Page 13 | I live in Dubai, ask me anything

britindubai · 2026-10-20T05:34:06+00:00

Ask away, I’ll give you my honest thoughts and opinions

Tablesandchairs23 · 20/10/2026 11:29

britindubai · 20/10/2026 09:30

Hopefully not

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OP doesn't have an issue about LGBTQ community in the UAE. As she is coming across as homophobic.

allthingsinmoderation · 20/10/2026 11:30

Are there any negatives?

Annonymiss123 · 20/10/2026 11:32

britindubai · 20/10/2026 09:30

Hopefully not

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You sound delightful.

toiletpaperthief · 20/10/2026 11:37

Dollymylove · 20/10/2026 11:28

There are freeloaders aplenty who use NHS facilities while having no rights to them.
Then clear off without paying the bill.
Their passports should be held until they cough up

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But that happens in US hospitals too (where there's no public health), people leaving and not paying their hospital bill after being taken care, but you're right, maybe NHS holding their passport would be a good idea.

EmailsaysOOO · 20/10/2026 11:37

Apologies as havent read the whole thread.

Can I ask what will happen - to your mind- in the next 5 to 6 years in the UK? Can you imagine how will you feel returning here? You will miss getting paid without tax deductions I guess. Will you be wishing you were somewhere else all the time?

Also do you think the single biggest driver for most expats in Dubai is greed?

Wantingachangeoflif3 · 20/10/2026 11:40

iamnotalemon · 20/10/2026 07:06

You’ll have people frothing at the mouth with this thread OP. (I live in Dubai too).

Yes, a lot of anti dubai on mumsnet. Ive never been. My husband lived and studied there two decades ago. I cant really see myself going as ive heard about the wretched treatment towards foreign workers which is rather upsetting and has put me in two minds.

Is it true, its less religious now and more "westernised" I.e beer in cafes and such...

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:42

Wantingachangeoflif3 · 20/10/2026 11:40

Yes, a lot of anti dubai on mumsnet. Ive never been. My husband lived and studied there two decades ago. I cant really see myself going as ive heard about the wretched treatment towards foreign workers which is rather upsetting and has put me in two minds.

Is it true, its less religious now and more "westernised" I.e beer in cafes and such...

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Yes it is westernised

OP posts:

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:43

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:42

Yes it is westernised

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What do you mean by that?

KiwiGolden · 20/10/2026 11:44

I sincerely hope that I am wrong but you come across as homophobic.

Are you?

Starlia · 20/10/2026 11:46

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:42

Yes it is westernised

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But aren’t you trying to escape ‘Westernised’ countries with all the problems you listed earlier?

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:46

EmailsaysOOO · 20/10/2026 11:37

Apologies as havent read the whole thread.

Can I ask what will happen - to your mind- in the next 5 to 6 years in the UK? Can you imagine how will you feel returning here? You will miss getting paid without tax deductions I guess. Will you be wishing you were somewhere else all the time?

Also do you think the single biggest driver for most expats in Dubai is greed?

No worries, I have probably gone a bit sideways with some of my answers as it’s all getting a bit about the same thing!

UK is always going to be home, having been away from the UK and hearing daily from friends and family there, I can see the problems more. Saying that no where is perfect there will always be compromises.

I wouldn’t call it greed no, people want better for themselves and this is one place in the world that offers that opportunity

OP posts:

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:47

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:46

No worries, I have probably gone a bit sideways with some of my answers as it’s all getting a bit about the same thing!

UK is always going to be home, having been away from the UK and hearing daily from friends and family there, I can see the problems more. Saying that no where is perfect there will always be compromises.

I wouldn’t call it greed no, people want better for themselves and this is one place in the world that offers that opportunity

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"hearing daily from friends and family"
Are you not allowed access to balanced, independent news reporting in Dubai?

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:48

Starlia · 20/10/2026 11:46

But aren’t you trying to escape ‘Westernised’ countries with all the problems you listed earlier?

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I think we are talking about different things here.

They are accepting of westernised here such as dress code, alcohol, eating pork etc

Westernised isn’t the problem that is causing decline with some large economic issues in the UK

OP posts:

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:49

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:47

"hearing daily from friends and family"
Are you not allowed access to balanced, independent news reporting in Dubai?

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I reside in the UK during the summer months so do also know first hand, what is your point exactly?

OP posts:

KatyaAdler · 20/10/2026 11:49

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:48

I think we are talking about different things here.

They are accepting of westernised here such as dress code, alcohol, eating pork etc

Westernised isn’t the problem that is causing decline with some large economic issues in the UK

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What, specifically, is causing the problem with the UK in your opinion?

hedgeknight · 20/10/2026 11:49

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:46

No worries, I have probably gone a bit sideways with some of my answers as it’s all getting a bit about the same thing!

UK is always going to be home, having been away from the UK and hearing daily from friends and family there, I can see the problems more. Saying that no where is perfect there will always be compromises.

I wouldn’t call it greed no, people want better for themselves and this is one place in the world that offers that opportunity

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But you don't want people coming to the UK to better themselves?

DorsetKnobBiscuit · 20/10/2026 11:50

britindubai · 20/10/2026 09:03

I feel that there is a huge amount of non working immigration in the UK who are given everything on a plate (via people’s hard earned tax payments) and abuse all of the rules - leading to high crime rates, lack of safety and so on.

The UK is on its knees, no infrastructure to account for the high number of people living there - NHS, jobs, cost of living crisis, housing crisis I could go on, It’s not sustainable.

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It's a shame that all these type of threads seem to be vehicles for this kind of Britain bashing. It would be interesting to know more about other countries without having to grit your teeth for the moment OP posts this kind of stuff.

It would also be really interesting to hear from someone who's been in Dubai etc for longer than a year's honeymoon period. Or who doesn't come back to the UK for a chunk of the year to avoid the reality of the heat in their chosen country.

Edited to add - Another new dimension would be to hear from a woman in Dubai who actually works. They always seem to be SAHMs. The working aspect would interest me, especially from a woman's perspective.

Starlia · 20/10/2026 11:50

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:48

I think we are talking about different things here.

They are accepting of westernised here such as dress code, alcohol, eating pork etc

Westernised isn’t the problem that is causing decline with some large economic issues in the UK

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What do you think is causing the economic decline in the UK?

hedgeknight · 20/10/2026 11:50

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:49

I reside in the UK during the summer months so do also know first hand, what is your point exactly?

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Is the UK safer during the summer months?

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:50

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:49

I reside in the UK during the summer months so do also know first hand, what is your point exactly?

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You don't understand my point? I am questioning that you refer to it as "the British media" (sic). That the UK is "on it's knees" and the NHS is facing imminent collapse.
You don't sound very well informed to me.

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:51

KiwiGolden · 20/10/2026 11:44

I sincerely hope that I am wrong but you come across as homophobic.

Are you?

I wont be able to get this across correctly I guess but I wouldn’t say I’m personally homophobic but equally I have no gay friends. Live and let live

OP posts:

Original poster

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:51

hedgeknight · 20/10/2026 11:50

Is the UK safer during the summer months?

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Quite possibly not but it’s a lot cooler in temperature

OP posts:

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:52

DorsetKnobBiscuit · 20/10/2026 11:50

It's a shame that all these type of threads seem to be vehicles for this kind of Britain bashing. It would be interesting to know more about other countries without having to grit your teeth for the moment OP posts this kind of stuff.

It would also be really interesting to hear from someone who's been in Dubai etc for longer than a year's honeymoon period. Or who doesn't come back to the UK for a chunk of the year to avoid the reality of the heat in their chosen country.

Edited to add - Another new dimension would be to hear from a woman in Dubai who actually works. They always seem to be SAHMs. The working aspect would interest me, especially from a woman's perspective.

Edited

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Very good points. That's what's so frustrating, you don't get a good discussion because it's all about bashing the UK - and certain sectors. Did you read the one on Oman? Virtually identical.

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:53

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:51

Quite possibly not but it’s a lot cooler in temperature

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So you're prepared to put up with it because you're cooler?

RhododendronFlowers · 20/10/2026 11:54

britindubai · 20/10/2026 11:51

I wont be able to get this across correctly I guess but I wouldn’t say I’m personally homophobic but equally I have no gay friends. Live and let live

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You don't have to have gay friends, or even acquaintances, to value equality, safety, inclusion and diversity.