Linda Andrade, known as the 'Original Dubai Housewife,' is making headlines this Christmas with her impressive festive spending plans. The 25-year-old mother, who lives between Dubai and Los Angeles, is preparing for another lavish season, focused on her 10-month-old daughter, Amira. Andrade's delightful Christmas includes high expectations for gifts, especially her anticipated 10-carat diamond earrings from De Beers, which she expects to receive as a stocking filler, priced at nearly £200,000.
Having met her husband Ricky at the gym years ago, Linda set the bar high from the start, clearly expressing her expectations for luxury gifts. Each Christmas marks another year of extravagant spending, with shopping trips planned for the Dubai malls following the opening of presents. Her intentions for Amira's wardrobe are grand, as she plans to fill it with designer clothes from Dior as well as countless pieces of gold jewelry to meet what she believes is the cultural expectation for little girls born in Arab countries.
Linda elaborates on her belief, stating, "Honestly, her jewellery is more important to me than her education, because if you're rich, beautiful and smart you won't have to work for a living," showcasing her distinct values about wealth and upbringing. This attitude reflects the extravagant lifestyle many indulge in the UAE, where opulence is commonly seen as the norm.
Initially making her name through her social media presence, Linda boasts approximately 1.4 million followers on TikTok and 400,000 on Instagram, bringing her earnings close to $100,000 (£80,000) annually. With such platforms, she shares her life as a housewife and mother, celebrating her spending habits and the luxurious products she chooses for her family. Her social media influence allows her to partake and contribute to the celebratory spirit of Christmas, even though the festive season might not hold the same significance in Dubai as elsewhere.
Dubai, predominantly known as a Muslim region, embraces Christmas through unique festive customs, favoring gold and opulent decoration over traditional red and green themes. This year, Linda plans to add the Islamic element to their Christmas tree by shaping it like the Muslim crescent, aptly stating, "It's both respectful and attractive." This balances her desire for festive celebration with the cultural sensibilities of her surroundings.
Linda's spending history is equally eye-catching. Just after Amira’s birth, the couple splurged on lavish gifts such as $3,000 (£2,400) for a solid gold pacifier and $6,000 on a designer stroller. When combined with purchases from Tiffany's amounting to $30,000 (£24,000) for their daughter's first luxury collection, it sets the tone for future making Christmas unforgettable.
“Most people don't even think about the Christian element. It isn't relevant here. We just love to have a good time,” she comments on Dubai's festive spirit. This is representative of how the local populace enjoys the holiday season, seeing it primarily as another opportunity to indulge. Linda reflects on her and her husband’s high standards for holiday celebrations, hinting about potential gift strategies for readers seeking rich partners. She advises, "If you don't start with gemstones and super-luxury hotels, he'll know he can get away with being cheap all his life." This concept of setting high expectations runs deep within her personal values.
Linda and Ricky's romantic tale has also been nothing short of glamorous, as she recalls how their relationship blossomed. Upon progressing their romantic involvement, Ricky was well-aware of Linda's standards, realizing he had to match her high expectations, including presenting her with half her body weight in gold for wedding gifts. This contributes to the dynamics of their marriage, and Linda admits, “He did much more than I initial thought he could.”
This festive season, the family plans to indulge heavily. They will dine out at luxurious restaurants rather than cook, sometimes opting for international cuisines or favoring Italian for Christmas dinner, underscoring the convenience and extravagance available to them. With the expectation of Christmas day well managed, all eyes are turning to what this family of three will celebrate and indulge in together.
Linda's focus on self-care and beauty continues as she spends $7,500 (£6,000) weekly to maintain her appearance, emphasizing the importance she places on personal care even as new motherhood demands her attention. “I have to make time to join him at the office when he closes big deals, so we can go out and celebrate,” she notes, reflecting the carefully maintained balance of their personal and professional lives.
The couple’s pattern of extravagant celebration offers insight not just for Dubai’s high-society lifestyle but also advice for women seeking similar relationships. According to Linda's principles, it's all about setting expectations and asserting what one wants both for themselves and their families. But what is even more interesting is Linda’s concluding sentiment about gifts for her husband—she plans to give him nothing, stating, “What more could he want?” as she reflects on the joys of motherhood and her place within their family dynamic.
