I live in Dubai, ask me anything

Ah yes. All the important things covered.

Yes indeed. Much of this isn't adding up 🤔

You're an immigrant in Dubai.

Expats have to pay, international incomers who are not residents and who aren't covered by reciprocal agreements (e.g. EU GHIC card) have to pay for ambulances and everything. The OP doesn't seem to know this despite having children...

The NHS doesn't always do a good job of recovering the money but it's not free to those people.

I disagree. I think the sense of service held by those in the UK is different from that in the UAE and other countries in the east. . My friend pays her home help approx £1200 per month which for UAE standards is above the going rate. Her travel, food etc is included and she is welcome to stay as a live-in when she wants to. She chooses not to as she lives with friends and enjoys being able to clock off. She has a good social life, dresses nice and gets to experience things she wouldn’t ordinarily. Having told me the stories of previous families she has worked with - she feels like her current salary and conditions are much better than her previous and the opportunities much better than in her home country so I wouldn’t feel guilt if I did employ somebody under similar curcumstances. If this is meant as a dig at the “slave labour” - I would genuinely rather work with a nice family under these circumstances than be on a zero hour contract in the rat race in the UK.

But is that any worse then 'asylum seekers' getting free NHS treatment here? At least OP contributed when she lived here!

You’re a temporary immigrant.

I’m sorry, but that’s absolutely laughable.

There’s been huge staff loses across many retail establishments. Footfall is down everywhere. Multiple hotel closures. Hotels are surviving on cutting deals with locals.

but keep on trying to convince others that you’re living the dream!

You're relying on posters who haven’t visited or don’t know anyone that lives there.

The place is dying posters! Many still live as normal but there’s been huge job losses and the place now has a real negative atmosphere.

It was funny during the recent scare with Iran when all the botoxed insta influencers wanted evacuating and help from the British military.
These people pay nothing towards these services yet when the chips are down expect full UK assistance! Not sure of they'd have left all their handbags and shoes behind or what.

Funny that. I have an NHS dentist, as do the rest of my family. I’ve had two successful total hip replacements on the NHS, and two of my adult children are on lifesaving medication daily.

The streets in our town are clean; our rubbish is collected weekly; if I phone the police to report something, they respond.

Its not perfect, no, but if fewer people dodged tax, it could be better, and if I was ever unable to work through accident or illness, my basic needs would be covered.

Newsflash. You might be at the point of no return within two weeks. Genuinely. The way in which official advice has changed and the tone of change in Middle East regional leaders should be on your radar. You should be proactively be aware of this without reminders from randoms on MN. Just how aware of the escalation are you? Netanyahu explicitly listed UAE as an ally of Israel this week - this marks UAE as different to every other Middle Eastern country. UAE will be targeted as a priority if it kicks off for this reason.

Your key dates are the Israeli Election and the US Midterms. That's 27th Oct and 3rd Nov.

Think about this.

Are you aware of the current UK Foreign Office Advice for UAE? Are you aware of the current US Foreign Advice for UAE? (Both are relevant and important btw even if you aren't American you should keep an eye on this).

This is the US bulletin issued on Sunday for UAE:

Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions. The hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area.

Americans traveling to or from the Middle East should monitor information about airport and airline operations and develop contingency plans in advance.

Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world, including U.S. businesses and other institutions.

The UK advice is as follows:
Since 8 July there have been strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran in a number of locations across the region against US military and civilian infrastructure. There is a risk of more attacks and unforeseen escalation in the region. Before the ceasefire, the Iranian regime had stated its intention to target locations associated with the US and Israel, including organisations, businesses, facilities, and institutions.

British nationals currently in the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions, and should:

1) read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”

2) sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
follow advice from the local authorities

3) monitor local and international media for the latest information, including updates relating to airports and airspace which could close at short notice

4) stay away from areas around security or military facilities

5) keep your departure plans under review, and ensure your travel documents are up to date

6) if advised to take shelter, stay indoors or find the nearest safe building or designated shelter. An interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible may provide additional protection. The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure. Do not approach or touch any drone or missile fragments or unusual objects

So OP you are failing on the keeping up with news from multiple sources in UAE and abroad.
I suspect you haven't read the UK planning for a crisis information, have no additional food and water in the house, don't have a contingency plan for getting out of the airports close, don't have all your documents to hand in case of emergency and aren't taking any of these official warnings remotely seriously

Because life is good and the lifestyle is great and this couldn't possibly happen because it's beyond your comprehension. Despite literally every government leader in the world saying it's almost certainly is going to happen, probably within two weeks.

Live the dream. It is a fantasy for many. It may turn into your nightmare very quickly.

Oh for the love of god. Did you read all the papers and watch all the news channels?
Do you think we don't have a fair and free press/news service in the UK?
Who is telling you all this rubbish?

The British media (certain arms of it) make it look like immigrants are "given everything on a plate" yet you chose to believe that easily enough.

Absolutely 💯

You know next time isn't expected to be quite the same breeze don't you?

Yes, quite a selective take, isn't it?

You're plannng to move back in a few years to the UK with all the cash you've saved from not paying into our system via taxation.
Then you plan to make use of all the things in the UK which have been funded and provided for by the people who HAVE been paying in - the NHS, the schools system, the infrastructure, public amenities and everything else.
It will be there for you because those of us who live here and pay taxes, pay for it.
Surely it's obvious why people find this irritating. It's the same reason people don't like benefits claimants who only take from the system and don't put anything in. You're doing the exact same.
If you planned to say in Dubai for ever and pay your own way there privately, I doubt anyone would have an issue. But it's almost never the case.

Well this is actually more enlightening than I imagined, but not quite in the way he/she probably thought.

Why aren't you an immigrant?

OK, well, don’t lose your job and/or hope your DH doesn’t lose his.

Don’t get into debt or default on utility bills or school fees or private healthcare or a loan — if your debt hits 10,00 dirham, you can be subject to a travel ban, meaning you can’t leave the country via an airport or land border, and you may not know this until you try to get on a flight or go to Oman for the weekend.

Don’t get into a verbal dispute.

Don't skip a queue containing an Emirati.

Don’t be in a car crash where the other driver is Emirati.

Don’t be the victim of a crime, as the police are under so much pressure to keep official crime stats low to preserve the image of a peaceful, crime-free Dubai that they will attempt to persuade you via any means not to report your mugging/rape, including finding an angle from which charges might be brought against you.

If your MH is poor, bear in mind that attempting suicide is a criminal act. Look up Tori Towey.

Should you ever hire domestic staff, bear in mind that you are legally responsible in many cases for any criminal acts or third party damage carried out by someone in your employ.

You are an immigrant.

And not one who is integrating.