Define Dubai
 

OK folks I have a project coming up where this random question could help enormously.

What is it that defines Dubai for you?

things like the two Burj's, the creek, malls etc but what for you defines Dubai, what is it that would instantly bring Dubai to your mind. Brunches? Khandooras, Blacked out Patrols?

I ask because I know what defines dubai for me and the life I live in the city but i have no idea what for example defines dubai for a 20 something single or an older married couple close to retirement.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Chock-a-block with wankers. :thumbup:

mwaaaaaaaahahaaaaaa

Re: Define Dubai
 

that i'll grant you but then in my experience most cities suffer from that these days

Re: Define Dubai
 

Serious answer would be seeing a seriously over the top, blinged out supercar or ridiculous 4x4.

Re: Define Dubai
 

False City, False People made with dog turd and gold plated.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Disneyland for adults is oft quoted, a film set where nothing is as it seems? A cultural centre for islamic art and theology?

OK, was joking about the last bit...

Re: Define Dubai
 

You forgot to add false hopes.

Re: Define Dubai
 

And mountains of toxic debt!

Anyone got anything good to say?

OK then

Jockeys Bar, the best bar in the world. Ever.

Re: Define Dubai
 

It's just a place to earn money.

Take your two buckets and try your best to fill the cash one, then get out of the place.

Re: Define Dubai
 

yes yes and also full of unhelpful wankers i was more driving at things like the blinged cars

Re: Define Dubai
 

why are you in doha then

Re: Define Dubai
 

How to win friends...

Re: Define Dubai
 

The dog turd isn't gold plated here.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Excess

Re: Define Dubai
 

Don't assume I am talking about all ex pats. 'Locals' and the Crowd that used to holiday in Benidorm that now call it home.

Edit,
The ones that I see buying stupidly large bottles of Vodka on their credit card whilst trying to woo over the Emirates trolley Dollys.

The ones that spend more that 60% of their income on a car

The ones that borrow up to their tits to pay for their accommodation instead of something smaller to keep up with the Jones's

Re: Define Dubai
 

I would have thought that anybody who moves to Dubai is going for one reason only, and that is to make money.

Yes you can have a big car and a nice villa but I would have thought it was more about living a good but not extravagant live and saving money to come back to the UK (or somewhere else) for a better quality of life!

Re: Define Dubai
 

You find chavy types pretty much everywhere, but I also loathe those who think Dubai is just about tall towers, overpriced bars and think they have 'made it' because they went to the Cavalli Club once.

Right now, Dubai is defined by idiocy and lazy bastards, but it's been a rough couple of weeks. Otherwise, Pinoys walking with umbrellas in August; 'gardeners' in pyjamas riding bicycles on the wrong side of the road pulling lawnmowers; Lebos with slicked back hair, overly tight trousers, too much aftershave and wearing sunglasses at night; "yes mam/sir"; fancy cars without indicators and people with a cavalier attitude to meeting times.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Is the correct answer.

The sunshine bakes certain peoples brains though and they completely forget why they are there/here.

Re: Define Dubai
 

That's been royally pissing you off for a few days hasn't it Meow :nod:

Re: Define Dubai
 

Dubai and its very nature attracts a far higher number of those sorts though. Having lived there, AD and Doha I find Doha just edges AD on a lower number of Pricks per 100.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Exactly , i wouldn't have stepped foot in the Middle East if it wasn't for work .

Re: Define Dubai
 

I will be in Dubai from next week. And I am there to save money! I will obviously want to have a good time and see sights etc but I suppose everyone has a different outlook on life and how they want to live!

Re: Define Dubai
 

... and fake tits

Re: Define Dubai
 

Don't get me wrong I can't wait to move to Dubai. I'm a 24 year old man, of course I can't wait to be move to Dubai. But if it wasn't for the work and the tax free allowance I wouldn't be anywhere near the desert!

Re: Define Dubai
 

That's a negative?

Re: Define Dubai
 

I would defiantly say its a positive :)

Re: Define Dubai
 

One word: Insha'allah.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Have you been here before? Life here is simply what you make of it and many of us live what you would consider a relatively normal life.

Re: Define Dubai
 

No, it will be my first visit to the ME, which some people have found it shocking that I have never visited. But what is life without an adventure!

I do think that to many people move to the ME and just expect it to be the UK with sunshine and tax free allowance.

I do plan on living a relatively normal life, but the main reason for the move is due to the step up in my career that the job was able to offer.

Re: Define Dubai
 

When I went out to Dubai in 08 I asked my mate to put me in a hotel for a month while I searched for a job and he put me in the Pano.

I arrived thinking I wouldn't have Strongbow or women in my life for a while, 6 hours later...............

Re: Define Dubai
 

The UK with sunshine etc - that's The Springs for you!

You can have fun and a good life without being a w****r ;)

Re: Define Dubai
 

I will be living in Tecom and commuting to Abu Dhabi 3-4 days a week.

Re: Define Dubai
 

PMSL, been there, done that!

Re: Define Dubai
 

Really poor people who are genuinely touched when you do something 'normal' towards them, like say please and thank you, or open a door for them.

Somethings most locals and Jumeriah Jane's no nothing about.

Re: Define Dubai
 

On the way back from a business trip to the UK in 2011 (about 10 months into my time here), I was in the airport duty free at Manchester buying some Raybans. When the girl went to check my boarding pass, she said oooh, you're going to Dubai! Is it for a holiday?

When I said no, I live there, she asked if I could only describe Dubai in one word, what would it be?

You could tell from her reactions she wasn't expecting me to say 'racist' but I stand by that assertion to this day.

Re: Define Dubai
 

I have been here for almost 10 years, I train about 60 people a week from all nationalities .... men and women including Emirati, Lebanese, Palestinian, American, British, Indian blah,blah and all of them are living normal lives working, playing, bringing up families etc. None of them are w**kers, none of them are rude or arrogant, they all seem to be very genuine and caring people.
I live in a local area, I have friends of different nationalities, my life here is not that much different from the other countries that I have lived in,(except the brunches are better :D).
Dubai is better than some cities, worse than others.
I really get fed up with people who think that the UAE is full of false people.
There are false people everywhere. I love living in Dubai, I love my job and I love and respect the culturally differences of the people that I meet.

Re: Define Dubai
 

Thx meow. In terms of visual images the August umbrella and suicidal gardners are ones that will stick with me for life I think, along now I come to think of it with people hiding in the shadow of lamp posts. Regarding defending Dubai the longer I'm here the more I realise that the wankers are actually the smallest part of the population and that most just lead normal lives. I think that's what gets me is that the Dubai ill remember is completely different from the one that gets talked about.

Re: Define Dubai
 

If I say that I hate Dubai with a passion, but I still enjoy living here, does that make sense? :unsure:

Re: Define Dubai
 

Completely

Re: Define Dubai
 

Having spent the last 2 years in Singapore I can see a distinct similarity with dubai.

In both places it would seem the worst kind of people are the Middle/Senior management that arrive on a transfer or secondment...they treat the posting as a holiday.

Like most people that go on holiday, these people push the limits of drinking, partying and generally being w*****rs.

I have seen many decent people poisoned by the Dubai lifestyle.For example, because they get their pictures in Ahlan or Hello they suddenly think they are the next best thing, and because they can afford a nice car and champagne brunches...that they are suddenly a class above the rest.

So how would I define Dubai ? I would say "Morally Toxic" ... on sooo many levels




Dont get me wrong, I love the place...cant wait to come back!