Photo: Aleksandar Pasaric/Pexels
Cover Crunchmoms co-founder Liying Tay shares the best ways to experience Dubai (Photo: Pexels)
Photo: Aleksandar Pasaric/Pexels

Former data analyst and market launcher Liying Tay co‐founded Crunchmoms, a private women’s network in the Middle East. Now calling Dubai home, she offers insider tips on exploring the city beyond its famed opulence

Liying Tay may have found her home in Dubai, but her journey here was anything but conventional. Before settling in the UAE, she had an impressive career in Southeast Asia, where she worked as a market launcher for Grab and built Southeast Asia’s leading micro-influencer platform. But it was her move to Dubai, prompted by her husband’s new role, that led to the creation of Crunchmoms, a private network empowering women at every stage of their motherhood and career journeys.

“Crunchmoms was born from my need to redefine the balance between two worlds: my ambition to thrive in my career and my commitment to nurturing a growing family. When we started building Crunchmoms, I was a first-time expat mom, far from the support of close family and friends ... I started reaching out to my circle of ambitious, driven women around me who seem to have it together in their work lives and personal lives—the more I spoke to them, the more I realised the importance of community, honest conversations about motherhood, and practical support. It has been almost three years since we started Crunchmoms and it has evolved—just as we(my cofounder and I) have, as ambitious women, mothers, and leaders,” she says.

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Tatler Asia
Liying Tay (pictured left) and Julie Nguyen, co‐founders of
Crunchmoms
Above Liying Tay (pictured left) and Julie Nguyen, co‐founders of Crunchmoms
Liying Tay (pictured left) and Julie Nguyen, co‐founders of
Crunchmoms

Today, with thousands of women actively engaged, Tay is spearheading a movement that is transforming the landscape for working mothers in the region through skill-building workshops, speaker events, return-to-work programmes, parenting resources, coaching, and a host of other initiatives. We asked Tay to share her top recommendations for living and thriving in Dubai.

The best thing about Dubai has to be...
its incredible diversity and relentless pursuit of innovation. It’s also an ideal place for families, offering a high quality of life, world-class amenities, excellent healthcare and diverse education options.

A must‐try dish is...
Sufret Maryam’s habra niyeh, a minced raw beef dish mixed with spices.

First‐time visitors to Dubai need to...
book a personalised desert safari tour and experience the desert. The sunsets over the dunes are truly some of the most beautiful.

To meet new people in Dubai...
go to a Crunchmoms event! After five years of living here, I’ve realised that the best way to meet people is to say “yes” to dinner invites! Hosting or attending intimate dinner parties at home has been the perfect way to connect with like-minded, interesting people. 

Tatler Asia
Crunchmoms Summit 2024
Above Crunchmoms Summit 2024
Crunchmoms Summit 2024

A great spot for coffee is...
Pekoe, Nightjar or The Lolo House.

A hidden gem worth visiting is...
a small eatery called Dibba Bay. Having locally grown oysters by the harbour while watching the sun set on date night is a must.

My most memorable adventure in Dubai so far is...
a weekend getaway with my husband—before we had kids—at Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve that is a perfect blend of exceptional hospitality and a personalised experience to explore the beauty of the desert reserve.

Tatler Asia
Tay’s desert adventure with her friends
Above Tay’s desert adventure with her friends
Tay’s desert adventure with her friends

What I love most about Dubai is...
the incredible people I’ve met and the ambitions of this region.

My favourite restaurants are...
La Niña for the perfect date night, Mamak for my prata fix, Tashas for the best breakfasts to start the day, and Tero, by the Singaporean chef Reif Othman, for an experiential dining experience.

For a taste of Dubai’s culture...
have breakfast at Arabian Tea House in the Al Fahidi historical district and explore the neighbourhood.

Secret spots I regularly visit are...
the hole‐in‐the‐wall Al Damyati Express Restaurant, which serves the best lamb chop, and Birch Bakery, for its burnt Emirati honey and sea salt croissant.

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Nafeesa Saini
Features Editor, Tatler Singapore
Tatler Asia

Nafeesa Saini is the Features Editor at Tatler Singapore, where she shapes long-form stories on culture, business, philanthropy, wellness, and the people driving change in Asia. With a deep interest in storytelling that intersects meaningfully with identity and impact, she has profiled a diverse range of visionaries, from scientific pioneers in AI and health to creative trailblazers and literary minds.

Nafeesa’s writing includes cover stories and profiles that spotlight influential voices, alongside commentary on the trends reshaping our world.

Off the clock, Nafeesa unwinds with fiction, a good thrift hunt, and ‘brainrot’ TikTok scroll—while always keeping one eye on her next cultural getaway, usually to Indonesia.