Family life in Dubai?
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Or Germany.... or UK!!!! WEATHER - Being number one! 
ONE that outweighs many of the 'percieved' disadvantages.
Just a personal opinion of course, but shared by lots of people I know.
ONE that outweighs many of the 'percieved' disadvantages.
Just a personal opinion of course, but shared by lots of people I know.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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well well well, Dubai over Germany huh! Well, as I've written here before about this subject I'd just like to expand.
My wife and I 'endured' Dubai for 2 years and now we live in Northern Germany. I am British and NOT home sick in any way shape or form, compared to Dubai, Germany is heaven and couldnt give a damn about the weather when the way of living is comfortable and logical!
No matter what we did or had to do in Dubai, it was a chore. Driving is dangerous and frustrating and the roads are full of drivers its taken more than 40 lessons to teach, and they still have no clue.
All matters involving the countries systems or services that you must get involved in or register with, are a complete shambles... hours of quing, pushed from pillar to post by staff that really couldnt give a f**k.
The indians, Filipinos, etc are shown NO respect atall and work day in day out for these selfish and disrespectful Arabs. Most of which havent seen a women for years so constantly stare longingly at any women who passes them.
Housing is expensive if you want a decent level of living, and still rising.
The weather from April to November is too hostile to do anything for too long outside so your limited to Malls which at the weekends are bursting with folk. The scenery over on the other coast is better but still dusty and drab.
The good points are too few to outweigh the negatives. Theres too much to write about... sorry (angry from UK will shut up now)...
My wife and I 'endured' Dubai for 2 years and now we live in Northern Germany. I am British and NOT home sick in any way shape or form, compared to Dubai, Germany is heaven and couldnt give a damn about the weather when the way of living is comfortable and logical!
No matter what we did or had to do in Dubai, it was a chore. Driving is dangerous and frustrating and the roads are full of drivers its taken more than 40 lessons to teach, and they still have no clue.
All matters involving the countries systems or services that you must get involved in or register with, are a complete shambles... hours of quing, pushed from pillar to post by staff that really couldnt give a f**k.
The indians, Filipinos, etc are shown NO respect atall and work day in day out for these selfish and disrespectful Arabs. Most of which havent seen a women for years so constantly stare longingly at any women who passes them.
Housing is expensive if you want a decent level of living, and still rising.
The weather from April to November is too hostile to do anything for too long outside so your limited to Malls which at the weekends are bursting with folk. The scenery over on the other coast is better but still dusty and drab.
The good points are too few to outweigh the negatives. Theres too much to write about... sorry (angry from UK will shut up now)...
Join Date: Oct 2007
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How can you compare UAE and Germany ? Cultures are so different, meaning that depending on your own origins, your opinion might be very different from another...
Anyway, how can people complain about temperature and sand ? What did they expect when moving over there ? To find snow and santa ? Easy life with no stress still can be enjoyed, and I guess the less narrow minded people would come, the better it will remain.
Unsatisfied and money focussed people, please go back and stay away...or just don't blame the country, unless somebody forced you to move.
Anyway, how can people complain about temperature and sand ? What did they expect when moving over there ? To find snow and santa ? Easy life with no stress still can be enjoyed, and I guess the less narrow minded people would come, the better it will remain.
Unsatisfied and money focussed people, please go back and stay away...or just don't blame the country, unless somebody forced you to move.
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All in all Dubai and the rest of the middle East is what you make of it. if you are moving and expecting Utopia forget it, you will be dissapointed. This place has issues just like anywhere else. There are people that it just dosen't suit and who cannot adapt to the way things are done over here. Fair enough, it does take some getting used to.
There are many more of us that have figured out how it works and enjoy living here. Yes we miss some stuff from home, but there is a whole bunch more stuff i can do here that i couldn't at home. Lots of families here that have been here 10+ years and like it..some that are here for 6 months and go home. Each to his own.
End result is that you won't know if you are one of the haters or expats for life till you come over and live here for yourself.
There are many more of us that have figured out how it works and enjoy living here. Yes we miss some stuff from home, but there is a whole bunch more stuff i can do here that i couldn't at home. Lots of families here that have been here 10+ years and like it..some that are here for 6 months and go home. Each to his own.
End result is that you won't know if you are one of the haters or expats for life till you come over and live here for yourself.
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The indians, Filipinos, etc are shown NO respect atall and work day in day out for these selfish and disrespectful Arabs.
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Harry you're confusing racism for classism.
U.A.E. is a very classist society. The majority of discrimination and inequality in the U.A.E. is due to class and not race.
It's still not right, but there is a big difference.
U.A.E. is a very classist society. The majority of discrimination and inequality in the U.A.E. is due to class and not race.
It's still not right, but there is a big difference.
May I ask, to which "CLASS" do you belong?
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Due to my origins, I suffered racism in Europe all my life. I think I have a good experience with it.
I don't think UAE is a racist contry at all. Just go to Satwa and see the mix of cultures. Travel to Oman and you will see even more obvious mixes.
I agree with the focus on classes.
Racism comes with hate. I don't feel any hate towards foreigners, except maybe towards those not able to respect a minimum of local culture, getting drunk and noisy in public places (it's still an arabic country, and not temple bar...).
You can find simple workers to top managers coming from India, Pakistan, Philippines etc...but i agree with the idea of abused low classes.
(the same one that are dying while trying to reach European boundaries).
I don't think UAE is a racist contry at all. Just go to Satwa and see the mix of cultures. Travel to Oman and you will see even more obvious mixes.
I agree with the focus on classes.
Racism comes with hate. I don't feel any hate towards foreigners, except maybe towards those not able to respect a minimum of local culture, getting drunk and noisy in public places (it's still an arabic country, and not temple bar...).
You can find simple workers to top managers coming from India, Pakistan, Philippines etc...but i agree with the idea of abused low classes.
(the same one that are dying while trying to reach European boundaries).
tbaylx... couldnt have put it better myself! No one persons opinion has much relevance to anothers.. it is entirely personal.
I havent lived in the UAE, but have visited and spoken to many who are happy there. The only people who seemed desperately unhappy there (to me) are those who didn't do their homework before they arrived...
I havent lived in the UAE, but have visited and spoken to many who are happy there. The only people who seemed desperately unhappy there (to me) are those who didn't do their homework before they arrived...
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goeasy,
Just do your own homework, come and live here for a few years, then you can bring your two cents.
In the meantime, please keep your personal opinion about why people are happy here, or why they are not happy. You don't know what your talking about. Your just here to toss the cr@p. Some people have done their homework before they came here, and, things have changed...Unfortunately.
Please walk before you talk.....
Regards.
Just do your own homework, come and live here for a few years, then you can bring your two cents.
In the meantime, please keep your personal opinion about why people are happy here, or why they are not happy. You don't know what your talking about. Your just here to toss the cr@p. Some people have done their homework before they came here, and, things have changed...Unfortunately.
Please walk before you talk.....
Regards.
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Sispanys / positive
No, i'm not confusing racism with class and how on Earth you can claim Dubai non racist is beyond me. Racism is based entirely on one race being treated differently to another and that's what happens here. Emirati people are treated differently. If dubai was not a racist Country then please could you explain the following;
1) 2 years ago there was a 30% pay rise for Emirati government employees and 15% for everyone else. The Emirati's received their rise the month after the announcement, everyone else waited over 6-9 months while the admin was 'sorted'. No back pay either I gather.
2) A 70% pay rise awarded this year to all Emirati government employees. Everyone else.................
3) Discount on mortgage rate if you are an Emirati. Everyone else.......
4) Discount on car loans if you are an Emirati. Everyone else............
5) No 5% property tax to pay if you are an Emirati. Everyone else.......
6) Vastly subsidised Electricity if you are an Emirati. Everyone else......
7) No Water rates to pay if you are an Emirati. Everyone else..............
8) Final salary pension if you are an Emirati. Everyone else..................
9) No restriction on house location as an Emirati. Everyone else...........
10) Do I really need a tenth point?
I think it's you who's confusing class with racism.
Harry
No, i'm not confusing racism with class and how on Earth you can claim Dubai non racist is beyond me. Racism is based entirely on one race being treated differently to another and that's what happens here. Emirati people are treated differently. If dubai was not a racist Country then please could you explain the following;
1) 2 years ago there was a 30% pay rise for Emirati government employees and 15% for everyone else. The Emirati's received their rise the month after the announcement, everyone else waited over 6-9 months while the admin was 'sorted'. No back pay either I gather.
2) A 70% pay rise awarded this year to all Emirati government employees. Everyone else.................
3) Discount on mortgage rate if you are an Emirati. Everyone else.......
4) Discount on car loans if you are an Emirati. Everyone else............
5) No 5% property tax to pay if you are an Emirati. Everyone else.......
6) Vastly subsidised Electricity if you are an Emirati. Everyone else......
7) No Water rates to pay if you are an Emirati. Everyone else..............
8) Final salary pension if you are an Emirati. Everyone else..................
9) No restriction on house location as an Emirati. Everyone else...........
10) Do I really need a tenth point?
I think it's you who's confusing class with racism.
Harry
Menard
Fair comment. I have done lots of research, including visiting twice.
PERHAPS my opinions might change, once I have lived there a few years.
But if I do come, I will come knowing 'things' may change to my disadvantage, but I will come knowing and expecting that. i can cope with being a foreigner, and the associated treatment.
I am an expat living in the UK and there is plenty to complain about here too. But I am not on websites venting my spleen, telling people that they are stupid for even considering coming here...
All my point is, that everyone is different, and one person's hell, maybe another person's paradise. Neither person is wrong!
PERHAPS my opinions might change, once I have lived there a few years.
But if I do come, I will come knowing 'things' may change to my disadvantage, but I will come knowing and expecting that. i can cope with being a foreigner, and the associated treatment.
I am an expat living in the UK and there is plenty to complain about here too. But I am not on websites venting my spleen, telling people that they are stupid for even considering coming here...
All my point is, that everyone is different, and one person's hell, maybe another person's paradise. Neither person is wrong!
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Harry, your nine and a half points are all correct.
But I still disagree with your 'racism' claim. "Emiratis" come from different tribes and include Arab, Black, and in more recent history are mixed with Pakistani other ethnic groups.
What your post proved is 'nationalism'.
Meaning that the citizens of one's own country have distinct advantages over foreign visitors. And to a certain degree, that's not such a bad thing. Especially in a highly unusual circumstance as in the U.A.E. where the citizens of the country are a very small minority.
I look at all the local benefits not with jelousy like you, but with admiration. (And I'm a foreigner myself here). To build a country in 50 years that can provide its citizens with all these benefits and services is something that industrialised nations in the West haven't been able to achieve in centuries.
And unlike these countries' attempts to benefit from other people's labour a few centuries ago, in the UAE, the foreigners came on their own volition and not by force.
But I still disagree with your 'racism' claim. "Emiratis" come from different tribes and include Arab, Black, and in more recent history are mixed with Pakistani other ethnic groups.
What your post proved is 'nationalism'.
Meaning that the citizens of one's own country have distinct advantages over foreign visitors. And to a certain degree, that's not such a bad thing. Especially in a highly unusual circumstance as in the U.A.E. where the citizens of the country are a very small minority.
I look at all the local benefits not with jelousy like you, but with admiration. (And I'm a foreigner myself here). To build a country in 50 years that can provide its citizens with all these benefits and services is something that industrialised nations in the West haven't been able to achieve in centuries.
And unlike these countries' attempts to benefit from other people's labour a few centuries ago, in the UAE, the foreigners came on their own volition and not by force.
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Positive rate,
I think slavery was abolished in the late 50s so your remark about coming here on your own...
The place is racist, sexist, "classist" and nationalist.
If you are an Arab male, with cash, related to a sheik and UAE national, life is real good.
If you are from the sub-continent, female, poor and Indian you are in for a tough ride.
Let's say these two individuals have a car accident, who do you think will walk with the responsibility (regardless of the facts)?
I think slavery was abolished in the late 50s so your remark about coming here on your own...
The place is racist, sexist, "classist" and nationalist.
If you are an Arab male, with cash, related to a sheik and UAE national, life is real good.
If you are from the sub-continent, female, poor and Indian you are in for a tough ride.
Let's say these two individuals have a car accident, who do you think will walk with the responsibility (regardless of the facts)?