{
  "id": 4802095,
  "title": "The UAE ‘side quest’ lifestyle: Why young people are always looking for something to do",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/the-uae-side-quest-lifestyle-why-young-people-are-always-looking-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T06:15:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/the-uae-side-quest-lifestyle-why-young-people-are-always-looking-for-something-to-do-1.500658898"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the clock strikes 7 p.m. on a Thursday evening, the workday has concluded, and a sense of uncertainty looms over young individuals. With friends eagerly awaiting the evening's plan, someone inevitably suggests: \"Let's go somewhere.\" Within minutes, they find themselves embarking on a series of activities that were not part of any initial agenda. This phenomenon, dubbed the UAE's \"side quest\" lifestyle, has become a defining characteristic of how many young people spend their leisure time. Borrowed from the gaming world, a side quest can encompass anything from trying a new matcha spot to driving to a different part of the city for dessert. The allure lies in the constant search for novel experiences and excuses to leave the house, even when there was no plan in place to begin with.\n\nThe concept of \"quiet socialising\" has gained popularity among UAE residents, who opt for plan-free activities that don't require a structured itinerary. Rather than simply doing nothing, young people fill their hours by replying to messages from friends, sparking spontaneous plans such as visiting a new café, attending an event, or exploring a neighborhood they haven't explored before. The UAE, a place where new experiences seem to emerge constantly, provides an abundance of opportunities for these spontaneous adventures.\n\nThe modern UAE group chat functions as its own planning department, with messages flowing in rapidly from TikTok and Instagram. One person shares a video, another suggests a restaurant opening, and others express interest or express concerns about the distance. Eventually, a consensus is reached, and the group heads out around 9 p.m., the original plan having undergone several changes along the way. The appeal of this spontaneity lies in the fact that young people are not necessarily seeking extravagant experiences or elaborate weekend getaways. Sometimes, the side quest is as simple as escaping the house after a long day. It could be a drive with music playing, a supermarket run that turns into an hour-long outing, or sitting outside with friends and having coffee at midnight.\n\nWhile some may argue that the side quest lifestyle is driven by a desire for Instagram-worthy moments, the underlying motivation is more human and personal. For young adults juggling university, work, family expectations, and busy schedules, spontaneous outings offer a much-needed break from routine. A random Tuesday night drive can feel like an event, providing a sense of living without the pressure to make every moment productive or meticulously planned. The popularity of this lifestyle stems from the fact that it injects a little storyline into ordinary days, offering the excitement of never knowing what will happen next.\n\nHowever, there are downsides to this constant quest for something to do. It can become exhausting and financially draining, with \"quick coffee\" turning into dinner, which then leads to dessert and another drive. The pressure to keep up with others who seem to have more exciting experiences can also weigh heavily on individuals. Nonetheless, the solution may not lie in abandoning the search for side quests altogether. Instead, it may involve accepting that not every quest needs to be spectacular. Sometimes, the best experiences arise from completely unplanned moments - leaving the house without a predetermined destination, laughing with friends in a car park at midnight, and realizing that four hours have passed without engaging in any significant activity. These unplanned moments, in the UAE, where there is always somewhere to go, may be the real challenge - learning that one doesn't always need to have an elaborate plan to find fulfillment.",
  "summary": "It’s 7pm on a Thursday night. You’ve finished work, your friends are asking what the plan is, and someone inevitably says: “Let’s go somewhere.” Where? Nobody knows. Ten minutes later, you’re in the car heading to a café you saw on TikTok, stopping somewhere for a quick photo, walking around a mall you have no intention of shopping in, and somehow ending the night with karak at 1am. Welcome to…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Side quest\" lifestyle defined by constant search for novel experiences in UAE.",
    "Young people fill hours with spontaneous plans like visiting new cafés or exploring neighborhoods.",
    "Side quest offers personal fulfillment and break from routine, despite potential downsides."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}