airtoday,
Safe, for now, from personal attack maybe, but so-called justice in the Emirates can also endanger your personal health. I know an Antipodean pilot now working in 'dangerous' West Africa, who was once working in your safe haven. He had been working in a neighbouring country where he bought a car. When he left he sold the car and paid off his loan, but because of an error in the paperwork of the dealer, the loan was marked as unpaid. Money being more important than life to many people in that part of the world, an Interpol arrest warrant was issued and as he was departing on leave he was arrested at the airport and thrown in jail. His company did nothing at all to help him and it was just his friends, with help (slight) from his embassy who took him decent food and tried to get matters sorted out. In the meantime he was transferred from the town jail to the really harsh conditions of the desert prison where his physical condition rapidly deteriorated. He was eventually driven back to Abu Dhabi airport in a prison wagon, in chains and deported, despite no charges ever being levelled against him.
Nice place to work...... He's very happy now in 'dangerous' Africa, making considerably more money for the same amount of time off - and he was working for the 'other' company with the cr*p conditions which pays a lot better than yours.
Tell me, are all your contracts in the Emirates? A number of companies from your part of the world now also have contracts in nice 'safe' places like Yemen and Iran where pilots get shot. They and/or their families may be living in a safe haven, but they are sometimes called upon to work in other countries in the region which definitely feature in nobodies 'desireable places to work' list.
