A question about lifestyle at EK
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Join Date: Jun 2006
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A question about lifestyle at EK
Hi all,
I have done a lot of research on EK and am seriously considering joining.
I have unfortunatly been given some disturbing "facts" by somone that knows someone that was there and left after one year very unhappily. I know its probably a whole lot of B.S.
So if I can ask you EK guys for a few answers to my questions:
1.) Is it true that EK controls your every move in your free time?
2.) Is it true that EK checks who and when comes to visit you?
3.) Is it true that EK go through your apartment and go through your things when you are not there?
4.) As a married FO I know I am entitled to an aparment. Do only EK staff live in the building?
5.) Is it true that EK prohibit Alcohol consumption at home? ( Now I believe that is absolute B.S.)
6.) Do you generally feel under surveillance from EK?
7.) Is it true that contact to the locals is generally not welcome?
I am pretty sure that none of the above is really true, couldnt imagine anyone in their right mind staying any longer than 2 days.
Thanks for your time in advance!
I have done a lot of research on EK and am seriously considering joining.
I have unfortunatly been given some disturbing "facts" by somone that knows someone that was there and left after one year very unhappily. I know its probably a whole lot of B.S.
So if I can ask you EK guys for a few answers to my questions:
1.) Is it true that EK controls your every move in your free time?
2.) Is it true that EK checks who and when comes to visit you?
3.) Is it true that EK go through your apartment and go through your things when you are not there?
4.) As a married FO I know I am entitled to an aparment. Do only EK staff live in the building?
5.) Is it true that EK prohibit Alcohol consumption at home? ( Now I believe that is absolute B.S.)
6.) Do you generally feel under surveillance from EK?
7.) Is it true that contact to the locals is generally not welcome?
I am pretty sure that none of the above is really true, couldnt imagine anyone in their right mind staying any longer than 2 days.
Thanks for your time in advance!
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Points 1-7:- NO, absolute garbage!
if your friend of a friend was a paranoid little twerp, those points would still not be true.
Some people fit in, others don't.
The EK psych profiling is fairly accurate, but those are of the pilot only, not of his family. So far, they seem quite accurate in getting people who are able to make a good go of it. Those who bail out early tend to have problems at home (happy wife=happy life), rather than with EK or Dubai.
if your friend of a friend was a paranoid little twerp, those points would still not be true.
Some people fit in, others don't.
The EK psych profiling is fairly accurate, but those are of the pilot only, not of his family. So far, they seem quite accurate in getting people who are able to make a good go of it. Those who bail out early tend to have problems at home (happy wife=happy life), rather than with EK or Dubai.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Actually it depends how you view " control your every move"
Fact , you are to notify EK if you leave Dubai on your days off . I have never hreard of them saying no. However you had better meet the requirements of the flight time limitation policy and comply with the day off requirements ( being acclimatised etc) , or you may face disciplinary action. ( So are you really free to move as you like on your days off ?)
Fact , EK security do keep a record on who visits any EK buiding . Although they do tend to turn a blind eye to the pilots , however should the need arise they have the required records .
You may drink alchohol in your apartment ( you require an alchohol licence) , however should something get out of hand , see fact 2 above.
I would say the way you posted it based on your research is paranoia , however I believe the people that answered you were a little to blah se about the facts.
EK do know about you , So does the UAE government ( its a little more subtle though. For example when you purchase alchohol they know exactly how much you purchased ( handy info if you think about it).
EK do have access to UAE immigration , so they can determine ( if they require it) if you are in or out the country.
Genereally they leave you alone , but give them a reason and they are all over you with an amazing amount of " facts" about you .
Fact , you are to notify EK if you leave Dubai on your days off . I have never hreard of them saying no. However you had better meet the requirements of the flight time limitation policy and comply with the day off requirements ( being acclimatised etc) , or you may face disciplinary action. ( So are you really free to move as you like on your days off ?)
Fact , EK security do keep a record on who visits any EK buiding . Although they do tend to turn a blind eye to the pilots , however should the need arise they have the required records .
You may drink alchohol in your apartment ( you require an alchohol licence) , however should something get out of hand , see fact 2 above.
I would say the way you posted it based on your research is paranoia , however I believe the people that answered you were a little to blah se about the facts.
EK do know about you , So does the UAE government ( its a little more subtle though. For example when you purchase alchohol they know exactly how much you purchased ( handy info if you think about it).
EK do have access to UAE immigration , so they can determine ( if they require it) if you are in or out the country.
Genereally they leave you alone , but give them a reason and they are all over you with an amazing amount of " facts" about you .
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Dubai is a 3rd world police state and they do know your every move. Do they act on it? Depends. If they want to get you they act on their information but generally if you play by the rules and keep your head below the radar you will not get bothered.
There is always that threat though so do be careful.
They can go through your apartment ANYTIME they want to as again it is a police state and you have no rights. Generally they do not as long as you are not dealing drugs or talking to al Quada.
Emirates is basically the same with the lack of rights. They do whatever they want to.
There is always that threat though so do be careful.
They can go through your apartment ANYTIME they want to as again it is a police state and you have no rights. Generally they do not as long as you are not dealing drugs or talking to al Quada.
Emirates is basically the same with the lack of rights. They do whatever they want to.
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Fully agree..experimented on my own skin.
They are the atcual paranoids. Big brother whatching you. Be carefull.
If you are a blind idiot just having orgams cause you seat on shiny tube of aluminium you might not realize it or care about it.. see the above replies.
All points presented are true either to a lesser or higher extent.
They are the atcual paranoids. Big brother whatching you. Be carefull.
If you are a blind idiot just having orgams cause you seat on shiny tube of aluminium you might not realize it or care about it.. see the above replies.
All points presented are true either to a lesser or higher extent.
They can go through your apartment ANYTIME they want to as again it is a police state and you have no rights. Generally they do not as long as you are not dealing drugs or talking to al Quada.
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Like all things in that part of the world, the truth is sort of a murky, shifting concept. If you take the somewhat inflammatory questions directly, they are not entirely true. But they are DEFINITELY not "absolute garbage", telling you that is just as deceitful.
It is not so much they will control your every move in your free time, it is that they will definitely completely control how much free time you HAVE, and that amount only ever decreases. They will squeeze every last bit of duty from you they can, and that "free time" will be spent recovering if you're single and explaining to your wife and kids why daddy looks so old, if you're married. Who controls your free time is kind of a moot point when you rarely have any.
If you or the person you are visiting lives in company accommodation, this is absolutely true. You are required to log in and out of the building/compound, much like visiting hours at any detention facility. Flight deck crew must leave cabin crew accommodation before 1am. (The opposite generally does not apply.)
EK security guards and maintenance routinely enter your accommodation while you are not there, ostensibly to perform maintenance on the a/c or whatever thing has broken that day. Since the quality of original construction and repairs is what would be expected in any third world country, expect to have strangers poking around your home regularly while you are not there. They are required to leave a notice of such visits, if that makes you feel better. Suggest installing CCTV as I found it helped keep everyone honest - use their own tactics on them.
Depends what building you are given. Most are 100% EK staff, some are not.
If you've already made up your mind as to the answer, why do you ask? Anyway, the actual answer is no. But the draconian alcohol laws have been well-covered elsewhere. Wise to have an alcohol license, not as wise to buy it from the local government shops: taxed at 30%, and monitored. Duty-free is the way to go.
Yes. But not only EK, it is the general culture to be nosy, invasive, always gathering information far beyond that what is necessary to achieve whatever it is you are trying to do. George Orwell seems almost quaintly understated. Brits should be used to pervasive CCTV watching one's every move, but many cultures find it a bit odd to have the Eye In The Sky watching them at their home, place of work, and common places of leisure. Keep your head down and you'll PROBABLY be ok...and learn to live with the constant low-grade stress of that statement.
You should as a rule hope to not have any contact, as for several of my colleagues the only "contact" they had with locals was when one rear-ended them with their car at a stoplight.
In spite of all this people do adapt and find a way to survive. But if any of these factors are important to you, dismissing them lightly would be a mistake.
1.) Is it true that EK controls your every move in your free time?
2.) Is it true that EK checks who and when comes to visit you?
3.) Is it true that EK go through your apartment and go through your things when you are not there?
4.) As a married FO I know I am entitled to an aparment. Do only EK staff live in the building?
5.) Is it true that EK prohibit Alcohol consumption at home? ( Now I believe that is absolute B.S.)
6.) Do you generally feel under surveillance from EK?
7.) Is it true that contact to the locals is generally not welcome?
In spite of all this people do adapt and find a way to survive. But if any of these factors are important to you, dismissing them lightly would be a mistake.
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NLH - Are you always this paranoid?
Quote:
7.) Is it true that contact to the locals is generally not welcome?
You should as a rule hope to not have any contact, as for several of my colleagues the only "contact" they had with locals was when one rear-ended them with their car at a stoplight.
I know many Emiratis - all of them generous, kind and friendly! I will agree however that, as anywhere, there are a few bad apples in the applecart. Mainly on SZ Rd
Not around these villas
And this from Fourgolds;
Only if you buy at MMI or A&E in Dubai - you want to try the Barracuda or Al Hamra in RAK and pay cash. No big deal is it?
Some of you chaps really need to get a grip
Quote:
7.) Is it true that contact to the locals is generally not welcome?
You should as a rule hope to not have any contact, as for several of my colleagues the only "contact" they had with locals was when one rear-ended them with their car at a stoplight.
Originally Posted by NLH
EK security guards and maintenance routinely enter your accommodation while you are not there, ostensibly to perform maintenance on the a/c or whatever thing has broken that day
And this from Fourgolds;
EK do know about you , So does the UAE government ( its a little more subtle though. For example when you purchase alchohol they know exactly how much you purchased ( handy info if you think about it).
Some of you chaps really need to get a grip
Join Date: Jan 2007
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....and off course driving back from Barracuda through SHJ cannot land you in jail either.
You know what , dont listen to any one here stating the facts. Its the land of milk and honey , you can enjoy all the freedom your heart desires. its all lies lies lies. Just hurry on over so we can get some relief to or rosters. Please its just the greatest job in the world. Nothing at all wrong with it. Please come on over as soon as you can. We have the biggest shiny jets out there.
You know what , dont listen to any one here stating the facts. Its the land of milk and honey , you can enjoy all the freedom your heart desires. its all lies lies lies. Just hurry on over so we can get some relief to or rosters. Please its just the greatest job in the world. Nothing at all wrong with it. Please come on over as soon as you can. We have the biggest shiny jets out there.
You know what , dont listen to any one here stating the facts. Its the land of milk and honey , you can enjoy all the freedom your heart desires. its all lies lies lies. Just hurry on over so we can get some relief to or rosters. Please its just the greatest job in the world. Nothing at all wrong with it. Please come on over as soon as you can. We have the biggest shiny jets out there.
It's known as a straw man. State someone has said something they haven't and then attack what you SAID they stated.
No-one is saying EK is perfect. Some of what you say has some truth (though could you give one example of where this supposed Orwellian gathering of information has EVER been used against an EK pilot, or indeed any ex-pat living here?).
You have a beef and present things with a particular slant. Others who feel differently give there own opinion. Why does that upset you so much?
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Not a negative word from me. Listen only to people like Wiz , he has his finger on the pulse. Whatever you do when doing your research , do not listen to any one elses experiences. Yours will be heaven , we have big shiny jets . But please , just hurry on over.
"The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is experience"
"The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is experience"
Not a negative word from me. Listen only to people like Wiz , he has his finger on the pulse. Whatever you do when doing your research , do not listen to any one elses experiences. Yours will be heaven , we have big shiny jets . But please , just hurry on over.
People come here seeking opinions from ALL sides about Aviation matters. You SHOULD express yours, just do so factually and rationally, and accept that if people dis-agree with you they will say so.
Do you suggest that ONLY people who feel like you should express themselves here?
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How is that different from the USA or indeed any other Western Country?
Reasonable cause, due process and the assumption of innocence that's how it's different.
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For one you can move out of company accom anytime you want. All you need to give them is a point where the driver picks you up, you don't even need to live in Dubai, the company does not care where you live.
If you elect to stay in company accom you can change the locks and nobody will ever enter your appartement without you being present except in emergency (Fire, smoke etc.). Locks are 25dhs at Dragon Mart, changing them takes 5 minutes.
If you pay cash, nobody can trace where or how much alcohol you buy or consume (There are stores who sell alcoholic beverages without a liquor license).
Observing FDT limitations and tighter rosters is the same at any airline, it's not exclusive to EK.
Sure, CID keeps a close tab on everyone, but that comes with the trerritory; you are in the middle east after all, and any terrorist attack would finish Dubais reputation as a safe haven. I'd think that surveillance is even tighter in the UK, there are CCTV's everywhere.
Just be realistic about it and you'll be fine.
If you elect to stay in company accom you can change the locks and nobody will ever enter your appartement without you being present except in emergency (Fire, smoke etc.). Locks are 25dhs at Dragon Mart, changing them takes 5 minutes.
If you pay cash, nobody can trace where or how much alcohol you buy or consume (There are stores who sell alcoholic beverages without a liquor license).
Observing FDT limitations and tighter rosters is the same at any airline, it's not exclusive to EK.
Sure, CID keeps a close tab on everyone, but that comes with the trerritory; you are in the middle east after all, and any terrorist attack would finish Dubais reputation as a safe haven. I'd think that surveillance is even tighter in the UK, there are CCTV's everywhere.
Just be realistic about it and you'll be fine.
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Yes wiz, and those that were affected by illegal wiretaps, if they so choose, can persue legal action for recompense and damages. The operative word in your sentence being "illegal". Something that just ain't the case here and you know it.
The Murdoch group and it's senior managers are finding out that right now.
So it appears there is a difference. In one place it's illegal and the other it's just done.
I don't really care which you advocate for but please don't compare the legal recourse here to that of the west.
The Murdoch group and it's senior managers are finding out that right now.
So it appears there is a difference. In one place it's illegal and the other it's just done.
I don't really care which you advocate for but please don't compare the legal recourse here to that of the west.
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Reasonable cause, due process and the assumption of innocence that's how it's different.
But that has nothing to do with EK and/or Dubai, so please lets stay on topic.
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Innocent, having quoted the gitmo situation you will also presumably be aware of why they were sent to Gitmo in the first place.
A non US territory, thus denying them the right to the laws granted to those in the US.
Wiz asked how it was different and the very fact they have to send them to Gitmo highlights that fact excellently.
I certainly aint saying the Gitmo situation is right, but it does highlight that there are laws to abide by in the west and recourse if broken.
Regards
IH
A non US territory, thus denying them the right to the laws granted to those in the US.
Wiz asked how it was different and the very fact they have to send them to Gitmo highlights that fact excellently.
I certainly aint saying the Gitmo situation is right, but it does highlight that there are laws to abide by in the west and recourse if broken.
Regards
IH