Ajman
 

Went to Ajman today.

The first time ever. And the last Emirate for me to have seen.

Whoa. That place is possibly the most Middle Eastern city in the UAE. Felt like I was in parts of Cairo or Tunis or Baghdad. It's an outright dump.

Fascinating, really. If you think Sharjah is bad, Ajman is even worse. Yet it's really not that far from Dubai. Maybe it's Dubai that's the weird, unusual exception in the UAE :eek:

Makes one wonder because the standard of infrastructure and development in Dubai is so high, how can the northern Emirates be so crappy when they can see Dubai?

Re: Ajman
 

The Kempinski Hotel in Ajman is one of our favourites for a weekend away...but as for the rest of Ajman, you're spot on!

Re: Ajman
 

The offices of the government / ruler are lovely. The only royalty I've met out here....they're close to the Kempinski.

The rest of it, as said, not fantastic.

Re: Ajman
 

We drove past the Kempinski. There's also a Sheraton and one or two other "nice" hotels along the Corniche. But the Corniche itself is a dump. What makes the Kempinski so nice? Why bother going there?

Re: Ajman
 

It feels like a proper holiday hotel, nice rooms, great beach/pool, good restaurants and a sports bar with bowling alleys, darts and pool tables.

Re: Ajman
 

Speaking of Ajman,

What is the most down and out western expat circumstance you've come across in the UAE? For example, some red faced 60 year old bloke living in a crummy apartment in Ajman because he can't afford to go back to the UK after spending 30 years in the Gulf.

I'm sure there must be some stories out there..... ;)

Re: Ajman
 

The majority of people in the mire here would be a lot younger . I know a few who struggle from month to month and are hocked up to the eyeballs with debt . Cant afford to leave but can't see the problem.

Re: Ajman
 

I know a couple in this situation. One can't fly because of a bank issue, one just had to check if they could because of a bank issue.

****. That.

Re: Ajman
 

Go to the outside bar of the Ajman Beach Hotel and you'll see them there.

Re: Ajman
 

How can you spend 30 years in the gulf and have no money to show for it lol

impossible.

Re: Ajman
 

You'd be surprised.

Not long after I came out here first time around there was a big thing in the press about a retired Brit couple who'd lived in Dubai for 30 years and he was in jail because the cheque he wrote to pay for their container back to the UK had bounced and it turned out they had absolutely no money and were living in a crap apartment in Sharjah.

There are definitely people who just stay out here for too long and never build up savings. Could be that some invested badly and lost everything on property speculation. Many stories I'm sure.

Re: Ajman
 

LAdies and gentleman

How to make money in the UAE.

1) If you can't afford don't buy
2) Don't have kids (i joke)
3) Pay of your credit card in full at the end of the month
4) Send all money remaining back home.

Re: Ajman
 

Divorces can cripple savings I expect.

Re: Ajman
 

I have zero interest in marriage. I really don't

I want a prenup, i want everything in my name. I don't trust any bitach with my cash.

Re: Ajman
 

Tell me about it, I would also add don't have joint bank accounts or your wife as a supplementary credit card holder...

The voice of experience.