I started travelling internationally from Dubai first, years back.
It is an interesting place, lot of Indians, south Indians especially, very multi-cultural. I used to laugh about Dubai, there are way too many malls there. Summer-time is just unbearable there but winter is good.
My work stint in Dubai was also interesting, staying in hotel for months, working for a client where probably I was the only woman in the office building apart from the receptionist. I learnt a lot there. I travelled around too.