“You seem like you’d enjoy Dubai” what does this mean?

[clarica]

If a colleague said this to you, what would you think they meant?

Next time someone says something like this and you're unsure if it's an insult or not, or some kind of passive aggressive dig, just politely ask them to explain what they mean. And keep asking until they have talked themselves into a red faced embarrassed corner.

I wouldn't see it as a compliment!

Yes, exemplified by going to Egypt or Morocco.

I suppose it depends on the context. If you had said I’m looking for a holiday with all year good weather and luxury hotels etc etc and they suggested Dubai because they had been there and it met your requirements then probably innocent.

or yes based on a stereotypical of you being materialistic and flashy.

You like shopping/ labels/ sun? It's a pretty manufactured place with little history, and showy.

That said, Oli Oli remains one of the best things I've ever done with the children 😁

I have a dear friend who loves Dubai yet she's not a fake hair/lips person. She thinks it's a great place for a family holiday because of the sun, things work, she likes the food. She's not the type to enjoy camping or museums or hiking. So I don't think it's definitely an insult - if you like a bit of easy luxury then it could suit you. Maybe your colleague just meant it for those reasons.

If someone said that to me, I'd think they'd taken leave of their senses.

Personally, I wouldn't take it as a compliment.

Oooo no lol. This is not normally the insult people think it is.

It can mean you’d like the weather, the theme parks/water parks, mix of culture and be, fine dining or the biggest buffets you’ve ever seen. Something to suit most

I enjoyed Dubai and am not into these so not necessarily

I would take it as an insult - you have a crushed grey sofa, a Stanley cup and a white car you can’t afford🫣

Pretentious

I wouldn't take it as a compliment

I'd wonder if they ever listened to me at all. The subject of where to go on holiday does not come up much, but I think I have made my preferences and choices clear enough.

@Donotgogentle - I feel very sorry for this young lad. But I also think that responsible travellers research the laws of the country they are visiting and act accordingly.

If they go to Dubai then I would think it would mean that they thought you would also enjoy it because they think it's a lovely place to go.

It means they don’t like you.

Dubai has literally none of the things I look forward to on holiday.

I'm much more of a country walks, nice pub lunch, cream teas, paddling about in rock pools, wandering around old castles, steam train rides, perusing random charity shops, looking at wild flowers, collecting pebbles on the beach kind of person.

Do you shop on temu or shein a lot? Similar attitudes to modern slavery I feel.

anyway I’d view it as an insult. You couldn’t pay me to go to Dubai

Egypt and Morocco are not new places built on modern slavery specifically for Western tastes.

Do you really believe that? I think that most of the people who post about going to Dubai aren’t actually very wealthy. The people I know with serious money aren’t interested in going there. It’s the Costa Del Sol for the Insta generation.

Rubbish. I'd love to have lots of money and would happily admit to being envious of some of the expensive, luxury holidays that wealthy people enjoy. Not Dubai though!

It isn't the sort of lifestyle I'd want even if I came into millions tomorrow.

Saying that someone seems like they might be in a demographic which tends to like X does not mean every single person who likes X is like that.

I'm the same. DH has relations who live and work there and are raising two children, but how two intelligent adults close their eyes to it I don't know. I would rather have a wet country walk with the dogs and a pub lunch.