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Working in the ME as a couple

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Working in the ME as a couple

Old 27th Mar 2010, 12:04
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Working in the ME as a couple

Hi,
I could use a bit of help here.. At the moment me and my girlfriend are working for a European loco (me as FO, she in the cabin) and looking into the options of escaping the 4 sector days across the continent. WeŽd like to joint Qatar or Etihad provided that we both pass the hiring process. But before we make a move weŽd like to get some info on the following:

-Is rostering willing and flexible enough to pair our trips up as much as possible?
-Will they allow us to live together as “just” a couple (not being married?)
-Any personal experience on the above?

Thanks!

Coltrane
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 12:30
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If you live together and the police find out you will be fined, go to jail and be deported.
If you hold hands or kiss each other in public you will be fined, go to jail and be deported.
If you send sexy text messages to each other you will be fined, go to jail and be deported.
If you have any porn on your computer and get found out you will be fined, go to jail and be deported.
If you complain about the mosque being too loud you will be fined, go to jail and be deported.
The Middle East is as boring as bat sh*t.
And you want to leave Europe/your home country and come here? See a psychiatrist my friend.

Last edited by templarknight; 27th Mar 2010 at 12:44.
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 12:34
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But apart from that

I refer you to all of the above.

Seriously, you must consider yourselves as singles for that exercise.

Sorry to rain on your parade.

glf
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 13:58
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Coltrane, give your head a shake!
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 15:00
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Maybe if you live in Bahrain.
If you are considering Dubai read post # 2
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 15:19
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Abu Dhabi is much more like the description of SkyDive6. I know several couples who cohabit without any questions being asked.

There is an understanding that Europeans and North Americans are quite likely to cohabit, and unless you are always rowing or causing a disturbance it is likely you will be left alone.

Dubai seems to be a bit stricter, but then maybe they have more instances of misbehaviour than we do in Abu Dhabi
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Old 27th Mar 2010, 16:55
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technically it is illegal to cohabit with your female partner when you're not married, the level at which this enforced is varied and inconsistant...best have some sort of certiicate to present to the coppers in the unlikely event you have an encounter...as far as being rostered together I cannot say..I would doubt it at QR..Etihad might be easier for this..not sure of their policies

Last edited by ironbutt57; 27th Mar 2010 at 17:06.
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 11:30
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Ok, looks like a complicated exercise altogether.. anyway thanks for the info so far. Any personal experience would still be very much appreciated..
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 12:02
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Why dont you just make an honest woman out of her. Marry her and please go to Cathay if you cannot bear the Euro Low cost. You will be better off in the long run . Many hear only what they want too , as they fertilize their idea . This forum is filled with the way people are treated in the Middle East. It is so different to what you are used to.

Here is something you may not have considered. So you live in sin ( as many do) . One day you are caught out ( as many are) . You go to jail and are then deported. No problem you say with "freedom" on your stunned angry mind. Only to discover that for many future jobs you require a police clearance certificate for your time spent in the UAE/Qatar . This will now reflect a criminal record and your career is F$%$&d !!! . A friend runs a contract agency and believe me " the East" will not even give you a sniff with a criminal record ( no matter how good your explanation). You will be treated like someone who has an accident/incident record ( no matter how good the explanation)

As I say many many do live in sin here , but its russian roulette.

As for Cathay , it may take longer to get what you want ( F/O , Capt etc) , but long term it appears more sustainable.
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 12:39
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As far as EY is concerned:

Rostering won't do much. You may request one trip per month and there is no guarantee whatsoever.
Living as a couple, well in cabin crew accomodation forget about it. In your place, nobody cares in AUH.

For long term prospect, go to Cathay, forget about Middle east QR, EY or EK, it makes no difference at the end, management looks at short term if not very short term, thus so do we.

You must have a job and she must have a job if you aren't married, otherwise she will have to go every month outside the country to renew her visa, she won't be able to drive without local licence without residence permit, most of the local formalities require a residence permit.

You are absolutely right to ask, but do yourselves a favor and go to Asia instead.
In Middle east, they pretend to have a culture and heritage.... There is no buildings which is older than 1970, and hospitality culture is just a joke.
The curtain looks nice but, one , is far from nice, and second as soon as you open it slightly, what you see is just disgusting.

The people who give you advice here have been trapped before you. It always looks nice, and remains as such for a short while, the time for you to settle in, to enjoy the mild temperature in you are lucky enough not to arrive during summer and/or ramadan. You will enjoy the restaurants, the service, the expat life, and sooner or later you will realize that your dream life is based on extorsion, slavery, greed, and the only fact that there is no limit in human trade.
If you can live with no mercy or compassion for the people you work with or who work for you, if you can survive in a cultural no man's land, in a place where justice isn't for you, where your life has less value than a palm tree, in a place where a visit to a mall is the only excitment of the day, then Yes, this place is for you.
A few guys love it here, they made their choice, but the turnover rate says by itself that there are only a few that can bear this.

This being said: Good Luck and do your home work before you make any lifetime decision. There is hardly any turning back, and if you do turn back, it will cost you a lot, personnaly and financially.

Last edited by Chandler Bing; 28th Mar 2010 at 18:23. Reason: spelling
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 16:38
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Top explanation!
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 18:43
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I lived in Bahrain for 15 years and your ignorance is incredible.
Howdy! I'm just another towelhead, right? I donno Englishhh, salamo alykum brotherrrr?!

I'll just try to repeat to you one more time and hopefully hopefully you might get it this time...

The poster has asked about living with his girlfriend while working for either Qatar Airways or Etihad, and he has definitely not asked for the crime statistics in Bahrain or Gulf Air!

And lastly, I ask of' you nicely to refrain yourself from insulting other people.
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 22:28
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you sound like a piece of work Skydive... wow .

It sound like you snapped. I did just read an article about a couple at a resturant were arrested for kissing good bye.
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 23:00
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Why don't you just man up and marry the girl? Will make you life alot easier.
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Old 28th Mar 2010, 23:09
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To be fair, there are certain parts of the ME that are much more conservative than other parts. I've lived and traveled all over the ME for about 15 years, and consider Bahrain and Dubai to be more "liberal".

Is it the best place to live? I don't thinks so.

Is it easy to live in the ME? It has it's challenges, and when you come from a European or Western nation then I have to say that it is certainly more difficult. When you're originally from the ME or from certain parts of Africa or Asia, it's different. It may not be as difficult for those people, but again it all really depends on your origin and the life you are used to living.

Individuals that come from countries that have a proper legal system, proper freedom of religion...will always find it more difficult.

However, and based on my experience...some of the things mentioned by SkyDive6 are true. There are some countries and cities that are a little more "lax" (I honestly don't even know if that's the right term), but in the end..it's fair to say that when you start to think about whether you want to live in the ME, it's risky business. In the end, I hope any decision that is made is for ones benefit and everyone that deserves to live a comfortable life, is able to do so.

Just my two cents.
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Old 29th Mar 2010, 05:03
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What no one has asked you is the colour of your skin.

Not important, you think? If it's pink, you'll probably be allowed to cohabit on a 'don't tell and we won't ask' basis - UNTIL you fall foul of the law in any way or bring attention to yourself in any way. Then all bets are off.

However, if you or your girlfriend doesn't have pink skin, you or she stand a very high risk from Day One of being thrown into jail and quite possibly suffering a caning before being deported.

Don't believe me? Wait for the posts to follow that I can assure you will confirm what I've just said.

Makes no sense in this day and age? Who said it has to make sense. It's the Middle East.
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Old 29th Mar 2010, 06:22
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Basically what some of the guys saying here is we are running 6 countries based on stone-age laws, and citizens of these 6 nations are incapable of obtaining a Degree from the West (e.g. UK) and they are incapable of working in big organization (e.g. Barclays bank for 1 year) and have rape in their mind, and always always thieving.. and some other disgusting statements...

Yes that is exactly what we are doing here in the Middle East.

Do not trust people like me, who were born and raised in middle east who received western education and worked for some western organizations, and its definitely not in our interest to keep non-GCC citizens in our Countries because we do not realize the Oil is running out.

Thank you. I just opened my eyes and now I feel very sorry for myself for living here.
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Old 29th Mar 2010, 07:17
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bagel_dancer welcome to my fan club. Please scroll up to see your fellow mates. The fellow mates who degrade the GCC, my Country, it's citizens and myself. I just said what I believed about GCC and I went offline! To come back and see that I'm being trashed! Yeah, thanks for the freedom of speech!

Just answer the original poster inquiry or the other posts why, just why bother yourself with me?

Next please..
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Old 29th Mar 2010, 10:12
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Whoa! People are tripping over themselves trying to write something negative about the ME! They don't even have time to read what the original poster is writing before they start!
Any other view is unacceptable, and if somebody dare to go against the stream they are shot down immediately!

Anyway, born and raised in the Middle East does not in any way imply that the gentleman is of Arab origin.
Much in the same way that a racist statement here does not necessarily mean the poster is an Aussie.

What Skydive6 wrote is pretty much how it works in most ME countries. The locals are not really concerned about what we do, as long as we don't do it in their faces. Many, if not most of the incidents referred to in post # 2 happened to expat muslim couples. When was the last time a westerner got fined for drinking in a licenced resturant?

Living together without being married? Not a good idea. It may work for years, but all it takes is for your neighbour to report you and you may find yourself in trouble. Do the right thing by her, mate!

Somebody owes Skydive6 an apology.

Last edited by ManaAdaSystem; 29th Mar 2010 at 12:16.
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Old 29th Mar 2010, 10:44
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Coltrane, bottom line is it is doable, but you have to remember living together when not married is against the law. I am not 100% sure, but I think it is even against the law for men and women to share if you were just friends and no s€x was involved.

You will probably be OK but will likely not get any support from the company if you get locked up over it. I did it when I first moved out here with no trouble, but I also know someone who has been locked up and deported over it. I have never lived in Qatar, but it seems the UAE is more liberal (though I stand to be corrected) - but "caveat emptor".

As far as rosters are concerned, for once I agree with Chandler Bing - no likely help there from Etihad! Also I believe Etihad's accommodation policy is that a couple working for the company share the same accommodation can only claim one allowance. Not sure if it is enforced and maybe if you weren't married you might slide past - but my wife considered a job with EY and was told at interview she would not be entitled to the allowance because I already had it.

Have you considered Al Jaber (Airbus) or Royal Jet (BBJ) in Abu Dhabi? Perhaps possible you might get rostered with your partner at one of those smaller VIP outfits and perhaps their accommodation policies are more flexible.

Good luck.
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