US or Dubai?
May 2nd 2008, 2:27 pm
#16
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
May 2nd 2008, 2:43 pm
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
I'm sure it's a great place to live for a few years if you are looking to make some quick cash and are prepared to live the cocooned life of an expat to do that. Eventually you'll have to move on though.
May 2nd 2008, 3:04 pm
#18
Queen of my house
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,043
Re: US or Dubai?
It may be the most liberal of the UAE but it is still a Muslim country and as such there are restrictions on what women (as well as everyone else) can do. And the heat would impose even more constraints, that I personally couldn't live with. The fact that I'm not an 'expat wife' probably also plays a big part.
And I've done the whole expat bubble thing. It's fun for a while but for most people there comes a time when you want to put down roots and build a home. We wanted to do that before our daughter started school which is why we did so much to get out of our last country and come here in time for that. I can't see that being possible in Dubai for most people with a young family looking for some stability.
And I've done the whole expat bubble thing. It's fun for a while but for most people there comes a time when you want to put down roots and build a home. We wanted to do that before our daughter started school which is why we did so much to get out of our last country and come here in time for that. I can't see that being possible in Dubai for most people with a young family looking for some stability.
May 2nd 2008, 3:32 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Re: US or Dubai?
It's not a myth MH will confirm it, she cant even see most of the link's or certain types of pictures that are put up on here and TBH it's all very tame because of the rules.
May 2nd 2008, 3:41 pm
#20
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Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: US or Dubai?
What a mong statement that is. Dubai is a "house of cards" if you ask me. Go there, make big money, live a colonial master life (which, I might add, some people do to a truly sickening degree and should be ashamed of themselves) - but then bugger off before it all comes crashing down. A fair bit of work is on iffy contracts, if yours closes out, away you go anyway. A temporary place to live it big is all it is.
May 2nd 2008, 3:45 pm
#21
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Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: US or Dubai?
Other restrictions are like its sometimes awkward to buy booze, and they have certain holidays which interfere, but to be honest, these restrictions are really not noticeable 99% of the time. People who fall foul of the law can have it harsh (sometimes rightly so, sometimes wrongly) - but it is what it is, if you respect the society, its not problematic in any way.
May 2nd 2008, 3:47 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Re: US or Dubai?
What a mong statement that is. Dubai is a "house of cards" if you ask me. Go there, make big money, live a colonial master life (which, I might add, some people do to a truly sickening degree and should be ashamed of themselves) - but then bugger off before it all comes crashing down. A fair bit of work is on iffy contracts, if yours closes out, away you go anyway. A temporary place to live it big is all it is.
remember what happened to the rich Brit's that lived in Singapore in the 2nd world war.
May 2nd 2008, 3:51 pm
#23
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: US or Dubai?
I'd rather gnaw my own foot off than live in Dubai. Every time I see pictures of Dubai it reminds me of the planet Coruscant in the Star Wars movies. No thanks.
May 2nd 2008, 3:53 pm
#24
Queen of my house
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 5,043
Re: US or Dubai?
I'd rather gnaw my own foot off than live in Dubai. Every time I see pictures of Dubai it reminds me of the planet Coruscant in the Star Wars movies. No thanks.
http://www.planetizen.com/files/oped/20050531.jpg
http://www.planetizen.com/files/oped/20050531.jpg
I've never even visited and have no desire to. I have Brit friends that just sold a shipping business there. Their son ran the Dubai end of it....I don't think he and his new wife are going to shed any tears when they return to England.
May 2nd 2008, 4:22 pm
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Posts: 10
Re: US or Dubai?
I'm leaving USA after 3 quality years for Abu Dhabi or Dubai in a few months time.
Done a lot of research and visited and it's nothing short of fantastic over there. But again, to mirror other peopl's points, it depends what you're looking for.
Family life sounds superb with tonnes to do for everyone. General standard of living is incredibly high.
Salary levels are higher than UK and tax free. Cost of living no higher than UK so you will be quids in.
USA has as many archaic laws as anywhere. There is a law for everything here, it's incredible. Just go to the beach and spend 10 mins reading the rules!
In talking to many colleagues in Dubai, the only downside is the summer heat.
Personally just gonna try it for a while and bugger off if I don't like it.
Cheers...
P.S: Is anyone in Nashville, TN?!?!?
Done a lot of research and visited and it's nothing short of fantastic over there. But again, to mirror other peopl's points, it depends what you're looking for.
Family life sounds superb with tonnes to do for everyone. General standard of living is incredibly high.
Salary levels are higher than UK and tax free. Cost of living no higher than UK so you will be quids in.
USA has as many archaic laws as anywhere. There is a law for everything here, it's incredible. Just go to the beach and spend 10 mins reading the rules!
In talking to many colleagues in Dubai, the only downside is the summer heat.
Personally just gonna try it for a while and bugger off if I don't like it.
Cheers...
P.S: Is anyone in Nashville, TN?!?!?
May 2nd 2008, 5:47 pm
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: US or Dubai?
I'd rather gnaw my own foot off than live in Dubai. Every time I see pictures of Dubai it reminds me of the planet Coruscant in the Star Wars movies. No thanks.
http://www.planetizen.com/files/oped/20050531.jpg
http://www.planetizen.com/files/oped/20050531.jpg
I took this one last year, its from a different angle to the tourist shots........
Edit: I do have to add, I do actually like the place, and even more so Abu Dhabi. I think people could do far worse than spend some time there......but it is only temporary - doesn't matter if its a year or if its 20 years, for Westerners its largely a working/long holiday place, not a permanent retirement one.
Last edited by Dan725; May 2nd 2008 at 5:51 pm.
May 2nd 2008, 5:50 pm
#27
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Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Lake County IL
Posts: 1,953
Re: US or Dubai?
Looks like some of the ones my hubby took. Oh and he got the 6-star hotel he was staying at in there too for good measure :curse:
May 2nd 2008, 5:55 pm
#28
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Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,338
Re: US or Dubai?
Oh aye, no doubt there is tons of cool stuff there. This is one of my fave places - wouldn't want to be paying the aircon bill, however!!:
May 3rd 2008, 12:28 am
#29
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: US or Dubai?
It may be the most liberal of the UAE but it is still a Muslim country and as such there are restrictions on what women (as well as everyone else) can do. And the heat would impose even more constraints, that I personally couldn't live with. The fact that I'm not an 'expat wife' probably also plays a big part.
May 3rd 2008, 12:31 am
#30
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: US or Dubai?
Depends where you live, most only have one ISP, which does block certain stuff, but there is the freezone which is more open...but the ME ain't the only country that does this, and there are proxies to get around it...