SMT you shot yourself in the foot a little by starting your spiel with;
"Whilst I, thankfully, have not been in a position where I have had to lower myself to accept a job in the GCC....." Reminded me of a line from the muppet show when Miss Piggy says, " Pretentious? MOI?? "
Maybe you just mingled with like minded Ex-Pats?
I don`t think anyone on here who lives in Dubai is disagreeing with the contents of the article, poetic licence et al, it is just funny to observe the attitude it brings out in the ABU`s.
Feel free to talk down to me, i`m just an ATCO.
(ABU-Anywhere But UAE)