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Original poster

I live in Dubai, ask me anything

1000 replies

britindubai · 20/10/2026 06:34

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

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Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:37

sittingonabeach · 21/10/2026 13:34

Why did you say this?

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a short sharp response for something I didn’t want to go into around all the “oh but they can’t be gay they will be put in prison” etc trail of responses that would follow

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Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:38

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 13:37

Is that all you have to say?

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Yes I’m not here to change views on religion

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OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 13:42

hedgeknight · 21/10/2026 13:26

It wasn't just the UK covering what was happening with the drone attacks.

I seem to remember some influencers getting in trouble for posting stuff? Can't remember the details though, I'll have to have a look.

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 13:43

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:38

Yes I’m not here to change views on religion

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Funny, you were happy to say (in quite strong terms) why on earth would they support something that goes against their religion?
But you can't/won't engage with any questions/discussion about it.
And I'm not sure people are expecting you to to change views on religion; my post at least was about how religion and state can (and maybe should) be separated.
But you're not able or willing to engage with that particular question either.
I started this thread interested and open-minded about hearing the POV of someone living in a country I know little about and which I am aware has in some ways a bad image.
I feel a bit disappointed.

Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:46

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 13:43

Funny, you were happy to say (in quite strong terms) why on earth would they support something that goes against their religion?
But you can't/won't engage with any questions/discussion about it.
And I'm not sure people are expecting you to to change views on religion; my post at least was about how religion and state can (and maybe should) be separated.
But you're not able or willing to engage with that particular question either.
I started this thread interested and open-minded about hearing the POV of someone living in a country I know little about and which I am aware has in some ways a bad image.
I feel a bit disappointed.

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I felt you were asking me if it should be that all religions can live neutrally here?

edited as I answered that incorrectly. 90% of the population is made up of expats and non Muslim communities have freedom to worship as long as their is no conflict with Islamic traditions

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Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:47

OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 13:44

Like this

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/12/british-tourist-among-20-charged-in-dubai-over-videos-of-iranian-missile-strikes

Must be true if The Guardian published it

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leavesinthebreeze · 21/10/2026 13:50

Puppylucky · 21/10/2026 11:53

I was a working woman in Dubai so can give you some insight @DorsetKnobBiscuit. It's quite tough out there . The working day is long and commutes are nightmarish. It looks like they have instituted WFH days on a Friday, but this has been forced on companies by the government trying to move the working week from Sunday - Thursday to the western model of Mon-Fri, without upsetting too many people, as Friday is the Muslim holy day.
The work culture is very Westernised, and women can and do work in senior positions. Work dress does need to be relatively modest but not extreme. Despite this, you will meet and work with people from different parts of the world, who are less familiar with and respectful of senior women, but you just have to grin and bear it.
Although Dubai is safe, I noticed a marked uptick in rude and aggressive behaviour towards me from taxi drivers and some retail / hospitality staff if I was on my own. A lot of the famed Dubai customer service is a veneer hiding a degree of anti western feeling.
Hope that's of interest!

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Would love you to do an AMA if you can openly discuss the good and bad without fear of censorship

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 13:51

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:46

I felt you were asking me if it should be that all religions can live neutrally here?

edited as I answered that incorrectly. 90% of the population is made up of expats and non Muslim communities have freedom to worship as long as their is no conflict with Islamic traditions

Edited
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Why?

Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:55

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 13:51

Why?

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I edited my response

OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 21/10/2026 13:56

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:34

But it was the UK that spread misinformation around it all as that’s what they do

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Please link to an article which spread misinformation.

AlwaysExtraHot · 21/10/2026 14:00

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:55

I edited my response

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as long as their is no conflict with Islamic traditions
So being gay. And maybe cohabiting without being married?

Although in fact, of course, there's no such thing as one set of 'correct' Islamic traditions. Some imams will perform same-sex unions, and some Muslims believe in separation between personal identity and tradition.

Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 14:01

Notonthestairs · 21/10/2026 13:56

Please link to an article which spread misinformation.

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This probably summarises a lot of it

Widely shared deepfakes, tracked by organisations like BBC and The Guardian , falsely showed the Burj Khalifa engulfed in flames or exaggerated missile impacts.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg8wvz427vo

An image appearing to show a large explosion with a green "AI-generated" label

AI-generated Iran war videos surge as creators use new tech to cash in

The US-Israel war with Iran is being monetised by online creators with AI-generated misinformation.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg8wvz427vo

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Notonthestairs · 21/10/2026 14:09

britindubai · 21/10/2026 14:01

This probably summarises a lot of it

Widely shared deepfakes, tracked by organisations like BBC and The Guardian , falsely showed the Burj Khalifa engulfed in flames or exaggerated missile impacts.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg8wvz427vo

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So AI content spawned where and by whom?

Nothing to suggest it was created in the UK by UK citizens.
It was however tracked by the free press in the UK.

Yetanotherone12 · 21/10/2026 14:11

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:27

I am not aware of this group, I will take a look

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Again, did you not do basic research on the country before you moved?

to not be aware of this group is staggering, they were also involved with the Marcus Farkana case.

you claim that nothing could happen to you as you won’t make any mistakes/do anything wrong, but aren’t aware there are many cases where people haven’t, but still managed to end up in Dubai prison?

I mean the woman who was severely injured at work then dared ask for her owed pay? Reported by her employer and imprisoned. How do you know something that simple won’t happen to you?

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 14:17

Everyone, there’s absolutely no evidence on this thread that the OP lives in Dubai. She’s said nothing that couldn’t have been said by someone fantasising about tax-free riches from a seni-d in Chingford. I struggle to believed that even the most deluded denizen of Arabian Ranches is this under-informed .

toiletpaperthief · 21/10/2026 14:23

leavesinthebreeze · 21/10/2026 13:50

Would love you to do an AMA if you can openly discuss the good and bad without fear of censorship

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As a tax paying professional in London and someone who doesn't have "a man as a plan" I would be much more interested in hearing a more realistic depiction of life in Dubai, salaries, culture clash, things to be aware, safety, laws, treatment of women in personal and professional enviroments etc... also if you get some sort of pension after all those years working in dubai? or is it transferable to your UK pension? are you paying NIC's to HMRC as to not mess your UK pension?

Real life working people stuff, someone lying by the pool all day reading the Daily news inside a wealthy people gated community being handed a credit card by her husband is not what I call a very "realistic" depiction of Dubai. I understand it may appeal to a small niche of western wealthy housewives living the same lifestyle but unfortunately not to me.

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 14:24

Yetanotherone12 · 21/10/2026 14:11

Again, did you not do basic research on the country before you moved?

to not be aware of this group is staggering, they were also involved with the Marcus Farkana case.

you claim that nothing could happen to you as you won’t make any mistakes/do anything wrong, but aren’t aware there are many cases where people haven’t, but still managed to end up in Dubai prison?

I mean the woman who was severely injured at work then dared ask for her owed pay? Reported by her employer and imprisoned. How do you know something that simple won’t happen to you?

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And that’s another place where a heavily censored , state-owned press is not in your favour. There were endless rumours, some with origins I considered credible, when we lived in Dubai, about horrific accidents happening during the construction of the Burj Khalifa, but the official death toll is a frankly incredible one. It’s very likely the actual casualty list is far higher, especially given the many hundreds of construction deaths in Dubai during the boom. But the UAE press’s job is just to print the press releases.

RedToothBrush · 21/10/2026 14:43

britindubai · 21/10/2026 13:24

Lots of goading around our choice to live here.

And going back to UK press coverage on it, social media and so
on the very many click bait stories of those revelling in the downfall and suffering of those who chose to move to Dubai = the mentality of many people in the UK who do not like seeing others succeed!

A few did passive aggressively show some concern

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Is the annual speech to the nation by the Emir of Qatar equivalent to the Kings Speech for the Opening of Parliament in the UK, classified as 'Clickbait'?

I'm curious as to why you make this distinction and what your level in media training is.

RedToothBrush · 21/10/2026 14:48

Comments that were broadcast and repeated by Al Jareeza which is well respected and is based in Qatar too I might add too.

What part of the what the Emirs comments about preparing for the worst and that war was coming to the entire region, do you think are problematic or AI created or bullshit by the western media to stir the pot?

I'm curious as to just why you are pretending this isn't significant, highly unusual and potentially damaging to the Emir and Qatar if it's not true.

The ONLY reason he would say it, is if he really really thought a major crisis was on the cards.

Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 14:55

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 14:17

Everyone, there’s absolutely no evidence on this thread that the OP lives in Dubai. She’s said nothing that couldn’t have been said by someone fantasising about tax-free riches from a seni-d in Chingford. I struggle to believed that even the most deluded denizen of Arabian Ranches is this under-informed .

I don’t think I would be able to hear the call to prayer (Maghrib) right now from Chingford!

and I live on Arabian Ranches 😅

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Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 14:57

RedToothBrush · 21/10/2026 14:48

Comments that were broadcast and repeated by Al Jareeza which is well respected and is based in Qatar too I might add too.

What part of the what the Emirs comments about preparing for the worst and that war was coming to the entire region, do you think are problematic or AI created or bullshit by the western media to stir the pot?

I'm curious as to just why you are pretending this isn't significant, highly unusual and potentially damaging to the Emir and Qatar if it's not true.

The ONLY reason he would say it, is if he really really thought a major crisis was on the cards.

Oh I am referring to when it all started on the 28 Feb and the media and misinformation around that time

OP posts:
Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 14:59

RedToothBrush · 21/10/2026 14:43

Is the annual speech to the nation by the Emir of Qatar equivalent to the Kings Speech for the Opening of Parliament in the UK, classified as 'Clickbait'?

I'm curious as to why you make this distinction and what your level in media training is.

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You appear to be very concerned about this? Which is fair as it affects the UK along with the rest of the world

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Original poster
britindubai · 21/10/2026 15:00

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 14:24

And that’s another place where a heavily censored , state-owned press is not in your favour. There were endless rumours, some with origins I considered credible, when we lived in Dubai, about horrific accidents happening during the construction of the Burj Khalifa, but the official death toll is a frankly incredible one. It’s very likely the actual casualty list is far higher, especially given the many hundreds of construction deaths in Dubai during the boom. But the UAE press’s job is just to print the press releases.

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I do need to look all of this information up

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