work mode into a more relaxed state, offering a short break from daily stress.

Residents also say the cooler weather is changing daily habits, with more people sipping hot drinks and taking extra care of their health as the season shifts.

(Source: Khaleej Times)