Dubai's urban areas were not explicitly planned as 15-minute cities; however, the fundamentals of density and proximity have enabled certain neighborhoods to function in that capacity. This paper decodes the existing 15-minute city models prevalent in Dubai by engaging the everyday realities of the expatriates residing in such neighborhoods. It seeks to determine the factors that influence an individual's ability to experience such 15-minute neighborhoods. In doing so, it helps ground the definition of a 15-minute city in the distinct geographical and socio-political context of Dubai. Using a qualitative approach, this study documents the weekly travel diaries of five families residing in Mankhool to understand their daily urban lifestyles. It further examines the applicability of the 15-minute city concept by accommodating diverse transportation modes and acknowledging the city's distinct characteristics. The findings reveal that the ability to experience a 15-minute city is a factor of a family’s needs, choices and practices along with the spatial trends ubiquitous across the city. By bridging top-down planning frameworks with bottom-up lived experiences, this research aims to foster a dialogue for creating a more holistic and implementable 15-minute city framework for Dubai, emphasizing the importance of individual agency in shaping urban policies.