lullabelle

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-n...expat-paradise

Paradise.

I'm sure banks don't steal money from you in paradise.

And I'm pretty sure Nakheel wouldn't be allowed in paradise either...

Etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

OleJanx

"Non-scientific" eh? So, in future, if someone replies that you are being"non-scientific", does that mean that they think you're talking a load of old bollocks?

flood2

I wonder how much they paid Forbes, to change the rating?

soukie

Paradise for locals maybe but certainly not for expats! Sound like money has changed hands.

Boomhauer

UAE money + pressure from friends in high places + American PR firms = Forbes backpeddaling.

scrubbedexpat141

Given that I agree with your formula and that it is highly likely to have been the case.....it makes me wonder how stupid this country thinks the rest of the world is?

Mad.

flood2

It reminds me of an internal course I took last year on technical writing with a lot of Indians, Pakistanis etc..

The Aussie trainer had 2 newspaper reports on Abu Dhabi bailing out the burj Dubai to show 2 sides to a story...

The National report led the way with the naming as a sign of the greatness of the UAE (and Sheikh Khalifa) and no mention of Dubais debt etc. The BBC report mentioned Abu Dhabi bailing out a bankrupt Dubai from the edge of financial meltdown etc.

The trainer asked the group what version they believed and they all went with The National line, and that the tower was named after a great leader, not because of the money he paid.

Some shook there heads when I stood up for the BBC story! So brainwashing does seem to work

Millhouse

It's so easy to bash the UAE. The reality is that it isn't that bad - and the initial report was utter nonsense.

As an expat destination Dubai probably does compete with HK and Singapore when everything is taken into account. I've never said it is utpoia, but when I was leaving Abu Dhabi and had job offers in Frankfurt and Dubai or the fall back of going home, it really was a no-brainer. I think we discussed it for almost 2 minutes.

We have offices in HK and I'm not sure I would rush to move there - OK, it's fun but the pollution is awful and housing is crap.

Brains1983

Scientist - My findings are pointless when taken out of context.
Media - Scientist claims "findings are pointless"

Paracletus

Having a rather substantial experience from SEA, I'd happily go there any day over anywhere in the ME. Housing in some places might be worse, but the general attitude of people is totally different. But I s'ppose it's what you value more..pollution or arseholes.

scrubbedexpat141

Very true, everyone will have a different opinion based on their own experiences.

The best thing about the Middle East is that it's still relatively unknown or misunderstood in the UK. The amount of times I've been asked if you can drink booze in Dubai by people back home is unbelievable.

littlejimmy

Aye, who needs pollution when you can breathe in lovely, fresh....dust!

scrubbedexpat141

At least in the UAE nobody drives cars with 3 or 4 litre+++ engines.

I like to think it's a positively carbon conscious country.

Boomhauer

You should tell them that not only can you drink but you can get a hooker from a wide range of nationalities to rub pig fat on your nipples while you drink

OleJanx

3 or 4 litre engines? Don't be ridiculous! Far too small....