The dark side of Dubai
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On note...The article is old, but what has changed since then? The author presented an unbiased view of life in Dubai, but does bring the situation into question...who's contributing to this inevitable collapse? How long can this be sustained?
For these people (Emiraties), life is much better than what they had before. And rightfully so...ITS THEIR LAND! No matter what your opinions are, they aren't doing anything different that the rest of the modern world has done in the past. Tap resources from other countries to achieve a better life for themselves.
The one thing that does concern me are the human rights violation that seems to be ignored.
For these people (Emiraties), life is much better than what they had before. And rightfully so...ITS THEIR LAND! No matter what your opinions are, they aren't doing anything different that the rest of the modern world has done in the past. Tap resources from other countries to achieve a better life for themselves.
The one thing that does concern me are the human rights violation that seems to be ignored.
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Abuse of Interpol as UAE Debt Collector
Check this out: UAE is filing arrest and extradition red flag notices with Interpol at several multiples of other countries, per capita - 30 times as much as US, for example. Despite its small size, UAE is one of the top filers of Interpol red flags. And it's not the people who have ripped many people off or embezzled millions who they are going after - it's average expatriate workers like us who didn't pay a credit card or other small-time bill.
It seems that UAE is abusing the Interpol system in an attempt to use Interpol as its international collections agency. If you leave UAE and you haven't paid one of your bills, they convict you of fraud, in absentia, and file you as a serious international fugitive with Interpol!
No civilised country is doing this, and no civilised country will extradite you to UAE for not paying your credit card or DEWA bill, but if your red flag pops up when swiping your passport, you will be detained and have to explain to the judge why you should not be deported because of a commercial dispute: defaulting on a commercial agreement or debt is not "fraud" and extraditable in most countries. Interpol exists to stop human trafficking, money laundering and serious crimes, not to collect credit card bills for Emirates NBD Bank.
How many billions have these people ripped off from investors, lenders, other countries, etc. - and now when they don't pay you and you go home, they pursue you through Interpol with a fraud warrant? They are abusing the system and the workers in far mores ways than thought.
Here's the commentary on this issue - there's even an organization to try to help get victims of this scam out of UAE jails. If you Google, you will see a number of stories popping up on this topic:
Dubai?s Interpol Abuse
It seems that UAE is abusing the Interpol system in an attempt to use Interpol as its international collections agency. If you leave UAE and you haven't paid one of your bills, they convict you of fraud, in absentia, and file you as a serious international fugitive with Interpol!
No civilised country is doing this, and no civilised country will extradite you to UAE for not paying your credit card or DEWA bill, but if your red flag pops up when swiping your passport, you will be detained and have to explain to the judge why you should not be deported because of a commercial dispute: defaulting on a commercial agreement or debt is not "fraud" and extraditable in most countries. Interpol exists to stop human trafficking, money laundering and serious crimes, not to collect credit card bills for Emirates NBD Bank.
How many billions have these people ripped off from investors, lenders, other countries, etc. - and now when they don't pay you and you go home, they pursue you through Interpol with a fraud warrant? They are abusing the system and the workers in far mores ways than thought.
Here's the commentary on this issue - there's even an organization to try to help get victims of this scam out of UAE jails. If you Google, you will see a number of stories popping up on this topic:
Dubai?s Interpol Abuse
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Dubai definitely has issues,with laws interpreted loosely and enforced strictly. But I just hate crook stats. Dubai's population is estimated at over 8m. Also the notion that the UK has only 7 fugitives makes these numbers ridiculous and not worthy of further contemplation.
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Population of Dubai was just under 2 million last time I checked. There must be at least 7 people in the UK who did commit serious fraud during the property boom and really should be doing serious jail time, but looks like a shoddy piece of journalism.
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How any western educated men can in anyway defend slavery on the 21st century? It really amazes me. I suggest to all of you Dubai apologists to spend a day in labour camp in Jebel Ali and share a working day with a bangladeshi worker in July with 49 C and 99% humidity under the scorching sun. Then think again. Think about the fact that in a civilized place the same worker would have a real salary, paid leave, his rights protected by a union, his civil right protected by law ,a real house and a family and not 140 USd a month, no leave, his passport confiscated, a room in a concentration camp and his family 2000 miles away. Many countries had lot of immigration from poorer countries around .Now most of this people are part of the society, grew family, started business, their kids are in schools. Dubai is impossible to defend if not by imbecils.
It is the perfect place for self serving idiots with no morality or ethics if not their ( cheap) wallet. The funny thing is that many lost money on the very properties built buy modern slaves and this comforts me a lot as it makes me believe that justice, at the end, do exists.
It is the perfect place for self serving idiots with no morality or ethics if not their ( cheap) wallet. The funny thing is that many lost money on the very properties built buy modern slaves and this comforts me a lot as it makes me believe that justice, at the end, do exists.
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As the slavery and hypocrisy of the Dubai regime continues, it is good to spread awareness. If people stopped going there and stopped flying on their airline, they would eventually be forced to change. I'd rather visit a hard line Islamic country than go to Dubai. From choice, I'd stay well clear of both, but the idea of going to Dubai on holiday sickens me.
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Wizofoz :
Sometimes there are choices, sometimes not. I exercise choices where possible and I avoid buying produce from (e.g.) China and Israel. I have never bought 'designer' labels.
To an extent, everything we buy is produced by some kind of exploited labour, and other than making our own clothes and food from scratch, there is no way to avoid it, but only ways to minimise it.
I do buy free range and Fair Trade products where they are available. To a degree, we all have double standards. I eat veal, but I detest and refuse to patronise establishements, which serve Foie Gras.
I also hope that I will never set foot in Dubai or travel on their airline again. However miniscule the effect of that is, it means I've taken a stand against oppression and hypocrisy.
I don't have a problem with alcohol, or prostitution. What I have a problem with is the hypocrisy whereby tourism to that place openly permits both, in contravention to Islamic law, and yet people are singled out for contravening the Islamic code as and when it suits the regime.
Sometimes there are choices, sometimes not. I exercise choices where possible and I avoid buying produce from (e.g.) China and Israel. I have never bought 'designer' labels.
To an extent, everything we buy is produced by some kind of exploited labour, and other than making our own clothes and food from scratch, there is no way to avoid it, but only ways to minimise it.
I do buy free range and Fair Trade products where they are available. To a degree, we all have double standards. I eat veal, but I detest and refuse to patronise establishements, which serve Foie Gras.
I also hope that I will never set foot in Dubai or travel on their airline again. However miniscule the effect of that is, it means I've taken a stand against oppression and hypocrisy.
I don't have a problem with alcohol, or prostitution. What I have a problem with is the hypocrisy whereby tourism to that place openly permits both, in contravention to Islamic law, and yet people are singled out for contravening the Islamic code as and when it suits the regime.
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Capetonian I might agree with you, in fact I do (except for the fact that I believe that there always is a choice).
But what you are getting into is an endless discussion, and to be honest you would hardly be able to support the point you are trying to make.
Yes there is a lot of unfairness going on in the places you mentioned. But it is no different from any other western country, it's just more visible because on a smaller scale and in a shorter period of time.
If you (if we!) were living from the products of your little strip of land and avoid any consumer product, than you could talk. Because I suppose you don't, then unfortunately you are a part of this like everyone else.
In fact the people you mentioned working with these extremely poor conditions, are forced to do that because they have nothing in their countries. And even working 12 hrs at 50 degrees is better.
Ever thought why their countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc etc etc) are so poor? And who are the main contributors to this?
As I said this discussion is endless and has so many edges, but unfortunately the basics are pretty straight forward and quite clear if you look at the world's economical/political system...
But what you are getting into is an endless discussion, and to be honest you would hardly be able to support the point you are trying to make.
Yes there is a lot of unfairness going on in the places you mentioned. But it is no different from any other western country, it's just more visible because on a smaller scale and in a shorter period of time.
If you (if we!) were living from the products of your little strip of land and avoid any consumer product, than you could talk. Because I suppose you don't, then unfortunately you are a part of this like everyone else.
In fact the people you mentioned working with these extremely poor conditions, are forced to do that because they have nothing in their countries. And even working 12 hrs at 50 degrees is better.
Ever thought why their countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc etc etc) are so poor? And who are the main contributors to this?
As I said this discussion is endless and has so many edges, but unfortunately the basics are pretty straight forward and quite clear if you look at the world's economical/political system...
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The fact that conditions might be worse in other countries does not give others the right to exploit brutally people who come from those countries. What should be happening is that wealthier countries should be attempting to improve conditions in the poorer ones. That too is an endless debate ....... and going there ends up with accusations of 'racism' so I won't!
Yes, you are right, bringbackthe80s there probably always are choices, but they may be unacceptable. This morning I needed some avocados for a dish I planned for lunch. The only ones were Israeli. No choice? Yes, I did without and made something else. A couple of months ago I made a choice not too fly on the cheapest (by far) airline - Emirates - when I went home. That choice cost me £2000.
Coincidentally, I have just seen this is today's Daily Wail ..
Deported from Dubai... for working without the permission of her husband | Mail Online
Double standards?
Yes, you are right, bringbackthe80s there probably always are choices, but they may be unacceptable. This morning I needed some avocados for a dish I planned for lunch. The only ones were Israeli. No choice? Yes, I did without and made something else. A couple of months ago I made a choice not too fly on the cheapest (by far) airline - Emirates - when I went home. That choice cost me £2000.
Coincidentally, I have just seen this is today's Daily Wail ..
Deported from Dubai... for working without the permission of her husband | Mail Online
In Dubai, it is an offence for a married woman to work without her husband’s permission...........
She said: ‘It is a law but it is rarely enforced. I spent £6,000 trying to win the immigration case against me but in October I found out I had lost.
‘I could have tried to appeal but I didn’t have any extra money and I had been advised it wouldn’t have done any good.’
She said: ‘It is a law but it is rarely enforced. I spent £6,000 trying to win the immigration case against me but in October I found out I had lost.
‘I could have tried to appeal but I didn’t have any extra money and I had been advised it wouldn’t have done any good.’
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A couple of months ago I made a choice not too fly on the cheapest (by far) airline - Emirates - when I went home. That choice cost me £2000.
You could even hold some of the cash back for the Israeli Avo's.
Last edited by three eighty; 11th Dec 2011 at 12:26.
...Shall we talk about conditions for indigenous Africans in Rural South Africa?
Were you in favor of the boycotts on South Africa during Apartheid?
Were you in favor of the boycotts on South Africa during Apartheid?
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...Shall we talk about conditions for indigenous Africans in Rural South Africa?
Were you in favor of the boycotts on South Africa during Apartheid?
Yet you're happy to sit in judgment as to whether the employment opportunities for unskilled workers here in Dubai is advantageous to them.
Suppose you were successful at stopping the exploitation of workers in Dubai, do you think they would be better off? Would they thank you ae they went back to the abject poverty of their homland, after being replaced by more qualified workers attracted to the higher pay you brought about?
As you note, the world was successful in pressuring South Africa into ending Apartheid- yet you seem less than joyous about the results.
Don't get me wrong, there are aspects of the treatment of sections of the workforce here that are hideous, as was the treatment of many people under Apartheid, but you actually think boycotting Emirates is a positive step?
Suppose you were successful at stopping the exploitation of workers in Dubai, do you think they would be better off? Would they thank you ae they went back to the abject poverty of their homland, after being replaced by more qualified workers attracted to the higher pay you brought about?
As you note, the world was successful in pressuring South Africa into ending Apartheid- yet you seem less than joyous about the results.
Don't get me wrong, there are aspects of the treatment of sections of the workforce here that are hideous, as was the treatment of many people under Apartheid, but you actually think boycotting Emirates is a positive step?
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As you note, the world was successful in pressuring South Africa into ending Apartheid
I am not joyous about the results. Should I be? Very few people are. Have you noticed how the Peter Hains of the world have slipped back under the stones from whence they came?
It may well be that some of those workers would be worse off if they didn't have the employment opportunities of Dubai, but that doesn't make it right to exploit them. I made a previous comment that efforts should be made to improve conditions in their own countries.
I also know that there are workers in Dubai who are subject to a lifetime of slavery because they can't afford to leave, nor to live decently, nor to send money home. I realise this does not only apply to Dubai, but Dubai is the topic of this thread.
Obviously you are living in Dubai, no doubt earning good money and in great comfort, and yet you are happy to throw stones at me because you assume I supported and benefited from apartheid. We are both as bad as the other.
three eighty A pragmatic approach, you are right, but I would not fly on Emirates if an alternative were available.