I live in Dubai, ask me anything

She probably runs to the NHS when a major health scare happens, and all paid by you and I @Missey85 . The worst bit is these people get to critizice their government while not contributing a dime.

I don’t think that was the media, I think it was social media and all the influencers being thrilled they could make out something exciting was happening in their vapid, whitewashed lives. The impression I got from the actual media was that a couple of drones fell on it

Why would you do that if the uk is as terrible as you say and Dubai so wonderful?

Why move back if Dubai is so much better?

I'm confused by this thread. I have a friend who has lived in Dubai a long time and what's being discussed here is not what she's told me, and she likes it there and has made a good life for herself. First, you cannot post truthful factual information about the security situation online and only a very foolish person would do that. Second, there has been evidence of warfare over Dubai, including drones being intercepted above their heads, and the airport has been hit for starters. Third, it's not business as usual, as a lot of construction has stopped, the housing market is struggling and this is impacting the local economy.

It's weird how you live in Dubai and don't know any of these things. I've also never met anyone in Dubai who doesn't have a housekeeper or at least a cleaner, live in or live out! You could be the first.

Ah well. It's good for bling and tax free pay but scratch beneath the glitzy surface and it is a bit shit afterall.

Absolutely. the government maintains strict regulation over sm (it’s a criminal offence to put out material that contravenes official government statements or ‘harms’ the national economy), while it has actively recruited influencers on special visas with specific inducements to put out aspirational images of peaceful luxury, to essentially be Dubai’s stealth marketing arm.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/31/dubai-influencers-expats-denial-middle-east-crisis

With a heavily censored media, and a generally apolitical native population whose acquiescence has been bought, massively outnumbered by powerless cheap overseas labour and an expat population heavily invested in not thinking too hard about how geographically close Gaza or Iran is, or what a flashpoint the Strait of Hormuz is, or about human rights, that’s why you’ll never get a straight, well-informed answer from one of these Dubai AMAs.

The kind of person who would ask those questions won’t be living there in the first place, apart from anything else.

Please could I ask, i understand that you are a v high earner but is it the case that the cost of living is a lot higher? Eg. I earn £75k here if I was in a similar job over there would I really be able to save a lot because of the high costs?

Thank you 🙏🏼

How old are they? "Thrived" in what way?

Lol! If you think the British Government give a shit about getting British citizens out of war zones I've got a bridge to sell you.

So, by that, can I assume you mean all media other than government-controlled/censored media? Because you do understand that many of us have access to multiple media outlets from different countries due to that, you know, internet thingy?

Don't you think there's any possibility that you might be the one lacking knowledge because your personal silo wasn't affected and you live in a country with state censored information?

I don’t know where to start. You are an immigrant in Dubai. You do this to avoid paying tax in the uk. You crit the uk for being on its knees economically and for immigration problems.

I suppose this is the ugly side of capitalism. I’m all right jack. I’m making money as an immigrant. The system works for me since I have certain skills that mean I’ve floated to the top. Fuck off everyone else. And ps don’t suggest you work harder than others. It’s doubtful.

The OP's homophobia shown on this thread I find quite disgusting.

Signed: A gay woman.

No. Because that would be critical of the UAE government position and could be considered a risk to national security.

If the OP openly opposed slavery, in theory that could be viewed as a threat to the UAE authorities. If the OP said anything negative about working conditions, this could be viewed as a threat. It might be viewed as inciting views against the authorities.

The whole point is that you cant question the law or the image of the UAE in UAE. You can't have an opinion that opposes policy publicly because you may undermine and destabilise that policy or position. Or more importantly, be perceived to be doing so (even if that wasn't your intention) - for which you might be arrested.

You can't actively criticise or protest a law, because there isn't free speech. We don't comprehend this in the UK because we take it for granted that we can.

This thread is a farce, because for all the OP saying they are honest, if they are in the UAE they aren't free to be honest so whatever they say can't be trusted as honest! We need to be fully aware of this. They may well be honest think that but they may not and there may be a very good reason for them to be dishonest (including potentially saying 'yay slavery, whilst actually being opposed to it).

We know they are at risk of arrest if they say anything other than the shiny polished positive image of UAE or are critical of UAE in anyway though.

And that's why this thread is ridiculous because no matter what we ask, this point is behind everything the OP may say.

One of my close relatives has lived there for 19 years and I've visited 6 times, there are plenty of gay people living there, living together and just being discreet in public - it's a bit like the UK perhaps 20yrs ago..let's not forget that the Armed Forces policy changed less than 20 years ago on being 'allowed' to be publicly gay. Don't ask don't tell pretty much sums it up out there from what I've seen, some are being a bit sanctimonious considering the very recent history of this country! Yes ideally it will go further with personal freedoms, it seems to be going in the right direction. I wouldn't want to live there myself, but it can be a very fun place to visit, not somewhere to live if you're in poverty though!

Sometimes you think "things are much better", then prejudices get exposed 🌸

Do you have a mortgage in Dubai?