Humidity in Dubai varies, but it's irrelevant in my apartment. Everything is closed off and air conditioned. By that, I'm going to guess the humidity is a little lower than average. I've been using the hand method ever since it was suggested to me.

The strop itself doesn't look like it has that second component. It looks like leather as well, but of a different kind to the side I use for stropping. So far, I've been using my fingers to very gently clean the blade with. Basically lightly running the blade between my fingers. Blade side facing my fingers, and moving the blade to one side, and outward, to avoid cutting myself. I doubt it's a method anyone would approve of though.