In a world where screens dominate nearly every aspect of daily life, a surprising trend is emerging among Generation Z: a return to analogue hobbies. Despite averaging around 7 hours and 29 minutes of screen time each day, surpassing the global average by nearly an hour, many young individuals are seeking solace in activities that don't require a digital interface.
This shift isn't merely about nostalgia; it's a conscious move towards experiences that offer tactile satisfaction and a break from the relentless pace of digital consumption. Board games are making a comeback, with game nights becoming a popular way for friends to connect without the interference of notifications. Film photography is also experiencing a renaissance, as GenZ'ers embrace the imperfections and anticipation that come with developing physical photos. In fact, over 25% of UAE travellers now bring a Polaroid camera on vacation, highlighting the growing appeal of analogue experiences.
The appeal of these analogue activities lies in their ability to provide a more mindful and engaging experience. They offer a form of escapism that digital platforms often fail to deliver, allowing individuals to immerse themselves fully in the moment. As the digital world continues to expand, it's clear that for many in Gen Z, the path to balance and fulfilment may lie in revisiting the past.
Why We’re Tired of Being Online All the Time
The average person in the UAE now spends more than 7 hours a day on screens, between work, studying, scrolling, streaming, and everything in between. For Gen Z, that number can climb even higher, especially when nearly every social interaction or form of entertainment is digital. It’s constant. And it’s exhausting.
You might think that those who grew up with smartphones would be the least bothered by it. But the opposite seems to be true. In a recent regional youth survey, nearly 6 in 10 young people in the Middle East said they feel overwhelmed by social media and the pressure to always be online. Many said they’d like to disconnect more often, even if they don’t always know how.
This digital fatigue isn’t about rejecting technology. It’s about craving something slower, quieter, and more present. The kind of experience that doesn’t come with a blinking red notification or a battery percentage in the corner of your vision.
That’s where analogue hobbies come in. They offer a way to reset. These little rituals remind us of a time when joy wasn’t measured in likes or shared stories, but in actual, undistracted moments.
The Rise of Analogue Hobbies: What’s Making a Comeback?
As digital burnout grows, a quiet shift is happening in homes, cafes, and even travel backpacks across the UAE. Analogue hobbies, once seen as outdated, are reappearing in everyday life. And not as a trend, but as a real, meaningful alternative to constant screen time.
Board Games
Board games are seeing a genuine revival, especially among young adults who are craving real interaction. Cafes like Unwind and Dice Café in Dubai have become go-to spots where people gather for hours of tabletop fun. From intense strategy games like Catan and Wingspan to light-hearted rounds of Uno, the joy lies in face-to-face competition, laughter, and shared time. It’s the kind of bonding that no group chat can replace.
Film Photography
There’s something deeply satisfying about capturing a moment with a film camera. Whether it's a Fujifilm disposable, an old Canon AE-1, or even a trendy Polaroid, young people are bringing back the beauty of patience; snapping photos, waiting to develop them, and living with the imperfections. In fact, film photography workshops have been quietly popping up around the UAE, especially in creative hubs like Alserkal Avenue. For many, it’s not about being a photographer. It’s about slowing down.
Vinyl & Cassettes
At local shops like The Flip Side in Dubai, vinyl is quietly making its way back into the lives of young listeners who want more than just background noise. Cassettes too, with all their tiny flaws and hiss, are being rediscovered, not because they’re better, but because they slow you down. You don’t shuffle. You don’t scroll. You listen, start to finish. And somehow, that feels more personal.
Journaling & Letter Writing
Writing things down might seem old-fashioned, but it’s making a quiet return. From bullet journaling and daily habit trackers to hand-written letters exchanged between friends, Gen Z is bringing back the kind of expression that doesn’t live on a screen. In bookstores and gift shops around the UAE, notebooks are flying off the shelves, notebooks with thick paper, colored pens, stickers, and all the little things that make writing feel special again. It’s not about being neat. It’s about slowing down long enough to hear yourself think.
DIY Crafts & Art
Crocheting, painting, and scrapbooking, these hobbies are making their way back into bedrooms and living rooms. Pinterest and TikTok might be the inspiration, but the magic happens offline, with your hands covered in glue or paint, not swiping through videos. More people are turning to simple crafts as a way to unwind after a long day, trading screen time for something they can feel and shape.
It's not about the final result or being ‘good at art’; it’s about the joy of making something from scratch. A few uneven stitches, a messy brushstroke, a page full of stickers, these things carry a kind of comfort that digital apps just don’t. And in a world that moves fast, crafting lets you slow it all down.
Across the board, these hobbies share one thing: they ask you to slow down. To enjoy the process, not just the outcome. And that, in 2025, feels like a quiet revolution.
Why Gen Z Is Leading the Analogue Wave
You’d expect Gen Z to be the last group to unplug. After all, they were raised on smartphones, grew up alongside social media, and can navigate digital platforms faster than most adults can open their email. But that’s exactly why they’re the ones stepping away, at least part of the time.
In the UAE, where nearly 98% of youth have access to smartphones and social platforms like TikTok and Instagram dominate daily habits, it might seem unlikely that young people would turn to anything “old-fashioned.” Yet, the opposite is happening. A recent study by Al Ghurair Foundation and YouGov revealed that more than half of young UAE residents are actively seeking more meaningful, offline experiences to manage mental health and reduce screen fatigue.
What makes analogue hobbies especially appealing to this generation is that they provide a space where there’s no pressure to perform. No likes, no reposts, no filters, just the activity itself. These hobbies offer what Gen Z craves most: real connection and moments that feel genuine.
Even social media reflects this shift. The #filmphotography tag on TikTok has over 1 billion views, and analogue-themed pages are gaining traction not as throwbacks, but as inspiration for a slower, more grounded lifestyle. Many Gen Z creators are now mixing digital content with analogue routines, sharing how they balance their screen-heavy jobs or studies with weekend analogue detoxes, playing chess with friends, painting by hand, or journaling with no app insight.
In a world that moves fast, Gen Z is showing us the value of slowing down and doing it with intention.
Not Anti-Tech, Just Pro-Balance
This shift toward analogue doesn't reject technology, it finds balance with it. Most people aren’t throwing away their phones or deleting their apps. They’re simply making space for activities that feel more present and less performative.
In the UAE, where digital services are advanced and convenience is often just a tap away, it’s easy to fall into a rhythm of constant scrolling, tapping, and multitasking. But that ease comes with a cost, especially mental. Studies from regional wellness platforms show a noticeable rise in anxiety, burnout, and sleep issues linked to screen overuse among young adults.
What analogue hobbies offer isn’t a replacement. They offer relief. A different kind of rhythm. When you play a board game, there’s no temptation to multitask. When you shoot a roll of film, you’re forced to think before you click. And when you knit, sketch, or write something by hand, your mind quiets down in a way that apps can’t replicate.
Even tech-forward workplaces and universities are beginning to acknowledge the importance of offline breaks. Analogue corners in offices, places where employees can doodle, read, or play chess, are becoming a subtle wellness trend in Dubai’s creative industries. Schools are encouraging journaling and handwriting to help students slow down and express themselves more deeply.
So no, it’s not a rejection of digital life. It’s a small rebellion against being constantly plugged in. A reminder that joy, creativity, and peace don’t always need a screen.
We’re not meant to be online all the time. Sometimes, joy is found in a shuffle of cards, the click of a camera, or the scratch of a pen on paper. Maybe you don’t need to escape the digital world, just step outside it for a while.
Pick up something real. Let it slow you down. That might be the most modern thing you do all day.
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