Navigating the dating scene in Dubai is not so easy. No one wants to run into a red flag, or worse, someone who gives simultaneous red and green flag energy. Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez’s interview with Jay Shetty is going viral because it’s providing clarity behind true green flag behavior.
What can we learn from him on green flags to look out for while dating in Dubai? Cosmo Me asked Mia Pavlikova, a dating expert in Dubai, to share her insights on these green flags.
1. He goes above and beyond to serve you.
For Valentine’s Day, Blanco bought all of Gomez’s favourite foods and prepared an amazing dinner for her. “It doesn’t mean spending your entire bank account, but being attentive and caring,” Blanco revealed.
“This is a beautiful sign that he’s attuned to your needs. This reflects attentiveness, thoughtfulness, and a desire to nurture you, not just impress you. When a man personalizes love, it means he’s paying attention to you, not just performing a generic “boyfriend role,” shares Pavlikova.
2. He doesn’t aim to “win.”
“Guys are so quick to win. What are you doing? You’re going to argue with your wife and cry, and then you win that argument and she hates you?” Benny has previously told. Women around the world let out a sigh of relief, hearing his simple, and articulate self-awareness.
“He sees the relationship as a team, not a competition. A man who doesn’t need to “win” prioritizes the health of the relationship above his ego. He listens to understand and values connection over control. With this man, you never have to worry about a power struggle in your relationship,” shares Pavlikova.
3. He knows how to redirect your emotions
“When I see something happening, it’s about guiding the missile, not adding a jet pack on top of it with machine gun artillery.” shared Blanco. He’s referring to the fact that when he notices Gomez is getting upset, he’s going to do everything in his power to de-escalate the situation, using what tools he knows work for Selena.
“When your emotional waves arise, he meets them with calm clarity. This builds trust and safety, especially if you’re someone who feels deeply,” shares Pavlikova.
4. He’s a fan of you.
“This shows that he’s not intimidated by your success, confidence, or light. A partner who celebrates your wins instead of competing or criticizing them is secure in himself. He wants to see you win, which makes him a safe space for your growth,” shares Pavlikova.
5. He’s self-aware
“If we had met each other when were younger, it would have never worked out. We both have grown as individuals. And met at the perfect time. And I believe life is like that,” Benny told.
“If a man finds the strength to do the inner work, he becomes a safe place not just for you, but for himself too. It means he can meet you with clarity, responsibility, and presence. And such a man is a keeper,” shares Pavlikova.
6. He’s genuinely grateful for you
“Genuine moments that show he doesn’t take you for granted bring an energy of gratitude into the relationship. This energy is one of the highest, attracting even more blessings. A man who feels lucky to have you will treat you with respect, affection, and intention. He won’t get complacent, he’ll continue to cherish you. At the same time, he will create a space for your feminine energy to receive such appreciation.
7. He’s in therapy
This may be a slightly rare quality to find in a man, but it without a doubt a green flag. Blanco reflects on his therapy journey, which was a safe space to open up about his previous relationship experiences and what he learned. He used the time in therapy to identify what he wanted in a partner; and what core things really matter to him. Lo and behold, Selena met every one of those traits. “Unhealed men often bleed on the ones who didn’t cut them. Witnessing signs of healing and maturity means he’s not operating from past wounds,” shares Pavlikova. And therapy can be a place to do just that.
8. He shows maturity, not perfection
Let’s face it, there will be fights in relationships. But the matter is, how does he handle them? This is the defining quality, not perfection. “Disagreements are a must in relationships, they help us to evolve and become better for each other. A man who can stay kind and connected in conflicts has the emotional tools to build a lasting relationship, not sabotage it over ego or blame,” shares Pavlikova.
9. He knows what tools work to calm you down, and he uses them when you are getting spicy.
“If I see her getting to a place where I’m like man- in five minutes from now, this room could explode. I’m never going to let it get to that. I’m going to say, what are all the tools that I know that work for her, that I’ve learned? I’m not going to exaggerate the situation,” shares Blanco.
“Women are and will always be the emotional kind. And only a mature man will understand that often times we need the right emotional support to our “waves”. If he’s invested in understanding your emotional world, then he doesn’t fight fire with fire; he’s learned your language and can lovingly help regulate the dynamics when things escalate. That shows wisdom and strength, not weaknes,” shares Pavlikova.
10. He makes you feel “right”
“He makes me feel safe” is the highest compliment that a man can receive. Safety can be divided into four main aspects: physical, emotional, spiritual and financial. These all are equally important and if man´s presence is especially emotionally regulated and grounded, your nervous system picks up on safety before your mind does. When you feel “right” around someone, it usually means there’s no manipulation, chaos, or performance. You can relax and be yourself. You can surrender,” shares Pavlikova.
It’s just an unexplainable feeling, but women have a powerful intuitive force. For lack of a better explanation, when you know you know. Trust it.
Navigating the dating world can be filled with challenges, and you may want to prepare yourself before you walk in. To help assess if you are approaching the scene from the correct stance, check out these 5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Going On A Date.