To think that no-one should go to Dubai

[Sallyingforth]

while they treat women like this...

Jailed for being raped.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23381448

Their own people live in slums??? You really need to get your facts straight! Emeratis are given a plot of land when they turn 18, they get the money to build a house and they receive money each year if they choose not to work. Government jobs are filled with emeratis and they are incredibly well paid.

The ones that are badly treated are migrant workers. This has been changing in recent years.

Learning what is right and wrong and to ensure you don't get in trouble is simple. Be respectful. It is a Muslim country and this fact should be respected. Cover your knees and shoulders when out in public, do not swear, do not argue, do not get pissed and act like a total idiot in the street, no sexual contact in public including cuddling - especially if you are not married. Basically, behave responsibly.

The main issue with reporting rape is that if it is rape within a relationship eg - you have a partner who then rapes you. To report this you would have to reveal that you have has consensual sex outside of marriage in the past. This is illegal so admitting this would land you in prison. It's not fair but it is the law in the Middle East.

I'm choosing to move there DH has already gone and DD and I will be joining him in August. DH grew up out there.

On the contrary, beagle, boycotting is one of the most powerful weapons we have.

If tourism stopped tomorrow to Dubai I wonder how quickly policies might change.

But boycotting depends on enough people giving a shit!

YANBU

There is nothing on earth that would persuade me to pay into an economy that supports this type of atrocity for the sake of a holiday.

That's the point daddypig - they won't ever give enough of a shit. Treating workers badly is "normal" in many countries other than the UAE, sadly. Even if every person in Blighty took the moral high ground, the place is full of Australians, Canadians, Europeans, Turks, Sudanese, Lebanese, Arabs, Iranians, Russians. The Saudi's love it because it's close and they view Dubai as a place of decadent values since they live in a country without music or cinema! Think of the size of a country like Saudi and compare it to Blighty and you realise that nothing our little island does is going to make a blind bit of difference. Charitable organisations in the UAE do, however, make a difference and they will do significantly better if they are supported by the - generally wealthier - Western expats who are here and are likely to remain here while Western economies continue to tank.

Thank you to this thread for reminding me to write to Qantas telling them why I'll no longer be flying long-haul with them.

Utterly awful.

This thread is making me laugh, you're so self righteous

The kind of people who think they love and respect culture but want countries to change their way of thinking because its not like ours.

Say they'd 'never go' but only because your Dh works in the local council and would never be ooffered a job there

Wise up, it's not perfect but then neither is the UK. The way we treat our asylum seekers is appalling, migrant workers too!
Dubai is lovely, virtually no crime, a pleasure to walk round without some pissed arsehole letching at your breasts!

Like another poster said almost every country in the world has issues! It's going to be a very ignorant life if you choose not to travel and stay home reading the daily mail instead

Someone asked earlier but I see no one answered, where do you all holiday that is ethically sound?

I love the irony in the comment from whoever is bypassing dubai on the way to malaysia or singapore, you happy with their human rights record are you?

Countries with appalling human rights records never give a shit - especially if combined with the lure of big grubby bucks - but it's still vital that people are made aware, as so many are completely oblivious, and can then make an informed decision as to whether they want to holiday in a country like this.

Where is your final destination with quantas? Not oz by any chance? Happy with their recent stance on immigration?

Has Oz jailed anyone for being raped?

She was not jailed for being raped - she has not been jailed at all!

We should all go admire there to admire its colorful history, its outstanding natural beauty, its cuisine and its charm.

Sounds absolutely vile. And about as wasteful and unsustainable as you can get.

oohdaddypig - how many other countries would we need to boycott in order not to support immorality or corruption? All the countries I listed above and many many more for sure.

It's impractical. We can do what we can to change things, either from here, 'on location' or financially but to stop travelling is ridiculous.

Awareness raising of the appalling treatment of women and generally shit human rights records of countries like this, I absolutely agree with.

I wouldn't boycott visiting a country because of this, though. How presposterous! So you only travel to nice, safe, squeaky clean countries? How lovely for you.

I find Dubai fascinating. We have friends there and have been several times. It isnt just the 'Las Vegas' of the middle East....its the New York. Its the financial hub. And it offers such interesting insights in to the Arab world, how its developing (or not, as the case may be) and the juxtaposition between East and West, rich and poor.

Yes, it can be scary. Yes, the treatment of migrant workers is brutal (and more importantly, its in your face - not hidden away in a sweatshop thousands of miles away making your clothes or packaging your food where you dont have to see it). Yes, its a patriarchal society, with some truly barmy laws and customs.

But turning your nose up at a whole country is such a snotty and frankly, dim, way of dealing with these things. And it doesnt help the women you wish to defend ONE BIT.

Wish some of you could see how my asylum seeker clients live!
You could come down off that moral high ground then

Why is it preposterous to chose not to go somewhere on holiday? How odd.
There's a whole world out there and for many reasons Dubai is somewhere I don't fancy visiting. Surely that's good for you Dubai- lovers.

Of course it is euphemism I don't want to go there either, it would too hot and too urban for me. But that's personal taste, it isn't about politics, religion or social issues.

What places do you like to visit? The chances are some of them are guilty of worse or equal atrocities, even if you like to stay in the UK!

YAnbu

I know people who've gone and said it was amazing. The hotels are so luxurious the staff do everything for you etc etc.

You can't leave the complex!

I'd rather go for a rainy weekend camping in Bognor than be somewhere with such disregard for human rights.

I saw a picture of Amy child's from the only way is Essex and her gay cousin there. Why would you go there when you're gay?

What complex? Of course you can wander about!

with little or no crime.

If the UK had a law that meant you needed a confession or 4 male witnesses before it became a crime I'm sure the crime rate would diminish.

Fist I've heard you can't leave the complex - admittedly haven't been other than to refuel at airport.

I wouldn't rule out going to any countries unless I felt it would be dangerous.

I live there and I agree the way in which this lady (and others) has been treated is abhorrent. If you asked many Emiratis/Arab ex-pats they would also agree.

Myfirstkitchen - that post proves that - in common with many others on this thread - you really don't know anything about Dubai. There are no complexes herre. In Riyadh, yes - but Dubai?!

Many tourist destinations have as little or less respect for human rights compared to the UAE. I suppose you never shop in Primark either?

There are gay people here, and gay bars too.