Page 31 | 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

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 07:49

britindubai · 21/10/2026 05:03

Nothing materialist about money, owning property or hanging out with like minded people

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Materialistic means placing a high value on money (over and above other values such as morality) so yes, that word fits perfectly.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 07:50

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 07:49

Materialistic means placing a high value on money (over and above other values such as morality) so yes, that word fits perfectly.

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Ok 👍🏼

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CatkinToadflax · 21/10/2026 08:46

Where were you living in London, OP, that it was normal for children to be snatched off the streets in front of their parents?

If you’re in Dubai to make as much money as you can, why are you not working and why is your UK house left empty? They would presumably be two additional ways of greatly increasing your earnings.

What sorts of things do you do at the weekends? Is it a similar life to UK family time, but in the sunshine? Or very different?

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 09:00

britindubai · 21/10/2026 05:11

Everyone so down trodden who revel in watching others fall “mentality of the British sadly”

Why would me or my family or anyone residing in Dubai make a mistake and be sent to prison? So many people throwing this question out who have never stepped foot in Dubai and have no idea how it functions out here…..similar to many of the bashing accusations asked

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That’s what every single person who doesn’t like the responses they get on a Dubai thread whines. I used to live there, as my questions (which you haven’t answered) clearly show. It’s because I know ‘how it functions’ that I left!

I listed on a previous post a number of ‘mistakes’ that could land you in prison, mostly, but not exclusively, debt-related.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:15

CatkinToadflax · 21/10/2026 08:46

Where were you living in London, OP, that it was normal for children to be snatched off the streets in front of their parents?

If you’re in Dubai to make as much money as you can, why are you not working and why is your UK house left empty? They would presumably be two additional ways of greatly increasing your earnings.

What sorts of things do you do at the weekends? Is it a similar life to UK family time, but in the sunshine? Or very different?

North London, I haven’t said children are snatched off the streets in my area I generalised safety on streets across the UK, bad things happen as there are more bad people around. I keep my children close to me in the UK wherever we are, shopping, in a park, waking down the street etc. In Dubai that isn’t such a worry, children can run ahead a little and have more freedom.

I’m a SAHM I don’t need to work. Our UK home is empty as we live there during the summer.

Weekends we spend time as a family, with friends, in the pool, staycays, taking the children to their sports club matches, shopping, eating out, day trips. Similar to UK life just outdoors more.

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:20

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 09:00

That’s what every single person who doesn’t like the responses they get on a Dubai thread whines. I used to live there, as my questions (which you haven’t answered) clearly show. It’s because I know ‘how it functions’ that I left!

I listed on a previous post a number of ‘mistakes’ that could land you in prison, mostly, but not exclusively, debt-related.

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Ok sure.

I must have missed the question apologies. A lot of worry about mistakes we might make here, as opposed to making mistakes anywhere in the world and landing in prison? I don’t understand, is it assumed we are non law abiding? It’s not difficult to follow rules.

and debt related? Who’s in debt?

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Notonthestairs · 21/10/2026 09:27

I'd question whether there are more "bad people" in north London than in Dubai.

Authoritarian regimes just tend to hide it better - see also lack of free press and free speech.

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:34

britindubai · 21/10/2026 05:07

Through networking and friends

No car accidents

the ‘internet’ is watching everyone everywhere

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The reality of this is that you rarely meet Emiratis - you may encounter some in Gov offices and occasionally in private companies . Yes you will encounter them as police. Few Emiratis mix with ex pats and your account of your weekends doesn't lead to that.

As regards the internet there is censorship and there are key words or phrases which bring your activity to attention in Dubai.

I wish you well in your time there but don't be blind to the reality.

Maybe I missed it - is this your first posting abroad?

sittingonabeach · 21/10/2026 09:34

Notonthestairs · 21/10/2026 09:27

I'd question whether there are more "bad people" in north London than in Dubai.

Authoritarian regimes just tend to hide it better - see also lack of free press and free speech.

Can be different sorts of ‘bad people’

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:41

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:20

Ok sure.

I must have missed the question apologies. A lot of worry about mistakes we might make here, as opposed to making mistakes anywhere in the world and landing in prison? I don’t understand, is it assumed we are non law abiding? It’s not difficult to follow rules.

and debt related? Who’s in debt?

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Let me give you an example. My husband one night parked his car in front of the wrong villa. The people called the police who turned up, arrested my husband and breathalysed him. Luckily he had not had anything to drink. It was very unpleasant.

Here's another - I was sitting stationary in a queue of traffic. A lorry came along and scraped the entire side of my car and I got the pink ticket for fault. You have to bring up your children to be aware that they cannot rise to the baiting they will be given by local children as they will always be at fault if it escalates.

Don't be fooled by the "mam/sir" culture - you are viewed as a rich Westerner ripe for using.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:43

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:34

The reality of this is that you rarely meet Emiratis - you may encounter some in Gov offices and occasionally in private companies . Yes you will encounter them as police. Few Emiratis mix with ex pats and your account of your weekends doesn't lead to that.

As regards the internet there is censorship and there are key words or phrases which bring your activity to attention in Dubai.

I wish you well in your time there but don't be blind to the reality.

Maybe I missed it - is this your first posting abroad?

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I summarised weekends as spend time with friends - this includes Emiratis.

Yes there is censorship, I don’t mention any keywords or phrases that would draw any attention.

And thanks, this is our second time living outside of the UK

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mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:48

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:43

I summarised weekends as spend time with friends - this includes Emiratis.

Yes there is censorship, I don’t mention any keywords or phrases that would draw any attention.

And thanks, this is our second time living outside of the UK

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You already have in this thread.
Where was your previous?

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:49

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:41

Let me give you an example. My husband one night parked his car in front of the wrong villa. The people called the police who turned up, arrested my husband and breathalysed him. Luckily he had not had anything to drink. It was very unpleasant.

Here's another - I was sitting stationary in a queue of traffic. A lorry came along and scraped the entire side of my car and I got the pink ticket for fault. You have to bring up your children to be aware that they cannot rise to the baiting they will be given by local children as they will always be at fault if it escalates.

Don't be fooled by the "mam/sir" culture - you are viewed as a rich Westerner ripe for using.

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Parking in front of the wrong villa, how does this happen and who are these ‘people’ calling the police. Luckily he wasn’t drinking? - I should hope not there is zero tolerance to drink driving….knowing how it functions out here you should have known this.

That is unfortunate re your car and the lorry though, have not heard of that outcome before though in similar incidents that have happened to others here.

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Nuthatchtreelover · 21/10/2026 09:49

britindubai · 21/10/2026 05:00

No different to any other countries that have created cities in deserts

Edited

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So basically you don’t care because it’s happening elsewhere? - ok fine, that’s on you; eventually everyone will have to care. (Unfortunately that will be my kids as well as yours).
To me it seems the scale of landscape destruction and disregard for the planet is something else in Dubai. Though I agree it happens elsewhere too but we’re trying to ask you about Dubai. You haven’t answered my question.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:52

Nuthatchtreelover · 21/10/2026 09:49

So basically you don’t care because it’s happening elsewhere? - ok fine, that’s on you; eventually everyone will have to care. (Unfortunately that will be my kids as well as yours).
To me it seems the scale of landscape destruction and disregard for the planet is something else in Dubai. Though I agree it happens elsewhere too but we’re trying to ask you about Dubai. You haven’t answered my question.

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In the UK most homes have turned their front gardens (drainage and nature) into car parks with several cars per family

ignorance prevails everywhere.

i did answer your question

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sittingonabeach · 21/10/2026 09:53

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:43

I summarised weekends as spend time with friends - this includes Emiratis.

Yes there is censorship, I don’t mention any keywords or phrases that would draw any attention.

And thanks, this is our second time living outside of the UK

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Do you think censorship is fine?

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:55

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 09:48

You already have in this thread.
Where was your previous?

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Sweden

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:57

sittingonabeach · 21/10/2026 09:53

Do you think censorship is fine?

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Perhaps regulation of media is not such a bad thing

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Nuthatchtreelover · 21/10/2026 09:58

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:52

In the UK most homes have turned their front gardens (drainage and nature) into car parks with several cars per family

ignorance prevails everywhere.

i did answer your question

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you’re still just prevaricating and pointing fingers to other countries. I can say I definitely don’t agree with UK turning gardens into car parks. What’s you view on Dubai?

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 09:58

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:20

Ok sure.

I must have missed the question apologies. A lot of worry about mistakes we might make here, as opposed to making mistakes anywhere in the world and landing in prison? I don’t understand, is it assumed we are non law abiding? It’s not difficult to follow rules.

and debt related? Who’s in debt?

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Sigh. A bounced or cancelled cheque, if the creditor claims there was an intent to defraud, or not paying a creditor you don’t think you owe money to (say because the service provided was inadequate), can land you with a prison sentence and/or a travel ban. It used to be much more stringent. I knew someone (from Birmingham!) who spent time in prison after moving their child to a different school in Abu Dhabi. They thought they’d given the requisite notice not to owe a term’s fees in lieu, but the school thought otherwise, and when the funds weren’t there, filed a formal complaint. In those days a cheque bouncing was automatically a criminal matter.

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 09:59

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:57

Perhaps regulation of media is not such a bad thing

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Do feel free to unpick that.

hedgeknight · 21/10/2026 09:59

britindubai · 21/10/2026 09:57

Perhaps regulation of media is not such a bad thing

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What about censorship?

That was the question.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 10:00

Nuthatchtreelover · 21/10/2026 09:58

you’re still just prevaricating and pointing fingers to other countries. I can say I definitely don’t agree with UK turning gardens into car parks. What’s you view on Dubai?

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Ok, I don’t see anything wrong with what Dubai are doing

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 10:00

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 09:59

Do feel free to unpick that.

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Oh?

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 10:02

hedgeknight · 21/10/2026 09:59

What about censorship?

That was the question.

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As I said regulating what people can consume or what nonsense people can share across media channels perhaps isn’t such a bad thing

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