Just trying to put into words how I feel living 'somewhere like that'...
Well, for a start, everywhere has its problems. I used to live in a country where a disaffected youth set fire to buildings and went on a looting rampage. I used to live in a country that is up to its ears in debt and where the banking industry had to be bailed out by taxpayers. I used to live in a country where the national footballers cheat on their wives, kids and each other and the team captain is up on racism charges.
In terms of the problems here. I don't like the treatment of overseas workers, I don't like the way some people treat their maids. I do think of how I contribute to society here and I'm fairly certain my family is not doing anything to directly contribute to these problems. I do not own property and have no money invested in building projects. I go out of my way to recycle, I treat everyone with respect and I don't waste water, petrol or electricity and I don't visit dolphinariums. Any money we do make here will be saved and brought back to the UK with us and presumably be spent on university tuition fees.
I think it's a misnomer about the treatment of women. Arab women are treated, and act, like princesses on the whole. There is a high proportion of women in the workforce and far less discrimination against mothers than in the UK. I agree that some maids are badly treated but please stop comparing it to slavery - slavery was horrific, slaves had no rights, no days off, no flight home, no wages at all and could be bought and sold. If you want a better comparison look no further than au pairs. What do you want to call them - they are more than cleaners - they also shop, cook and care for children - domestic engineering technicians BSc (Hons)? I think it's a cultural thing and most westerners I know don't have a maid and those that do are working, maybe a cleaner for a few hours once a week. The threads you are looking at a more likely to be from women from other countries where domestic help is the norm.
I don't think for a minute that Dubai is paradise - far from it - but like all things in life, there is more to it than meets the eye and I am happy to raise my children here.