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?

Exactly, who's crying tears for people being mean about Dubai??? The country aiming to be a playground for the rich, all built on slave labour? The country about which there is widespread casual slang relating to the sexual abuse of poorer foreign women? Anyone who's offended needs to have a long think.

I went via Dubai when I went to Thailand and also Uganda. Sure I wasn’t being “forced” to holiday in Thailand (Uganda was work) but have to say I didn’t really take much notice of where the plane changes were. Never left the airport on any occasion. So certainly wasn’t going to be researching the ethics of the country which an airport was in that I was going to land at for 2 hours and take off again. I was more focused on flight price and reputation of airline.

@scottishgirl69 - (genuinely) good for you. That is impressive.

However, for the many people pointing the finger at how poorly treated people in the ME are, there are <insert common saying> various fingers pointing back at themselves

Yes, very safe for wealthy western female tourists and expats. The only ones that matter.
Everyone, can we stop considering the rest of them please. It’s really boring!

Isnt it utterly shameful.

I have friends who holiday in Dubai. They sing its praises endlessly. Personally I simply couldn't fathom ever going as practising my religion is a criminal offence there.

I feel much more sorry for people who have nowhere to sleep in the UK tonight and who don't know what their next meal may be.

Maybe I'm not cut out for this thread. Luckily this is MN, so I won't let that stop me.

Where people choose to work/holiday is not my business - I nursed for six months in Saudi Arabia about 15 years ago.

But you really do need to know where and what you are going - it was no shock to me when filling in the landing card on the flight to Riyadh to see the statement 'If you smuggle drugs into Saudi Arabia you will be executed'.

Haven’t RTFT but finding the smugness of people unbearable. Know exactly where the UAE is but balanced the risk of possible conflict and recent history with wishing for some sun for my family after surviving toddler starting nursery and ending up hospitalised and every illness under the sun, return to work in a stressful job, miscarriage and the miserable British winter. Add on a direct flight of 7 hours, somewhere with guaranteed sun and so child friendly and the first week of our holiday was paradise.
really sad at the situation we are now in and just hoping we can get home soon, but seeing such a sad side to humanity revelling in other people’s anxiety.

Newsflash: you can have empathy for two groups of people simultaneously

Of course stay at home parents in the UK pay tax!

I’ve no sympathy for anyone traveling to the US at the moment either (except people who need to visit family). I’ve got extremely racist, right wing relatives who LOVE the US and go on holiday there often. I’m sure they’ll be the first to start crying and moaning if they’re affected by these laws in any way, but they won’t be because they’re white and wealthy and don’t give a crap about anyone else’s welfare or human rights. Which is probably the exact mindset of most Brits who travel to Dubai.

I’m so sorry. I really hope you get hope soon. Ignore the smug twats on this thread. Anyone who revels in the misery of others, shows exactly the type of person that they are.

I don't think anyone's revelling in others anxiety (I'm not anyway) but more that a lot of people go there without a clue where it is in the world, and that it's all just "shiny things and sunshine."
That's what people are WTF'ing about.
Edited to add just realised you're still stuck out there, really hope you get home soon.

Why do you have to quantify your feelings? Do you only have a limited amount to give out? So you have to care about one more than another? Bizarre.

It’s possible to give a fuck about lots of different groups of people, including, as crazy as this may be, people from other countries. Wild.

I think it right that we offer consular assistance to citizens abroad, as we always do. However given some in Dubai are tax exiles, who would not be entitled to free NHS treatment were they to return to the UK, they should be required to reimburse the state in full for any repatriation costs. Holiday makers and those still entitled to free NHS care should not be charged.

Huh? A true stay at home parent won't be paying income tax if they haven't got a personal income?

DD is there on a work trip. She had no choice if she wants to keep her job! Not e veryone out there is holidaying and on a jolly.

I beg to differ.. I think it is rather stupid to not have considered the American political instability before going to the UAE tbh!

YANBU op. I think many people in the west have been so sheltered / ignorant for a long time and have a very false sense of security.

I've just tried to find the states (in America) that have passed a law so that expectant mothers seeking an abortion will face the death penalty and there aren't any. Some lawmakers in several states are attempting to reclassify abortion as 'fetal homicide', carrying the same sentence as homicide, but they're still in committee and are not gaining much interest. They are considered an extremist view, and have currently not been passed.

In fairness for some pregnant women not being allowed an abortion is the death penalty in practice. But I know that's not the same

Sorry, I should have made myself clearer. I’m interested in your ref to drug taking is much higher in many ME countries than the world average?. If you could expand on your claim I’d appreciate it.

And the trafficking? Yes we are aware. The whole world’s a super highway when it comes to the movement of drugs around the world and with the proximity to Pakistan’s and Afghanistan for eg you don’t have to be a super sleuth to know the route the drugs could take. Then there’s the pictures we get in the press of the people from those countries who have been mules and caughg at points of entry.

But as I said, it’s your claim regarding the use of drugs that’s sparked my attention.

Old article, but relevant.

People will tolerate anything, vote for the most horrible and destructive people and dismiss any other relevant consideration in the pursuit of paying less/no tax.

@Locutus2000 I would actually disagree in the context of Dubai. Whatever nationality/race or creed, anyone not an Emirati is regarded as an expat.