Sofia Brontvein
In love with Swiss watches, vintage cars, spontaneous trips, and cycling
The Data Doesn’t Lie: Women Need To Train Differently
Wearables finally show what science always knew — female physiology has its own rules, rhythms, and performance patterns
by Sofia Brontvein
26 Nov 2025
Stop Swiping. Start Sweating: Your New Social Life Starts Here
You won’t find your people in bars or brunches — but you will find them at 6 am, sweaty, starving, and strangely loyal
by Sofia Brontvein
25 Nov 2025
Why You Must Stop Avoiding Carbs
Especially if you are doing all that cardio
by Sofia Brontvein
21 Nov 2025
The Case For Dumbbells: Why Everyone Needs Strength Training
Cardio burns calories, sure, but without strength training you are basically a skinny engine on fragile wheels
by Sofia Brontvein
14 Nov 2025
Move, Scream, Repeat: The New Spirituality Taking Over Dubai
Forget cold plunges and green juices — Sanctum’s founder Luuk Melisse is bringing a louder, sweatier, more human kind of wellness to Dubai
by Sofia Brontvein
12 Nov 2025
Why We Keep Climbing Mountains Even When It Is Damn Hard
Because no one grows on the easy road
by Sofia Brontvein
11 Nov 2025
Concrete Dreams: How Doha Built Its Own Modernist Myth
From desert brutalism to futuristic constructivism, Doha’s architecture reads like a time-lapse of ambition — a skyline written in concrete, glass, and confidence
by Sofia Brontvein
7 Nov 2025
Two Museums In Doha That Built the Middle East’s Cultural Memory
Together, MIA and Mathaf are proof that Qatar didn’t just collect art; it collected identity
by Sofia Brontvein
6 Nov 2025
Doha On Display: The Ultimate Art Week In Qatar
I arrived in Doha cycling at dawn, museum-hopping by day, and realised that the city is no longer catching up — it is calling the tune
by Sofia Brontvein
4 Nov 2025
Work Hard, Play Harder: Dubai Isn’t a Fairytale — It Is a Battlefield
Behind the sunsets and Instagram reels, Dubai isn’t a dreamland — it is a city that will test your limits, and sometimes your sanity
by Sofia Brontvein
29 Oct 2025
Anxious But Aesthetic: Why We Keep Healing On Instagram
We don’t hide our breakdowns anymore. We frame them in 16:9
by Sofia Brontvein
25 Oct 2025
Why Everyone In Dubai Is ‘Fine,’ And No One Actually Is
“Fine” is Dubai’s unofficial language — the polite translation of "I’m drowning but my pool has a view"
by Sofia Brontvein
21 Oct 2025
Collin Allin: Dubai Has the World’s Coolest Cycling Community
Cycling in Dubai is no longer just a sport — it is a culture, a social code, and probably the city’s most photogenic obsession
by Sofia Brontvein
16 Oct 2025
Fake It Till You Make It: Millennials And Their Desperate Need For a New Personality
Because when your career, housing market, and mental health collapse, at least your personality can still stand
by Sofia Brontvein
13 Oct 2025
When Rest Isn’t Optional: My Crash Course In Cumulative Fatigue
You can outrun your problems, but not your mitochondria
by Sofia Brontvein
12 Oct 2025
So You Want To Start Cycling In Dubai: A Survival Guide (And a Love Letter)
Cycling in Dubai is not just a hobby — it is a lifestyle, a cult, and occasionally a death wish if you skip sunscreen
by Sofia Brontvein
7 Oct 2025
The Art Of Escaping: One Sunday, One Porsche, And Zero Regrets
Sometimes the best way to clear your head is to drive a 911 into the mountains and pretend your inbox doesn’t exist
by Sofia Brontvein
7 Oct 2025
Why Rest Days Are Harder Than Workouts
Because nothing feels worse than sitting still when you have trained yourself to move
by Sofia Brontvein
6 Oct 2025
New iPhone Air: Lighter Than Your Excuses
Apple has created a smartphone lighter than my excuses for not upgrading sooner
by Sofia Brontvein
5 Oct 2025
The Pilates Myth: Can You Really Get Shredded Lying On a Reformer
Spoiler: No one in history got a six-pack from breathing exercises and stretchy straps alone
by Sofia Brontvein
4 Oct 2025
How To Travel To Tokyo And Survive (Most Probably)
Tokyo is a beautiful assault on the senses, and the only way to survive it is to stop trying to win
by Sofia Brontvein
3 Oct 2025
The Friendship Diet: Cutting Out People Who Don’t Nourish You
Because if you wouldn’t eat junk food every day, why keep junk friendships?
by Sofia Brontvein
29 Sept 2025
The Routine Myth (That Turns Out To Be True)
Apparently, being boring is the new mental health hack
by Sofia Brontvein
23 Sept 2025
Why Being Alone Might Be the Healthiest Thing You Will Ever Do
Because sometimes your own company is better than mediocre company
by Sofia Brontvein
22 Sept 2025
McLaren Artura Spider: Beauty Over Use, British Brilliance Over Practicality
If you buy a McLaren Artura Spider, you are declaring that you live for breath-taking speed, arresting geometry, and sheer presence more than grocery runs or fitting bikes in trunks
by Sofia Brontvein
18 Sept 2025
The Diet Circus: Why I Am Done With Protein Powder In My Oats
Because nutrition should be science, not Insta theatre
by Sofia Brontvein
16 Sept 2025
The Toxic Positivity Of Wellness Culture
Because no amount of lemon water will fix capitalism
by Sofia Brontvein
10 Sept 2025
Apple Just Upgraded Our Hustle: Meet the New Gear For Creative Power Users
Apple just unveiled a suite of devices that finally keep pace with our nonstop creativity — and our temperamental Middle Eastern climate
by Sofia Brontvein
9 Sept 2025
The Final Elegance: Giorgio Armani, One Of the Last Fashion Gods, Passed Away
He was one of the last true masters of fashion, a man who turned simplicity into an empire of grace
by Sofia Brontvein
4 Sept 2025
Pity Party For One: Why Self-Compassion Starts With Sadness
Because sometimes loving yourself means letting yourself break a little
by Sofia Brontvein
4 Sept 2025
When Being Healthy Costs You Your Social Life
Because nobody tells you that trading drinks for tempo runs can feel... kind of lonely
by Sofia Brontvein
24 Aug 2025
Why Cycling Ruins Your Dating Life
Because nothing kills romance like a 4:45 am alarm and a pile of sweaty bib shorts
by Sofia Brontvein
21 Aug 2025
Why Running Is So Damn Hard
Turns out, a lifetime of sports doesn't prepare you for the humbling hell that is a 7-minute kilometre
by Sofia Brontvein
16 Aug 2025
Why Nature Heals And Cities Drain Us
Because I spent a month in forests and oceans and came back wondering what we are even doing here
by Sofia Brontvein
13 Aug 2025
Ultimate Guide To Mauritius: The Best Place To Explore the Slow Living Concept
When the world won’t stop spinning, Mauritius gently suggests you step off — and teaches you how to stay off, beautifully
by Sofia Brontvein
30 Jul 2025
How Sharjah Is Quietly Rewriting the Rules Of Urban Life
New district Aljada isn’t just reshaping Sharjah — it is redefining what a city can be
by Sofia Brontvein
1 Jul 2025
Out Of Office, Into the Ocean: A Soft Reboot At W Maldives
Two Dubai girls trade burnout and skyscrapers for sea level serenity — and a very stylish reef
by Sofia Brontvein
30 Jun 2025
Pack Light: Tech Travel Essentials For Your Next Trip
The Sandy Times Publisher on how to become a digital detox ambassador — even if you are still working on the go
by Sofia Brontvein
27 Jun 2025
Track Or Treat: Apple Watch Ultra 2 Vs Whoop — Choose Your Fighter
Our publisher Sofia Brontvein puts Whoop and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to the test to see which one truly understands your body (and your neuroses)
by Sofia Brontvein
19 Jun 2025
Brick By Brick: How LEGO Helped Me Rebuild My Nervous System
Publisher of The Sandy Times, Sofia Brontvein, shares how LEGO became her unexpected ally in the daily battle with anxiety
by Sofia Brontvein
17 Jun 2025
Hermès WRTW Fall-Winter 2025 Is All About Culture, History, And Heritage
Hermès has just presented the second chapter of Women Ready-to-Wear collection fall-winter 2025 in Shanghai
by Sofia Brontvein
15 Jun 2025
Desert Roads & German Precision: Volkswagen’s New Vision For the Gulf
The Sandy Times talks to Matthias Ziegler about Volkswagen’s evolving Middle East journey — from SUVs to cultural ties
by Sofia Brontvein
13 Jun 2025
Welcome Aboard: The Gulf Is Becoming One Of the Biggest Cruise Hubs In the World
Angelo Capurro, Global Executive Director of MSC Cruises, explains why ocean liners set course for Dubai
by Sofia Brontvein
19 May 2025
From Bali To Botanique: Jenna Bitar’s Immersive Art Awakening Dubai’s Summer
What began as a casual conversation between two creatives has blossomed into Botanique, a lush, multisensory art experience redefining how Dubai embraces summer
by Sofia Brontvein
16 May 2025
Action Or a Relaxing Holiday? Why Choose, When You Can Go On a Cruise
You are probably already busy making plans for the summer. We hope you remember — the best vacation is a cruise
by Sofia Brontvein
2 May 2025
What Is Happening With the Music Scene In the Middle East: Explained by Kito Jempere And Hani J
Two musicians – Kito Jempere and Hani J – discuss music scene in the Middle East, local DJs, and The Sandy Times Crowd Test Festival
by Sofia Brontvein
18 Oct 2024
Kito Jempere Explains How Great Music Is Born Out Of Chaos
Sandy Times Radio Art Director and musician Kito Jempere talks about his new album and our plans to launch the radio
by Sofia Brontvein
17 Oct 2024
How Alan Roura Manages To Survive a Solo Non-Stop Round The World Yacht Race
Alan Roura, Hublot ambassador and well-known skipper, talks about his Vendée Globe experience
by Sofia Brontvein
23 Sept 2024
Aya Mechelany-Arab, Co-Founder Of KHAMSA: ‘Middle East Is In Everyone's Mind’
Dubai is becoming the hottest capital of art, fashion, and luxury thanks to local media and community
by Sofia Brontvein
15 Sept 2024
Say No To Millennial Crisis: You Just Need To Become a Carpenter
One day, you wake up with an unbearable desire for craftsmanship to support your mental health
by Sofia Brontvein
6 Sept 2024
Detailing: How To Make Your Car Younger And Brighter
If you truly love your four-wheeled friend, make sure you know what detailing is
by Sofia Brontvein
21 Aug 2024
Loneliness: What To Do About the Main Problem Of Life In Dubai
If you moved to Dubai alone, you know that finding a community here is not so easy
by Sofia Brontvein
23 Jul 2024
From Skeptic To Enthusiast: Falling In Love With Cruises
Looking for the ultimate relaxation vacation? A cruise might be your perfect getaway
by Sofia Brontvein
22 Jul 2024
Escaping Heat: The Ultimate Milan Travel Guide
With this guide, you will definitely be ready for your trip
by Sofia Brontvein
24 May 2024
Mazda CX-90: Perfect Powerful SUV For Large Families
Our impressions from testing the newly launched three-row crossover
by Sofia Brontvein
16 May 2024
Perfect Weekend Getaway: Things To Do In Oman
Your travel tips: from lush green jungles to the silver coin known as the "thaler"
by Sofia Brontvein
14 May 2024
Watches & Wonders 2024: The Best Models With Green And Blue Dials
These watches have been one of the main trends in the industry for the past few years
by Sofia Brontvein
23 Apr 2024
Watches & Wonders 2024: The Best Elegant Models
Not every watch complements a suit or tuxedo. These models are perfect for both the office and the red carpet
by Sofia Brontvein
13 Apr 2024
Watches & Wonders 2024: The Most Wanted Models
These Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Hublot, and Vacheron Constantin novelties are just astonishing
by Sofia Brontvein
11 Apr 2024
The Thinnest Watch On Earth: Mind-Blowing Novelty From Bulgari
The thickness of the Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC by Bulgari can be compared to a coin
by Sofia Brontvein
8 Apr 2024
Why Dodge Is Launching the First Electric Muscle Car
Dodge is ushering in a new era by unveiling the world's first and only electric muscle car
by Sofia Brontvein
12 Mar 2024
Jeep Wrangler 2024: Powerful Beast For True 4x4 Car Lovers
Off-road test of the new Wrangler proves — it can take you anywhere
by Sofia Brontvein
8 Mar 2024
Swiss Summer: Plan Your Next Vacation In the Alps
Enjoy endless blooming meadows, mountain lakes, outdoor activities, and architecture
by Sofia Brontvein
22 Feb 2024
Retro Chic: You Should Definitely Buy a Youngtimer
Our Head of Content is singing praises for the 1993 Jaguar XJS
by Sofia Brontvein
19 Feb 2024
Arab Watch Guide: Exploring the Middle East Watch Industry
The story of how Hassan Akhras created a popular watch blog and now elevates the community
by Sofia Brontvein
5 Feb 2024
Pasha de Cartier: The Mystery Behind the Iconic Design
The story behind one of the most iconic watches ever made
by Sofia Brontvein
5 Feb 2024