Dubai/UAE - where did you think you were?

[WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing]

I’ll preface this by saying I wish the best for anyone out there, working or holidaying. I hope you are and remain safe.

but do people go there with next to no concern for where in the world it’s located? Do they pay no attention to news or the general geopolitical situation, it’s hnot exactly a secret.

are we really that dense that most people don’t look past the bling, the weather, the tax perks, the bloody influencers?

Maybe that's the only way to live there? Ignore the horror as it only affects somebody else?

That's it exactly imo.

People here are constantly told Islam is the religion of peace . So why wouldn’t they go somewhere
‘ safe ‘ .

When tax dodgers become bomb dodgers

I agree.

Potential travellers need not necessary avoid places near war zones, but they must understand that situations such as disruption of the airspace and becoming stranded are more likely to happen.

I feel sorry for everyone who feels unsafe, whether they are tourists, immigrants or native, and hope that the situation across the Middle East can be de-escalated.

And if you are moving to a place to live, this is why it is important to understand the politics of the place - what the interests of your newly adopted country are - who are their allies and enemies. Current affairs are boring to some but it is in your interest to keep up to date.

What a ridiculous thing to say.

Some places where Islam is the dominant religion are perfectly safe, and other places are amongst the most dangerous in the world today.

Thank you so much. We are a bit worried but certainly compared to the people here we are in such a privileged position.

Qatar is in the GCC. Attacked by both Iran and Israel separately last year.

Of course they don’t pay attention… that’s how we ended up with Brexit and also now have a polarised and divided country - because people don’t bother to read beyond the headlines or actually look up the facts.

I despise everything Dubai stands for - the regime that built it, the misogyny, the exploitation of immigrant workers, the worship of wealth, and - very importantly the abuse of gay rights. I do question the motivations for many people living there but we are talking about human beings, many with young families who are stuck there and cowering as a result of decisions their parents made. I think there is still room for compassion for both expats and holiday makers stuck there, along with the UAE nationals and its other residents. None of this is their fault.

The fact that the Kinahans are apparently living in the Middle East really doesn't support their claim to be tough on crime.

I know what you mean @WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing I am gobsmacked at how someone who is planning on MOVING to Dubai didn't know about its close proximity to Iran. Did they think it bordered Spain or something!

Thank you for sharing this.
Perhaps for some people it’s boring because they don’t want to confront the fact that the luxe lifestyle is built on the suffering of others. I think this is especially true as the few people I know who have travelled to Dubai could not afford that level of luxury in a country that isn’t reliant on indentured servitude.

Did that sound witty in your head?

...but can be quite wet 😎

Also not all of them are millionaires
Not all of them live there because of tax

The gloating about tax dodging Instagram types are more visible because they are on social media more.

At least a small silver lining is there's less posts on other threads about politic/tax/COL along the lines of "the UK is doomed and awful. All the wealth creators like me are moving to Dubai because we are sick of subsidising..." Nice to get a break from that.

"At least a small silver lining is there's less posts on other threads about politic/tax/COL along the lines of "the UK is doomed and awful. All the wealth creators like me are moving to Dubai because we are sick of subsidising..." Nice to get a break from that."

I agree. It also limits AMW's choice of bolthole (can't decide whether that's a silver lining or not 🤔)

There was a thread a while ago from a woman considering leaving her son from her first marriage behind with his father when she went to Dubai on holiday with her second husband and her younger children by him. She got pretty much the response you'd expect and her reaction, among other things, was to try to wind her critics up by boasting about how much money she had and how expensive her holidays to Dubai were. (She was considering leaving him behind for cost reasons...)

Anyone who holidays or lives in Dubai is going to be in a total bubble, it's the only way you can even theoretically have a good time (and personally I still hate the place even in that context, so absolutely soulless and horrid). I guess this kind of thing is a result of that necessarily insular and myopic approach. I mean, you would still imagine they'd look it up on a map at some point but I guess it's not hugely surprising if they don't. It's not a place you go to for adventure and wanderlust.

In what way

That's fine then let's ignore all the beaten raped abused women as you were ok

Tbf, plenty of people and systems in the UK ignore beaten, raped and abused women and beyond. Not every tourist or resident even needs to be on a non-stop campaign to end injustices.

With the sophistication of drone warfare, you'd think US could help us out a bit by targeting wanted criminal crime gangs living it up over there as well. Let's get the bang for the buck and keep his war on drugs going like he did in Venezuela. Get the rest of the witnesses from the Epstein files who are hiding out there and witnessed Trump grabbing girls by the P.

Yes but he's been making threats to Iran, which is a place I hope most people would know is not a sensible location for a holiday. Iran has never attacked Dubai before (as far as I can tell). They've never attacked Cyprus before. How could the common holidaymaker have anticipated that?

And much of the western world is highly critical of American religious influenced laws (and likely to be repealed by the next US government) are other Islamic countries similarly critical of Dubais laws (except perhaps in that they are too lax)

I think the holiday makers in Dubai will be absolutely fine.

TBH I am more worried about the British citizens who are being held in Iran. What is happening to them?

War anticipated in ME has been all over the news for months. Anyone with eyes and ears and sense knows that. People who don't understand Trump has consequences should be pandered to?