Loving life in Dubai!
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Poor Porra. "At the beach most days". Hmm, either a trainer of some sorts or just plain BS. So who has time to be "at the beach most days" except a trainer doing sims. Not someone doing subcontinent turns every other day in the middle of the night. And as was said, probably single with NO financial obligations other than his kitesurfer. Single in this town? No wonder he likes it.
Two things, if the job were fantastic with time off (like it used to be) with a fair wage with overtime, it might not matter where one lives. Or if one is living in one's paradise location, no matter the job, could be happy. But as what is reality for most now, Dubai and crap job conditions......the buckets are filling. Resignations happening regularly now. Heard contract pilots being considered (ref. Alteon several years back) for this summer. Just rumor.
And of course, comparing Dubai from the location someone came from, it may truely be paradise. But a lot of the pilots have not made Dubai their permanent home and location. No opportunity to escape with no time off.
Two things, if the job were fantastic with time off (like it used to be) with a fair wage with overtime, it might not matter where one lives. Or if one is living in one's paradise location, no matter the job, could be happy. But as what is reality for most now, Dubai and crap job conditions......the buckets are filling. Resignations happening regularly now. Heard contract pilots being considered (ref. Alteon several years back) for this summer. Just rumor.
And of course, comparing Dubai from the location someone came from, it may truely be paradise. But a lot of the pilots have not made Dubai their permanent home and location. No opportunity to escape with no time off.
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Each and every one that posts on this thread should state how long they have been here to give us all some perspective to your comments and attitudes.
Yes I used to think this was the greatest job and place to be.... but 7 years on, the job is still good, I can't say the company has ever been personally unfair toward me, and the money (keep the perspective on what you will make at home after tax) is still ok, (yes married and a kid). Dubai..... well that is a different story now, after being ripped off by banks, realestate agents, goverment fees for everything, etc etc.... (not to mention those that KNOW they are above the law and behave accordingly) the place has lost it's shine.
But I am still here and will be for quite some time...... so I go to work and try and enjoy what I have and not whinge about it too much, hoping that one day I will be able to exit back to the real world not too damaged.
Yes I used to think this was the greatest job and place to be.... but 7 years on, the job is still good, I can't say the company has ever been personally unfair toward me, and the money (keep the perspective on what you will make at home after tax) is still ok, (yes married and a kid). Dubai..... well that is a different story now, after being ripped off by banks, realestate agents, goverment fees for everything, etc etc.... (not to mention those that KNOW they are above the law and behave accordingly) the place has lost it's shine.
But I am still here and will be for quite some time...... so I go to work and try and enjoy what I have and not whinge about it too much, hoping that one day I will be able to exit back to the real world not too damaged.
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Okay, I'll bite too...
Things I like about Dubai:
(1) Job: Not the company but the places I fly too and the people I work with. One sector with a suitcase on the 777 is a very nice deal indeed after 4-6 sectors a day 12 hrs on 12 hrs off on little orange 737's in the UK. And EK is still the fastest way to get a left-seat on the 777, providing you're lucky enough to have the time over 55t.
(2) Weather: 9 months of perfect climate, followed by 3 months of hot dust. Beats the UK's 11.5 months of rain followed by a week of dry weather that I can't get leave for.
(3) Lifestyle: I try to avoid night turnarounds as they are fatiguing but generally I spend my days off enjoying using my EPC card for lazing at the Mina Seyahi beach club and eating out at nice joints. I even have a heated pool on the 25th floor of my apartment that's open til 10pm for me to use. I'm married with no kids yet, but I don't live an expensive lifestyle so I do save money each month and have zero debts. I still manage to enjoy fine food, wine and holidays each month. However I only drive a Fortuner not a Porsche like my neighbour.
(4) Safety: Dubai is a relatively safe place to live compared to most other big cities and I feel comfortable anywhere at any time of day. I also like the cosmopolitan feel about it. Just me I suppose.
Things I don't like about Dubai:
(1) Driving.
Just can't get used to the lack of awareness or common sense of other drivers here, or just the sheer recklessness. But that's just the way it will always be when 90% of the drivers are from the 3rd world and see driving in a different light to those from the developed world.
(2) The Company. I knew it would be like this so I can't complain too much but I just feel that this blame culture and face-saving will eventually lead to a big accident. History shows that open, honest cultures with a bit of integrity have better safety records. We are a big western-style legacy carrier on the outside but if you scratch under the surface it's just the same-old third world regime style of management. I go to work, do my job to the book, then come home enjoy my days off and try not to think about EK at all.
(3) The ethnicity gradient. There is an ethos of s**tting on those less fortunate than others here. I read recently about a group of kids who spat on the shoes of a street cleaner as he was going about his daily job. And it's not just the locals who are guilty it's the expats too. Interesting that one day when the oil is not needed anymore, it will be those living in these states who are looking for labour work in the likes of India etc. I hope I get to see it.
Anyway that's how I see it as a European guy from the right seat of a 777... Overall very nice, but some real stinking negatives to gloss over too. Everybody's circumstances are different of course but that's my two penneth.
MGC
Things I like about Dubai:
(1) Job: Not the company but the places I fly too and the people I work with. One sector with a suitcase on the 777 is a very nice deal indeed after 4-6 sectors a day 12 hrs on 12 hrs off on little orange 737's in the UK. And EK is still the fastest way to get a left-seat on the 777, providing you're lucky enough to have the time over 55t.
(2) Weather: 9 months of perfect climate, followed by 3 months of hot dust. Beats the UK's 11.5 months of rain followed by a week of dry weather that I can't get leave for.
(3) Lifestyle: I try to avoid night turnarounds as they are fatiguing but generally I spend my days off enjoying using my EPC card for lazing at the Mina Seyahi beach club and eating out at nice joints. I even have a heated pool on the 25th floor of my apartment that's open til 10pm for me to use. I'm married with no kids yet, but I don't live an expensive lifestyle so I do save money each month and have zero debts. I still manage to enjoy fine food, wine and holidays each month. However I only drive a Fortuner not a Porsche like my neighbour.
(4) Safety: Dubai is a relatively safe place to live compared to most other big cities and I feel comfortable anywhere at any time of day. I also like the cosmopolitan feel about it. Just me I suppose.
Things I don't like about Dubai:
(1) Driving.
Just can't get used to the lack of awareness or common sense of other drivers here, or just the sheer recklessness. But that's just the way it will always be when 90% of the drivers are from the 3rd world and see driving in a different light to those from the developed world.(2) The Company. I knew it would be like this so I can't complain too much but I just feel that this blame culture and face-saving will eventually lead to a big accident. History shows that open, honest cultures with a bit of integrity have better safety records. We are a big western-style legacy carrier on the outside but if you scratch under the surface it's just the same-old third world regime style of management. I go to work, do my job to the book, then come home enjoy my days off and try not to think about EK at all.
(3) The ethnicity gradient. There is an ethos of s**tting on those less fortunate than others here. I read recently about a group of kids who spat on the shoes of a street cleaner as he was going about his daily job. And it's not just the locals who are guilty it's the expats too. Interesting that one day when the oil is not needed anymore, it will be those living in these states who are looking for labour work in the likes of India etc. I hope I get to see it.
Anyway that's how I see it as a European guy from the right seat of a 777... Overall very nice, but some real stinking negatives to gloss over too. Everybody's circumstances are different of course but that's my two penneth.
MGC
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you got to be kidding me
9 months of perfect climate?Are you joking? It is exactky the other way around. 9 months of dusty infernal heat followed by three months of decent weather ..who you think you are trying to fool?
Fom march to to mid november you cannot breath in Dubai and you are forced into A/C all ******* day!!!
Fom march to to mid november you cannot breath in Dubai and you are forced into A/C all ******* day!!!
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Weather: 9 months of perfect climate, followed by 3 months of hot dust
), there are about three months of decent weather after which is starts to get hot. Then it starts to bake and it gets really, really humid, then the temperature goes up and the humidity goes from high to oppressive and it stays like that for three to four months, after which it backs off to a nice period of really hot with high humidity. Then it's just hot for a while. Then you get a couple of months of nice weather during which you can't help keeping an eye on the calendar, knowing it only lasts a short while.ALL THE WHILE, it's sandy, hazy and dusty. You can't see stars at night. Leave anything outside and it's covered in sand and dirt in no time.
The beaches have been trashed by the changes wrought by the introduction of palm islands and jingly sewage-truck drivers.
Beaches. Great if you enjoy swimming into silt, turds and spinneys bags. Or sun-bathing next to some KFC refuse a habibi dumped on the sand because it's "his country" or whatever although it's really just plain breeding.
But I like it here.
Join Date: May 2007
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Loving life in Dubai?
A British woman who claimed she was raped by a waiter in Dubai was arrested by police in the Arab state for having illegal sex with her fiancé.
The 23-year-old Londoner said she was was attacked after she passed out in a hotel lavatory.
The woman, a Muslim of Pakistani decent, told police she had been celebrating getting engaged to her boyfriend at the time.
But when she admitted drinking alcohol and sharing
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1241582/British-woman-Dubai-arrested-having-sex-fianc-raped-hotel-waiter.html#ixzz0c1WD22O5
British woman in Dubai arrested for having sex with fiancé after being 'raped by hotel waiter' | Mail Online
The 23-year-old Londoner said she was was attacked after she passed out in a hotel lavatory.
The woman, a Muslim of Pakistani decent, told police she had been celebrating getting engaged to her boyfriend at the time.
But when she admitted drinking alcohol and sharing
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1241582/British-woman-Dubai-arrested-having-sex-fianc-raped-hotel-waiter.html#ixzz0c1WD22O5
British woman in Dubai arrested for having sex with fiancé after being 'raped by hotel waiter' | Mail Online
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From the Dubai Expatwomen forum:
"MY DH works in this Hotel and was MOD that night.
The girl was NOT raped!!! and as a matter of fact there is CCTV footage to prove that. The waiter who escorted her to the toilet and then allegedly RAPED her NEVER entered the toilets he returned to the bar and that is on CAMERA. She fell asleep on a make up bench inside the Ladies room.
The two girls who were directing people to pool, bar, toilets, elevators (lack of signage) got worried when she didn't return and entered the ladies room to find her asleep. She was woken up, escorted back to bar where the F&B DIRECTOR had to cut her OFF.
It was the boyfriend who began the rape story in the morning as he was ****** off about her being cut off and 'ruining' the night. The girl said she couldn't remember and just went with the boyfriend's story.
There was a massive investigation on New Year's day with Hotel staff being held, statements of witnesses, the camera footage being investigated and the staff has been cleared.
That is when the police detained the couple for drinking and unlawfully sharing the room."
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RE: The Weather
To each his own. September to June is fine for me. For others 15 degrees and pissing with rain may well be their shangri-la.
As I stated in my post I am just giving my view of things as a European working in the right seat here. I'm not trying to big up the place or gloss over it's faults, just giving a balanced opinion of the good and the bad as I see it.
MGC
To each his own. September to June is fine for me. For others 15 degrees and pissing with rain may well be their shangri-la.
As I stated in my post I am just giving my view of things as a European working in the right seat here. I'm not trying to big up the place or gloss over it's faults, just giving a balanced opinion of the good and the bad as I see it.
MGC
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Skysod,
I like living just across the border in Oman.
I would also like to reiterate what I've said many times before in these hallowed fora and that is, don't come to these parts unless you have a plan B that means you can walk at any time without rancour. If you set yourself up so that you can't leave because of employment issues, children issues, financial issues, etc, you are in a bad place and will end up bitter and twisted, like many posters.
Remember, your contract is only a vague agreement between you and your future employer here. It's NOT LIKE HOME. There's a bit of give and take necessary and when they take more than their fair share, it's time to move on. Psychologically, it's great to know that I can, and have always been able to, move whenever I choose. Please, get yourself in that position and your stay here will be far more pleasant than that evidenced in the posts of less-than-happy campers venting here, especially as this is supposed to be a thread on happy campers!
I like living just across the border in Oman.
I would also like to reiterate what I've said many times before in these hallowed fora and that is, don't come to these parts unless you have a plan B that means you can walk at any time without rancour. If you set yourself up so that you can't leave because of employment issues, children issues, financial issues, etc, you are in a bad place and will end up bitter and twisted, like many posters.
Remember, your contract is only a vague agreement between you and your future employer here. It's NOT LIKE HOME. There's a bit of give and take necessary and when they take more than their fair share, it's time to move on. Psychologically, it's great to know that I can, and have always been able to, move whenever I choose. Please, get yourself in that position and your stay here will be far more pleasant than that evidenced in the posts of less-than-happy campers venting here, especially as this is supposed to be a thread on happy campers!
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Will this be Dubai's new advertising? It is probably a smart way to cool down matters a bit. They should have kept a balance worldwide campaign between the luxurious life of many and the affordable like of the most.
BBC News - Dubai shows different face of emirates in advertising
BBC News - Dubai shows different face of emirates in advertising
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Well - let's hope that the owner of the 4x4 in the background on our local beach there didn't get a fine!!! After all (Mensa take note) - the signs have been up for about 5 years now
Interesting link thanks fractional...
Interesting link thanks fractional...
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In short - Yes!
As Lloyd Grossman on 'Through the Keyhole' would say - Let's look at the evidence.
Money. Don't pay any sort of tax, except for SALIK I suppose so that immediately makes me 40% better off.
Accommodation. Company gives me an allowance to cover my accommodation costs. Therefore I have no mortgage to pay.
Fuel. Can fill up the car for about £13 as opposed to nearly £60 in the UK.
Car. Due to much lower costs I could upgrade from a small German car back home to a bigger, louder, more prestige German brand.
Work. Fly a lovely little jet around three times a week with some great colleagues for good money.
Weather. Alright the sun all year does get a bit annoying but it's great at the moment. The summer is oppressive and you can't go out but then again you can't go out in the UK during winter as it's so sodding cold. -20C anyone?
Social. Made friends with some great people and you know you can go out any night as the weather will be fine. Spend lots of time on the beach, marina beach clubs. EPC gives you up to 50% off in some bars/ shops etc.
Costs. Many things are on a par with the UK but there are many bargains to be had if you wait for the sales.
Of course there are some drawbacks as have been mentioned by previous posters. Driving is erratic, no real complaints procedures etc.
On the balance we do enjoy life here. Compared to going back to the UK then certainly for the moment it is a no-no and I suppose will remain so until either life in the UK picks up (it'll have to be a lot) or things here go down.
My two cents or should that be my five fils!!
V3
Money. Don't pay any sort of tax, except for SALIK I suppose so that immediately makes me 40% better off.
Accommodation. Company gives me an allowance to cover my accommodation costs. Therefore I have no mortgage to pay.
Fuel. Can fill up the car for about £13 as opposed to nearly £60 in the UK.
Car. Due to much lower costs I could upgrade from a small German car back home to a bigger, louder, more prestige German brand.
Work. Fly a lovely little jet around three times a week with some great colleagues for good money.
Weather. Alright the sun all year does get a bit annoying but it's great at the moment. The summer is oppressive and you can't go out but then again you can't go out in the UK during winter as it's so sodding cold. -20C anyone?
Social. Made friends with some great people and you know you can go out any night as the weather will be fine. Spend lots of time on the beach, marina beach clubs. EPC gives you up to 50% off in some bars/ shops etc.
Costs. Many things are on a par with the UK but there are many bargains to be had if you wait for the sales.
Of course there are some drawbacks as have been mentioned by previous posters. Driving is erratic, no real complaints procedures etc.
On the balance we do enjoy life here. Compared to going back to the UK then certainly for the moment it is a no-no and I suppose will remain so until either life in the UK picks up (it'll have to be a lot) or things here go down.
My two cents or should that be my five fils!!
V3
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I think the most important phrase in Voodoo's well-balanced post is this one:
...with the emphasis on the last word in that phrase - and among the expat population in Dubai, it's always been thus. The Brits simply love the place (and can't imagine why everyone else doesn't too) because it's not the UK, while many non Brits, (at least those from First World countries), wish circumstances allowed them to hold down the EK job but be living in their home countries.
Compared to going back to the UK