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Original poster

Would you choose Dubai as a holiday destination?

382 replies

Letshopenextyearisbetter · 16/10/2024 09:24

Colleague told me excitedly she has booked to go to Dubai with her family for two weeks. I said ‘Oh wow!’ But really I was thinking 😬
I realise we all like different things, but just curious if you’d choose to spend your money on going to Dubai? I can personally think of some really lovely places to go for that amount of money, especially over Christmas

OP posts:
Coalsy · 16/10/2024 20:40

Not if the holiday was free would i step foot in Dubai or its ilk.
Awful places.

offyoujollywelltrot · 16/10/2024 20:39

pavementgerms · 16/10/2024 19:56

This. Oppressive heat, slavery and exploitation, shallow consumerism, no culture or nature, environmentally destructive. Hellish.

Show quote history

I'm very queer, and there is no way I would ever set foot in any country where it wasn't accepted.

Even if I were not, women and girls are second class citizens there, so why the fuck would I give tourism to a country like that?

TwistedWonder · 16/10/2024 20:32

I have absolutely zero interest in going to Dubai in the same way that I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than go to Vegas

Each to their own but I like places with charm and character not soul less and purpose built

DoThePropeller · 16/10/2024 20:28

For example, Turkey is in the top five list of countries with highest levels of modern slaves.

You aren’t going to see much of the world if you rule out everywhere based on this criteria. And you probably wouldn’t judge/think less of a colleague doing a two week all inclusive in Turkey next summer.

Would you choose Dubai as a holiday destination?
Lucyccfc68 · 16/10/2024 20:24

My sister lived in the Middle East for 18 years and we would go to Dubai for the odd weekend when we visited her. The first time I went was about 30 years ago and it was quite a pleasant place to go. We last went 12 months ago when we used Dubai to transit (we had 2 days there).

OMG how it has changed! It’s all fur coat and no knickers, full of bling, drug dealers and chavs. It’s bloody awful.

FindingMeno · 16/10/2024 20:20

No way.
However if someone paid for me to go, I'd give it a whirl, I'm not gonna lie.

Glowupinprogress · 16/10/2024 20:12

Not rtft but no fucking way

MagneticSquirrel · 16/10/2024 20:10

Would like to see it as a spectacle of lavish weather, amaxing architecture etc and to enjoy the hot weather.

However it’s incredibly easy to upset the wrong person locally and if they have enough influence / contacts, you get arrested and imprisoned. Our Gov will try to support but it won’t be easy or quick to sort. So for that reason I won’t take the risk.

DoThePropeller · 16/10/2024 20:09

What I find fascinating is how everyone hates Dubai but doesn’t seem to have a problem with Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia etc. All of these places - with some variability within them - have exactly the same issues when it comes to modern slavery, and strict laws, equal rights etc. Does everyone here only really holiday in Western Europe? Feel like the high ethical standards will be ruling a pretty big chunk of the world out.

AnneLovesGilbert · 16/10/2024 20:04

No. I turned down an all expenses paid holiday there and wouldn’t go if you paid me.

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 16/10/2024 20:00

It's not for me, no.

pavementgerms · 16/10/2024 19:56

offyoujollywelltrot · 16/10/2024 19:50

I'd rather shit in my hand and clap.

This. Oppressive heat, slavery and exploitation, shallow consumerism, no culture or nature, environmentally destructive. Hellish.

YourLastNerve · 16/10/2024 19:51

No. It doesn't do it for me at all.

Neither do cruises or ikos resorts.

offyoujollywelltrot · 16/10/2024 19:50

I'd rather shit in my hand and clap.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 16/10/2024 19:48

Teacherbee85 · 16/10/2024 13:10

It's mumsnet - everyone hates Dubai.

Even though they've never been 🤣

Well if even the adverts for it, and the comments by people who love it, still make you think 'Urgh, no!', I think it's a fairly safe bet that you wouldn't like it, even if you haven't been there. Not everyone is into built-up resorts and designer shopping!

Greydayswithoutfags · 16/10/2024 19:35

Maria1979 · 16/10/2024 19:20

You don't get it, do you? Even if it would be the most beautiful place on earth many of us would not be interested in going because of the regim being repressive, sexist, using slave labour, harming the environment etc etc. But obviously you have to be 1. Aware 2. Care .

Show quote history

And some of us can’t go @Teacherbee85 because being gay is still a capital offence.

Gingernaut · 16/10/2024 19:33

I have Asian colleagues who go there, as many of their friends and family have been/are going and they have all said it's too expensive

Nothing about human rights abuses, just that it's a bit pricey

TBH, everything I've read about it, gives me the heebies.

It's an expensive, societally repressive, environmentally unsustainable car crash of a place

OldScribbler · 16/10/2024 19:32

ImNunTheWiser · 16/10/2024 09:36

No. I have had to go many times for work. Stayed with a colleague and their family for months at a time, which was quite nice actually, and not in the tourist hotel areas, but still it’s largely quite boring and unpleasant, frankly.

I had to go on business two or three times and found it ghastly - Arabs rule, Indians do all the work, and no signs of culture. But many people like it.

Maria1979 · 16/10/2024 19:28

Kath85 · 16/10/2024 19:24

Been 4 times and love it, different strokes for different folks!

Yeah, some of us do happen to care about human rights and some like yourself don't.

WhiteWriting · 16/10/2024 19:27

By 'different strokes' I take it you mean lashes?

Maria1979 · 16/10/2024 19:26

spottedinthewilds · 16/10/2024 18:59

We are going very soon and I can't wait!

We wanted winter sun and there were few options.

I like a bit of bling, I can totally get it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I think it will be mine.

Slavery conditions for workers and treating women and gays as crap is your cup of tea then huh? It's mingin.

Kath85 · 16/10/2024 19:24

Been 4 times and love it, different strokes for different folks!

WhiteWriting · 16/10/2024 19:24

Shocked at all the vapid 'I'm going soon and I can't wait' type comments. Amazed at how many ill-educated, shallow morons there are on here. Do any of you have daughters? You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

Maria1979 · 16/10/2024 19:20

Teacherbee85 · 16/10/2024 13:10

It's mumsnet - everyone hates Dubai.

Even though they've never been 🤣

You don't get it, do you? Even if it would be the most beautiful place on earth many of us would not be interested in going because of the regim being repressive, sexist, using slave labour, harming the environment etc etc. But obviously you have to be 1. Aware 2. Care .

whiteroseredrose · 16/10/2024 19:14

Nooooo.

I went once with work - it was hot and based on sand and hotels. Really not my thing. Hated Las Vegas too for the same reason.

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