Originally from a small town in Italy, Ilaria Paci moved to Dubai four years ago after first visiting the emirate on holiday and feeling “a different energy”. “I started my life over from the beginning”, she says. “Seeing so many people in Dubai related to religion and Islam made me think a lot.” After visiting an Islamic Centre, she became Muslim – and is now preparing for her first Ramadan.

As the owner of Mazmi Café in Old Dubai, this will be an especially exciting time. “We are preparing special Iftars”, Ilaria tells us. “Mixed of course with my Italian roots!”