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?

@38thparallel

South Korea is next to North Korea

Ah yes, better still given your user name are you going to mention how far it is from downtown Seoul to the border/DMZ...?

I mean I haven’t done any recent due diligence but yeah environmental is part of it, plus the discrepancies between the lives of those who live, move to work their and those who holiday there, plus poor LGBT rights and a lack of safe political opposition. I can remember there were some cases of arbitrary arrest that were down to political or social campaigning but can’t remember the details. My sister adores it but it’s not for me.

You do realise that lots of us already know this and choose holiday destinations to avoid the worst of the worst?

You seem incredulous that many of us would consider these things?

Perhaps you wouldnt consider these things and this is why

Many countries have two faces, different for locals and different for foreigners, nice and safe resorts with terrible quality and no safety for locals and workers.
Many holiday makers are choosing to ignore it.
If you think about it too much, you won't have those nice insta pictures the others have.

Dubai is doing excellently on the PR front, selling so many illusions, safety being one of them.
It's easy when you make reporting crimes impossible and sharing stories about unsafe situations illegal.

It isn't just women, it's migrants workers (abuse, slavery).

Strange comment. There is zero tolerance to drug dealing in the ME. The penalties are severe.

It's not even really meant to be a thing. It's the closest thing to trying to set up a colony on mars that we have on this bizarre planet.

Is that why drug trafficking and drug taking is much higher in many ME countries than the world average?

Why not? It's been a matter of when not if for the last couple of weeks...

My H has a ban on Turkey, Hungary, anywhere in Middle East and at the moment USA -

Why Hungary?

Yup all on my list too.

So rape is basically all about the man protecting his 'property ' from other men and nothing about the woman

It deserves to be bashed.

Soulless place built on slavery.

It’s quite well known when the Kinahan family were brought down it was established a sort of board of directors of international drug smuggling were all based in Dubai. I suspect the amount of money these people spend in their country buys a certain amount of blind eye turning.

Tbh no one wants to see that anyways, wait till you get home!!

Some of the biggest convicted drug dealers in our town have now moved to Dubai. Let’s just say that there’s zero chance all of them have concurrently decided to give up drug dealing.

Perhaps you wouldnt consider these things and this is why.

I have to say, if there is somewhere I really want to go to then I wouldn’t consider it.
I would avoid countries which are considered unsafe such as Russia or Libya but I wouldn’t avoid their neighbours. I mean, I would go to South Korea despite it being next to North Korea.

@Crikeyalmighty id also like to know why Hungary?
Is it because of its government or because it’s next to Ukraine?

I have travelled solo to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman. Also Syria, Iran and Egypt. When you visit places like that you do your research first on the people, politics and culture. You obey the dress and morality codes, dont discuss politics and avoid criticising the government. I have felt more threatened in parts of London and my home city.

People go to work in Dubai and similar please because they feel there is nothing in this country for them. Taxes are too high and there are no jobs for qualified people. If I were in my 30s/40s I would go myself.

Im not just talking about proximity to trouble, Im talking about what might be considered to be ok or not ok to some degree.

I think when you say "expats" you mean immigrants.

Agreed.
when choosing a holiday with my exH who was in the army, there were certain countries that he simply wasn’t allowed to fly to without permission (special clearance) from the army.. due to them being unsafe… Egypt being one of them…
I guess some people book holidays without worrying about politics, trusting travel agencies and the U.K. government
ti stop travel if these places aren’t safe, but having tried to arrange holidays with him, there are some countries I’d never feel safe visiting.
As a woman I wouldn’t feel safe travelling within a lot of the Arab countries.

My mistake! I just checked and realised I'd completely misunderstood something I'd read.
My other points still stand though. Anyway, it's a relief

Im not just talking about proximity to trouble, Im talking about what might be considered to be ok or not ok to some degree.

Do you mean regarding human rights or countries which have a high crime rate?
We went to Rio and were warned in no uncertain terms by our hotel not to walk around.
One of the things I really enjoy is to wander around and explore cities abroad so I don’t want to return to Rio - though I’d love to return to the beautiful and interesting Pantanal.

Brazil and India for example have severe poverty and inequality. Is that a reason not to go to a country?
Any opposition or criticism to the regime is dealt with severely in Cuba and the only shops with plenty for sale are those who take dollars - which few Cubans have apart from the ruling regime.
Should tourists visit Cuba?