Page 39 | 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

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 17:41

mateysmum · 21/10/2026 16:35

Yep. He is buried in the garden and I can see his grave from where I sit.

Back on topic though. Many posters here think everyone in Dubai is a vapid influencer or a lazy tax dodger. Actually the people I knew were just normal people taking advantage of a new culture and having an adventure.

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There were many though who got sucked up by the swagger and wealth of the place - taking out loans for expensive cars etc , spending beyond their means. I remember all the cars being abandoned at the airport in 2008 with people trying to flee their debts. I know people who spent it all and didn't return with good savings. You have to be sensible. Today the good old packages of Villa, school, car, utilities , maid etc are mostly long gone. Even the oil industry employees were hit badly. There are taxes - they are just called fees and they seem to gather in number and amount.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 17:50

mateysmum · 21/10/2026 17:30

Yes. I think we hit a golden era. Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Mall just opened, everything shiny and new and traffic bearable. We lived near Safa Park and it took 11 mins to get to the airport!! Everyone I knew shopped at ParknShop and Spinneys on the Al Wasl Then we moved to the Ranches when that was new. Happy days.

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You certainly did live the dream, I hear from many they were the best times. Dubai Hills Mall is my regular go to as it’s an easy quick drive from Ranches, I’m yet to get around a fraction of Dubai Mall, I always seem to end up at the Aquarium or Chinatown! The airport is about 30 mins from us. I love Spinneys and often use Noon and Talabat for last minute deliveries/takeaway, and the convenience of running out of milk and it can be on your doorstep in 15 mins 🙌🏼

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 17:53

Gloriia · 21/10/2026 17:40

Op you're living a tax dodging fake life in Dubai. Yes I understand it is very tempting, I did it myself when young and ill informed but I regret it.

Things is you sound so very proud of yourself, why?

If I were you I'd do some studying so when you return to the UK you could at least be employable if your situation changes and you need to work. A career is a good thing for a bit of independence financially and of course for one's confidence and esteem.

So yes enjoy the sun and handbags for now, but it all a very superficial existence, just focus on trying to instil some decent ethics and values into your kids so they don't grow up thinking tax dodging is anything to be proud of.

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Ooh here’s another one 🙄😂

please refer to my comment saying it one more time for the people at the back!!

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gudetamathelazyegg · 21/10/2026 17:54

damn this was a fascinating read. Just like, no empathy, humbleness, or thought beyond money going on here. Stark.

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 17:58

britindubai · 21/10/2026 17:39

The same can be said about all the Dubai bashing around how morally wrong it is to live here, how we are tax dodgers, how we are ‘that type’ how we are going to make a mistake and get put in prison, how my children are going to end up gay in a Muslim country, how my husband is going to have an affair and take the children….these are not genuine questions - these are spiteful comments fuelled by…. let’s play safe and call it hatred.

I’ll say it one more time for the people at the back, this is the mentality of the British who hate nothing more than people who have ambition and want more from life. They despise success so it makes them feel big and better to be spiteful.

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But you don’t have any ambition. You don’t even have a job.

BIossomtoes · 21/10/2026 18:01

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 17:58

But you don’t have any ambition. You don’t even have a job.

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Quite. Riding on your bloke’s coat tails isn’t success.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:03

WinterAfternoons · 21/10/2026 17:58

But you don’t have any ambition. You don’t even have a job.

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But I did have a job pre children

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Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:05

BIossomtoes · 21/10/2026 18:01

Quite. Riding on your bloke’s coat tails isn’t success.

Edited

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Oh dear!

I had a career pre children and we have created what we have together

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OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 18:06

@mateysmum actually makes a fascinating insight, and wish she'd have done the AMA instead.
It seems more honest an account.
Not the Op's "I'm considerably richer than YOW" (think Harry Enfield lol) tone and just a chance to slag off the UK.
Not really an AMA at all

Gloriia · 21/10/2026 18:07

'I’ll say it one more time for the people at the back, this is the mentality of the British who hate nothing more than people who have ambition and want more from life. They despise success so it makes them feel big and better to be spiteful'

Most of us probably feel sorry for you tbh. You seem to think tax free cash is the be all and the end all. It isn't.

Your ambition seems to be not to pay tax and to live in an awful place ethics and women's rights wise (again I've been there I know it's all glitzy but shady too).

Do your 5yrs but have a long term plan that involves some kind of personal or professional development too. Good luck!

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:08

gudetamathelazyegg · 21/10/2026 17:54

damn this was a fascinating read. Just like, no empathy, humbleness, or thought beyond money going on here. Stark.

🙄

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LeastOfMyWorries · 21/10/2026 18:10

Erm, I am no fan of Dubai and wouldn’t do as the OP has done, but the replies on this thread “riding on her husbands coattails” “devoid of ambition” and that she isn’t allowed to describe herself as successful are absolutely disgusting.

as a couple they are worth millions with homes in multiple countries with children and a life they are happy living- her husband would almost undoubtedly not be in the successful position he is without the support of his wife and there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with being a SAHM! Whether that’s in Durham or Dubai.

I work part time due to caring responsibilities and any suggestion that I am riding on my husbands coattails would be rightly given short shrift in this household. (Not that we are worth millions but hey).

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:10

OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 18:06

@mateysmum actually makes a fascinating insight, and wish she'd have done the AMA instead.
It seems more honest an account.
Not the Op's "I'm considerably richer than YOW" (think Harry Enfield lol) tone and just a chance to slag off the UK.
Not really an AMA at all

😂 ok

OP posts:

Mamammmia · 21/10/2026 18:11

mysoddenbananabread · 21/10/2026 17:41

There were many though who got sucked up by the swagger and wealth of the place - taking out loans for expensive cars etc , spending beyond their means. I remember all the cars being abandoned at the airport in 2008 with people trying to flee their debts. I know people who spent it all and didn't return with good savings. You have to be sensible. Today the good old packages of Villa, school, car, utilities , maid etc are mostly long gone. Even the oil industry employees were hit badly. There are taxes - they are just called fees and they seem to gather in number and amount.

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I always said there there are no taxes, but there is always a knowledge fee😂

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 18:12

britindubai · 21/10/2026 17:39

The same can be said about all the Dubai bashing around how morally wrong it is to live here, how we are tax dodgers, how we are ‘that type’ how we are going to make a mistake and get put in prison, how my children are going to end up gay in a Muslim country, how my husband is going to have an affair and take the children….these are not genuine questions - these are spiteful comments fuelled by…. let’s play safe and call it hatred.

I’ll say it one more time for the people at the back, this is the mentality of the British who hate nothing more than people who have ambition and want more from life. They despise success so it makes them feel big and better to be spiteful.

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My questions about your apparent homophobia were not spiteful or fuelled by hatred. They were fuelled by the fact that I’m the mother of a gay child. It’s really not that unusual to have a gay child. Obviously I hope none of yours will be, partly because their parents may not be accepting of then, and of course because they live in a country where their innate sexuality is illegal.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:13

LeastOfMyWorries · 21/10/2026 18:10

Erm, I am no fan of Dubai and wouldn’t do as the OP has done, but the replies on this thread “riding on her husbands coattails” “devoid of ambition” and that she isn’t allowed to describe herself as successful are absolutely disgusting.

as a couple they are worth millions with homes in multiple countries with children and a life they are happy living- her husband would almost undoubtedly not be in the successful position he is without the support of his wife and there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with being a SAHM! Whether that’s in Durham or Dubai.

I work part time due to caring responsibilities and any suggestion that I am riding on my husbands coattails would be rightly given short shrift in this household. (Not that we are worth millions but hey).

Thank you for this, more people like you please who champion others 🙌🏼

OP posts:

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 18:16

My overall feeling about the thread is…

Gloriia · 21/10/2026 18:16

LeastOfMyWorries · 21/10/2026 18:10

Erm, I am no fan of Dubai and wouldn’t do as the OP has done, but the replies on this thread “riding on her husbands coattails” “devoid of ambition” and that she isn’t allowed to describe herself as successful are absolutely disgusting.

as a couple they are worth millions with homes in multiple countries with children and a life they are happy living- her husband would almost undoubtedly not be in the successful position he is without the support of his wife and there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with being a SAHM! Whether that’s in Durham or Dubai.

I work part time due to caring responsibilities and any suggestion that I am riding on my husbands coattails would be rightly given short shrift in this household. (Not that we are worth millions but hey).

Did you miss comments like this from the op??

'I’ll say it one more time for the people at the back, this is the mentality of the British who hate nothing more than people who have ambition and want more from life. They despise success so it makes them feel big and better to be spiteful'

They have dished it out in bucketfuls so I think some reality in return is acceptable.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:16

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 18:12

My questions about your apparent homophobia were not spiteful or fuelled by hatred. They were fuelled by the fact that I’m the mother of a gay child. It’s really not that unusual to have a gay child. Obviously I hope none of yours will be, partly because their parents may not be accepting of then, and of course because they live in a country where their innate sexuality is illegal.

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Thankyou your comment may not have been but many of them have been

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OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 18:19

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:13

Thank you for this, more people like you please who champion others 🙌🏼

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That's a bit rich, though , when all through the thread you've been "you just hate me 'cos you ain't me" and accusing everyone of being jealous. Oh, and that we'd cry at your bank balance. 🙄

Waitingfordoggo · 21/10/2026 18:19

Well, homophobia does tend to make people a bit cross, understandably.

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:20

Gloriia · 21/10/2026 18:16

Did you miss comments like this from the op??

'I’ll say it one more time for the people at the back, this is the mentality of the British who hate nothing more than people who have ambition and want more from life. They despise success so it makes them feel big and better to be spiteful'

They have dished it out in bucketfuls so I think some reality in return is acceptable.

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You missed half of my response that you quoted off and quite clearly haven’t read this thread in its entirety

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Puppylucky · 21/10/2026 18:21

sittingonabeach · 21/10/2026 12:19

Are you able to speak more openly about it as you are no longer there?

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Yes happy to!

Original poster

britindubai · 21/10/2026 18:21

OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 18:19

That's a bit rich, though , when all through the thread you've been "you just hate me 'cos you ain't me" and accusing everyone of being jealous. Oh, and that we'd cry at your bank balance. 🙄

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Please read through it all again

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Gloriia · 21/10/2026 18:22

OhTheCowsInTheMeadowGoMoo · 21/10/2026 18:19

That's a bit rich, though , when all through the thread you've been "you just hate me 'cos you ain't me" and accusing everyone of being jealous. Oh, and that we'd cry at your bank balance. 🙄

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Yes self awareness as absent as any tax payments