What does Dubai mean to you?
Apr 6th 2009, 11:06 am
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 30
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Like the sun, like having the pool and the beach. Barbecues are great. Like having a 4x4 and being able to fuel it without a mortgage. Like not paying tax.
Don't like the half-assed way of doing things, shoddy standards of everything, terrible driving and attitude of some people, people's bad manners (pushing into queues), being a second class citizen in a country that would be a toasted pile of sand without the brains and hard work of the expats.
In the end, it's a place to live. Given the choice, I'd sooner live in Florida or Portugal for sun, sand, sea. At least there you have rights and can have a bottle of wine with a meal. But business keeps me here for now.
I got really fed up with the 'everyone in the world is in awe of Dubai' brigade. They're not so smug now, although I still come across the odd 'Dubai will recover first because it is simply sooooper and smaaaashing and everyone in the world wishes they lived here'. Er.... the only people who say that are people who've never been to the first world. Compared to Lagos and Karachi, I am quite sure Dubai is lovely. But when it started to compare itself to Monaco.... aw come on.... does Monaco have labour camps?
Don't like the half-assed way of doing things, shoddy standards of everything, terrible driving and attitude of some people, people's bad manners (pushing into queues), being a second class citizen in a country that would be a toasted pile of sand without the brains and hard work of the expats.
In the end, it's a place to live. Given the choice, I'd sooner live in Florida or Portugal for sun, sand, sea. At least there you have rights and can have a bottle of wine with a meal. But business keeps me here for now.
I got really fed up with the 'everyone in the world is in awe of Dubai' brigade. They're not so smug now, although I still come across the odd 'Dubai will recover first because it is simply sooooper and smaaaashing and everyone in the world wishes they lived here'. Er.... the only people who say that are people who've never been to the first world. Compared to Lagos and Karachi, I am quite sure Dubai is lovely. But when it started to compare itself to Monaco.... aw come on.... does Monaco have labour camps?
Well, couldn't have put it better myself....... Dubai = House of cards, no culture, too arrogant....
Apr 6th 2009, 11:32 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,287
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Like the sun, like having the pool and the beach. Barbecues are great. Like having a 4x4 and being able to fuel it without a mortgage. Like not paying tax.
Don't like the half-assed way of doing things, shoddy standards of everything, terrible driving and attitude of some people, people's bad manners (pushing into queues), being a second class citizen in a country that would be a toasted pile of sand without the brains and hard work of the expats.
In the end, it's a place to live. Given the choice, I'd sooner live in Florida or Portugal for sun, sand, sea. At least there you have rights and can have a bottle of wine with a meal. But business keeps me here for now.
I got really fed up with the 'everyone in the world is in awe of Dubai' brigade. They're not so smug now, although I still come across the odd 'Dubai will recover first because it is simply sooooper and smaaaashing and everyone in the world wishes they lived here'. Er.... the only people who say that are people who've never been to the first world. Compared to Lagos and Karachi, I am quite sure Dubai is lovely. But when it started to compare itself to Monaco.... aw come on.... does Monaco have labour camps?
Don't like the half-assed way of doing things, shoddy standards of everything, terrible driving and attitude of some people, people's bad manners (pushing into queues), being a second class citizen in a country that would be a toasted pile of sand without the brains and hard work of the expats.
In the end, it's a place to live. Given the choice, I'd sooner live in Florida or Portugal for sun, sand, sea. At least there you have rights and can have a bottle of wine with a meal. But business keeps me here for now.
I got really fed up with the 'everyone in the world is in awe of Dubai' brigade. They're not so smug now, although I still come across the odd 'Dubai will recover first because it is simply sooooper and smaaaashing and everyone in the world wishes they lived here'. Er.... the only people who say that are people who've never been to the first world. Compared to Lagos and Karachi, I am quite sure Dubai is lovely. But when it started to compare itself to Monaco.... aw come on.... does Monaco have labour camps?
Apr 6th 2009, 11:36 am
#18
If I have to explain...
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Where ever the road takes me
Posts: 3,999
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Dubai can be what you make it, but then so can anywhere. I have a reasonably good life here; tax free salary, 95% housing paid for, contribution to school fees where Miss RK is very happy and doing well, job varied and interesting without major stress, Mrs RK has an easy life and is happy. Will stay for as long as I can on those terms.
Summer heat is a bitch, specially for riding, arrogance abounds at all levels, almost everything costs more than the same item elsewhere in the world, no long term-ness about the place - everything is today...
Yes, I'll stay for as long as I can on those terms...but would move tomorrow if an offer came up that was better all round.
Summer heat is a bitch, specially for riding, arrogance abounds at all levels, almost everything costs more than the same item elsewhere in the world, no long term-ness about the place - everything is today...
Yes, I'll stay for as long as I can on those terms...but would move tomorrow if an offer came up that was better all round.
Apr 6th 2009, 11:44 am
#19
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
It's probably my least enjoyable overseas posting to date. Even Jeddah was better. I do like the mild winters but otherwise the place has few redeeming features.
Apr 6th 2009, 12:57 pm
#21
Gold-Helmeted Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Setubal-ish
Posts: 691
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Auntie is putting the boot into Dubai today bigtime
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/fr...00/7981320.stm
Dubai has been busy hiring any PR goons they can find in London to help them deal with their image problems and all the bad news stories about the crashing economy. They're are going to need some goon reinforcements now.
Pretty sure when messrs Owen, Oliver, et al disown the Dubai projects they're paid $$$ to promote, the papers here won't comment.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/fr...00/7981320.stm
Dubai has been busy hiring any PR goons they can find in London to help them deal with their image problems and all the bad news stories about the crashing economy. They're are going to need some goon reinforcements now.
Pretty sure when messrs Owen, Oliver, et al disown the Dubai projects they're paid $$$ to promote, the papers here won't comment.
Apr 6th 2009, 6:12 pm
#23
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Dubai/Glasgow
Posts: 328
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
it means around 7-9GBP a pint.
Apr 6th 2009, 6:40 pm
#24
same shit different day
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,049
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
what is the point of having one done here when it is hardly worth the paper it is written on? unless of course you own a business
Apr 6th 2009, 8:37 pm
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 390
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Compared with Manchester when I grew up it´s paradise...
Hardly any crime, no shoot-outs at gang funerals, not coming home having my teeth kicked out as a 12 y.o, not coming down the kitchen at winter noticing that the zink pipes are frozen etc etc.
Hardly any crime, no shoot-outs at gang funerals, not coming home having my teeth kicked out as a 12 y.o, not coming down the kitchen at winter noticing that the zink pipes are frozen etc etc.
Apr 7th 2009, 2:27 am
#26
Account Closed
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 351
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
I stayed in Dubai for less than a year - and to me it was a place without a soul. I missed green colours and nature and being able to go for a walk.
(I was also pretty hacked off at the driving and work ethics I encountered)
(oh and the "standard" of finish in our flashy on the outside, crap on the inside flat on SZ Road!)
I've been following this forum as I could foresee what was going to happen with the property bubble when I was there and am interested to hear what is happening on the ground.
(I was also pretty hacked off at the driving and work ethics I encountered)
(oh and the "standard" of finish in our flashy on the outside, crap on the inside flat on SZ Road!)
I've been following this forum as I could foresee what was going to happen with the property bubble when I was there and am interested to hear what is happening on the ground.
Apr 7th 2009, 4:24 am
#28
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,271
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
I understand without one, there would be problems releasing any monies that were in the bank here to my next of kin
Apr 7th 2009, 6:02 am
#29
same shit different day
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,049
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
just don't keep money in the bank here - keep in offshore account and then when you pop your clogs the mrs empties your account before she reports you dead!
Apr 7th 2009, 6:38 am
#30
A bubbly-jock...
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Teneriffe
Posts: 6,262
Re: What does Dubai mean to you?
Auntie is putting the boot into Dubai today bigtime
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/fr...00/7981320.stm
Dubai has been busy hiring any PR goons they can find in London to help them deal with their image problems and all the bad news stories about the crashing economy. They're are going to need some goon reinforcements now.
Pretty sure when messrs Owen, Oliver, et al disown the Dubai projects they're paid $$$ to promote, the papers here won't comment.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/fr...00/7981320.stm
Dubai has been busy hiring any PR goons they can find in London to help them deal with their image problems and all the bad news stories about the crashing economy. They're are going to need some goon reinforcements now.
Pretty sure when messrs Owen, Oliver, et al disown the Dubai projects they're paid $$$ to promote, the papers here won't comment.