NorthernLad

A bit worrying...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20845468

OleJanx

Not really, a bit of institutionalized torture and there will be reformed disidents...

NorthernLad

I'm not sure I follow your line of thought. Population aside (there are a fair few more people in UK than UAE), a lot of news goes unreported here so something like this making the news indicates it is serious.

Equestra

Personally not worried. I believe we live in the eye storm (in terms of the world of terrorists plot rings).
Maybe (for sure) some plotting happens here but the war is against the west............not here. Maybe I live in a bubble wearing rose tinted specs & don't read enough news......... Yeah that's it

Eeyore

Personally, I've never been particularly worried about any of those things in the UK, and I worked in London for 15 years and frequently used public transport late at night.

Your chances of being seriously injured or killed in a road accident in the UAE are much higher than being assaulted, raped or murdered (or killed in a car crash) in the UK.

If nothing else, this story should give the lie to that classic expat delusion that Dubai is immune from being targeted by terrorists. A bit more reality is always a good thing.

Beakersful

"Killed"?

By terrorists?

I don't think the Gulf States has a major terrorist problem for Westerners, but a bit of personal security practise goes a long way. I do have a concern that if someone nudges your car from behind you're supposed to stop and ring the police, rather than ring as you're putting your foot down to get out of a situation.

NorthernLad

I still don't quite follow your thinking. We are not in the UK, we are in the UAE which has different issues to UK (as Eeyore said, being on the roads is particularly dangerous).

A colleague was at a sort of 'round table' meeting with someone very senior in UAE, when asked what keeps him awake at night it was just one attack succeeding, the impact on the expat population could be far-reaching.

There are still cases of murder, ABH, GBH, rape etc here, a recent example: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/cr...aped-1.1123261

The original article in this post just highlights we are not living in a safe bubble here.

The Dean

Whose comment was that? Your colleague's, or the senior UAE official?

Patsy Stoned

This is very true..imagine, just 1 small terrorist attack here and most expats would leave...especially the French and Italians

The Dean

I'd stay........ I survived Riyadh in the compound bombing era - nothing here will bother me.

NorthernLad

Senior official.

NorthernLad

I expect we would stay, the upside is I could see a whole load of Jumeriah Janes on the first flight out here...back to shelf stacking in Asda.

The Dean

Interesting - so the 'you don't bite the hand that feeds you' theory is false then??

NorthernLad

The colleague was European, so I doubt the officials would even hint at what you are suggesting

Beakersful

To be perfectly frank, those that come running home wouldn't just be doing it for themselves. Asides from those leaving because of their kids (those who brought them) the rest would have been suffering unending phonecalls from family back home threatening all sorts. Worse than the original threat level that is.