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Original poster

To have little sympathy for people who've moved to Dubai?

107 replies

VaxMerstappen · 01/03/2026 21:03

Firstly, let me say that say that I am not celebrating the fact that people have been killed in the latest conflict in the middle east in the slightest.

However, is anyone else struggling to empathise with all the influencers etc who for a long time have been lauding it up about how much better life is out there, and are now suddenly missing the safety and security of Blighty?

We have our problems, sure, but at least we're not in the middle of an active war zone. Nor is there much chance of us waking up to missile or drone attacks tomorrow.

It's been fairly well known for years that Dubai is a soulless hellhole with a frankly medieval attitude towards women's rights. Yet people still move there for tax reasons and then seemingly never shut up about how glad they are to have done so.

Maybe this development will make all those people realise just how relatively lucky we are to live in the UK?!

OP posts:
whereisitnow · 01/03/2026 21:52

Well, we’re a little bit less safe today here in the UK , now that our stupid government and even stupider PM has agreed to uk being used by the US to strike Iranian missile sites. Why oh why not keep us out of it.

Alpacajigsaw · 01/03/2026 21:51

Lemonfrost · 01/03/2026 21:47

Another one who just doesn't have the ability to read the room.

Show quote history

I said I felt sorry for them. What else do you want?

REDB99 · 01/03/2026 21:51

They’re utter morons for moving there. The Middle East is unstable and has been for decades. Why on earth would you risk your safety to move there? Not to mention the awful slave labour and treatment of women. I’m with you OP. Naive at best, ignorant at worst.

RonaldMcDonaldTrump · 01/03/2026 21:51

There are plenty of places that have questionable human rights. The human rights that we value so much yet we think it's ok to protest outside hotels to intimidate people who've escaped hell holes? Half of this country gives diddly squat about human rights.

Large Western populations migrating to and contributing to Middle Eastern countries is the best way to help neutralise old fashioned Islamic values. What's up, can't we stand Muslim nations actually trying to change for the better?

RosesAreRedRight · 01/03/2026 21:51

I don’t think it would be that great to live in the UK, everyone always complains

JasmineMac · 01/03/2026 21:51

Dubai is in my top 5 of places I wish never to visit. YANBU.

MauriceTheMussel · 01/03/2026 21:49

You realise no tax and no women’s rights does not equal a reasonable expectation to be in a war zone, right?

Luckyingame · 01/03/2026 21:49

Even if you have a little sympathy, no need to post.
No human being deserves what's going on at the moment.

Makemineacosmo · 01/03/2026 21:49

However, is anyone else struggling to empathise with all the influencers etc who for a long time have been lauding it up about how much better life is out there, and are now suddenly missing the safety and security of Blighty?

No, because I'm not an arsehole. I don't follow influencers, but it really doesn't matter who someone is or where they have moved to. They don't, and their children certainly don't, deserve to live in fear because they decided to move. Now is really not the time to be gloating.

Lambington · 01/03/2026 21:49

My thoughts and prayers are with Isobella Oakshott and her husband Richard Tice.

Rizzz · 01/03/2026 21:48

shouldicontactthisperson · 01/03/2026 21:47

Your post reads as if you are enjoying their misfortune.

Unfortunately some other posts do too.

"I do feel sorry for them but"

Awful and smug.

Swissmeringue · 01/03/2026 21:47

My family aren't in Dubai, they are in Bahrain though and my cousins (aged 10, 7 and 7) have spent the past 36 hours in the basement of their house. God forbid people move for a job opportunity or career advancement right? How very dare they? Jesus OP, I hope if you ever find yourself in scary circumstances that other people have a modicum more empathy for you than you can muster for them.

shouldicontactthisperson · 01/03/2026 21:47

Your post reads as if you are enjoying their misfortune.

Lemonfrost · 01/03/2026 21:47

Alpacajigsaw · 01/03/2026 21:46

I do feel sympathy for them as it’s a horrible situation. But I’ve never seen
the appeal of Dubai in any way shape or form, always comes across as a soulless shithole to me

Another one who just doesn't have the ability to read the room.

somuchbedding · 01/03/2026 21:46

It’s so depressing though.

Alpacajigsaw · 01/03/2026 21:46

I do feel sympathy for them as it’s a horrible situation. But I’ve never seen
the appeal of Dubai in any way shape or form, always comes across as a soulless shithole to me

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 01/03/2026 21:45

somuchbedding · 01/03/2026 21:44

What is with these threads?

Bitterness.

BeMellowAquaSquid · 01/03/2026 21:45

Your post is really piss poor at a time when the world is really uncertain.

somuchbedding · 01/03/2026 21:44

What is with these threads?

babylamb4 · 01/03/2026 21:44

You sound horribly bitter op

cupfinalchaos · 01/03/2026 21:43

ViciousCurrentBun · 01/03/2026 21:14

Dubai is not for me but this is in appalling taste.

Agreed.. op you sound bitter and envious of people trying to improve their lives.

RachelGreep87 · 01/03/2026 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ilovemychocolate · 01/03/2026 21:41

Fucking hell, although I would never dream of moving to Dubai, due to its awful human rights situation, I feel nothing but sympathy for people there right now, indeed everyone in that region.
Fucking Trump and his egomaniacal policies are disgusting, and your post is frankly horrible.

Acafan · 01/03/2026 21:41

I hope everyone affected by the current Iran crisis is safe and those travelling can return home soon. It's a horrible situation and I'm sure very scary for those in Dubai.

But there have been more than a few MN threads with posters saying "the UK's going down the pan, I pay too much tax, what am I paying it for, I'm going to go to Dubai and live like a king paying 0% tax." And I hope those posters stop and think about whose taxes are paying for the FCO support and advice right now.

SouthernNights59 · 01/03/2026 21:41

LizzieSiddal · 01/03/2026 21:37

I have got sympathy for the fact they are in the middle of a war zone. However I don’t think much of their morals as they’ve chosen to live in a country with terrible human rights, which has been built using slave labour.

Edited

If you are a Brit I don't think you've got too much to be so smug about.