Originally Posted by kittycat1

Hi Mark,

What motivates people is different at different times in their lives, 10 years ago I would have had zero interest in being based in the UAE, bottom line -I am here for the money, riding out an ongoing recession where job prospects in the UK and Europe are few and far between. There are things I love about being here and things I don't, I have travelled more since being here than I have in my entire life and love being able to do so, It really is a great location for travelling to places that from the UK would be exceptional holidays.
The market is strong here, I work for a retailer, which in the Uk the majority of retailers are struggling and it is creatively boring to be based working for a struggling retail market, whereas in the Middle East the market is strong and gives you room to spread your wings. My job satisfaction is very important to em, and I get more opportunities here than I would being based anywhere else at the moment.
When I moved out here just over 4 years I had preconceptions of what it would be like and to be honest I was wrong about pretty much most of it. Yes you can't do certain things but on the whole it really is a pleasant enough place to be. I have lots of good friends here, some straight some gay, they also have a good life here, some single some married, some living in sin, some in gay relationships, yes gay relationships have to be discrete as do I being a single female where relationships outside of marriage are also illegal. But everything goes on but is generally discrete. The money being tax free is my main reason to be here, and I am saving for my long term security- something I value more than partying at this point in my life, but you can also enjoy yourself, it isn't a prison. If you want to stuff a kilo of coke up your nose and have gangbangs on the beach it's probably not the best place ( although if you know the right people it could probably be arranged and i know of some stories not that far from this), but you can have a nice lifestyle here.I came here with the attitude, if I hate it I can go home, I'm still here so it really isn't as bad as you imagine, many see it as offering more than what they have had from their home countries.

Obviously at this time in your life you can not imagine yourself coming here, but the one thing i have learnt is never say never.

Originally Posted by kittycat1

There are always horror stories, I have heard of some real clangers, some is people acting like twats and showing no respect for where they are, some is just being unlucky and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I could say the same about London. And of course the press love to jump on a Dubai trainwreck story, lets say how awful it is to live in a muslim country, then show pictures of some celebrity frolicking on the beach with their new lover. The middle east is a place of contradictions. keep your nose clean and you'll be fine, give the finger to a local or get drunk and give abuse to staff, or take drugs in a country with zero tolerance and you're asking for trouble. Get an alcohol license, go out, get drunk, have a good time, and go home and you are generally fine. Don't put yourself in stupid situations is the best advice I would give. If you're in a row, walk away, if you're with someone behaving like a dick- walk away. It really is quite simple.

Originally Posted by kittycat1

I have friends here who set my gaydar off at a thousand paces- they wear tight trousers and everything! honestly you'd be fine, you might eve get propositioned by a local guy....

Originally Posted by kittycat1

Hi Mark,

What motivates people is different at different times in their lives, 10 years ago I would have had zero interest in being based in the UAE, bottom line -I am here for the money, riding out an ongoing recession where job prospects in the UK and Europe are few and far between. There are things I love about being here and things I don't, I have travelled more since being here than I have in my entire life and love being able to do so, It really is a great location for travelling to places that from the UK would be exceptional holidays.
The market is strong here, I work for a retailer, which in the Uk the majority of retailers are struggling and it is creatively boring to be based working for a struggling retail market, whereas in the Middle East the market is strong and gives you room to spread your wings. My job satisfaction is very important to em, and I get more opportunities here than I would being based anywhere else at the moment.
When I moved out here just over 4 years I had preconceptions of what it would be like and to be honest I was wrong about pretty much most of it. Yes you can't do certain things but on the whole it really is a pleasant enough place to be. I have lots of good friends here, some straight some gay, they also have a good life here, some single some married, some living in sin, some in gay relationships, yes gay relationships have to be discrete as do I being a single female where relationships outside of marriage are also illegal. But everything goes on but is generally discrete. The money being tax free is my main reason to be here, and I am saving for my long term security- something I value more than partying at this point in my life, but you can also enjoy yourself, it isn't a prison. If you want to stuff a kilo of coke up your nose and have gangbangs on the beach it's probably not the best place ( although if you know the right people it could probably be arranged and i know of some stories not that far from this), but you can have a nice lifestyle here.I came here with the attitude, if I hate it I can go home, I'm still here so it really isn't as bad as you imagine, many see it as offering more than what they have had from their home countries.

Obviously at this time in your life you can not imagine yourself coming here, but the one thing i have learnt is never say never.

Originally Posted by Autonomy

If you are so genuially interested why not hop over here for a visit, see things for yourself - I think in someways you'll be surprised...

Originally Posted by markuhde

Maybe I will, got any suggestions where to go? In the middle east, Tel Aviv is one place that interests me, and Dubai is another. I've heard Tel Aviv can actually, shockingly to me, be a bit of a party city if you avoid the religious parts.

What are the best (best as in inexpensive) ways to get there from London? I'm making an assumption it's much cheaper to fly from London than from Seattle...

Originally Posted by Autonomy

Oh you are going to love this one... if you want to see much of the rest of the Middle East - don't get an Israeli stamp in your passport...

PS - Before you totally freak out - there are ways round this...

PPS Have a look at Beirut as a brilliant party city also (ok, there have been several bombs and it could be on the brink of war again, but hey - it's a f**king great party city - really (a "safe" example - http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/09/wo...party-capital/ )

Originally Posted by Kix

I'm still wondering where these "Strict alcohol laws in the UAE" are?

There's a bottle shop 5 minutes walk from my apartment. I've never shown or been asked for a license yet (as an example).

As for people (non muslims) being prosecuted for eating in a public place during Ramadan, not to my knowledge, not in the last 9 years at least.

Originally Posted by Kix

The guy on the other thread was talking about a totally different country.

You do know Qatar is a different Country (and as such has it's own laws) to the UAE don't you.

Oh, and don't believe everything you read in the press.

Originally Posted by markuhde

Oh, I know they have clubs for non-Muslims. But do they have clubs I could hang out with my lesbian friends at and have a great time? Exactly.