To not get why people hate Dubai so much?

[Cutitup]

What is there to hate?

I think it's a great place to have a holiday. Great restaurants, great service, fab shopping and spa treatments.

I do understand the problems of domestic and construction staff being exploited but this is not a problem unique to Dubai. I just don't get the vitriol, the 'it has no culture' etc.. I say get out of the bitter farm and play with the hay!

I second the blatant hypocrisy. What a joke. So unless you can 100% promise all labour is western and paid the UK rate you are out of order.

Actually sweetie, we ARE the richest country in the world. And proud of it. We also own most of your festering little island.

Jeez, Theodora, who's the 'tiny Emirati' you are referring to? Sheikh Mo isn't THAT small.

Are you asking me where I live? If so why don't you just ask me where I live.

I have already said where I live on this thread. It is a standard European country with an unpleasant history of colonialism, wars and a dodgy record in nuclear arms testing amongst its many other failings. They probably deal in arms too much like the UK.

And I think those things are wrong just as I think certain things in Dubai are wrong. Start a thread about the place if you like and I will join in with criticism of its wrongs. Particularly what was done to North Africans.

Arf at being against retaining people's passports and bonded labour as being 'exacting principles' though. Hardly!

Oh, and I think Qatar is the richest country in the world, not 'one of the richest'

X post theo

I don't think it's irrelevant at all, Beachcomber.

But when I pointed out that many of the criticisms aimed at Dubai could also be aimed at the Gulf in general, I was told that this thread was about Dubai, so the situation elsewhere was irrelevant.

I think you will find that Monaco is the richest country in the world.

Not that it matters. For me, at least. It clearly means rather a lot to some people

"We were backwards and forwards between the UK and UAE"

So if you didn't head back to the UK and swear never to return to the UAE as soon as you saw the inequality there, are you not an absolute hypocrite?

And nobody has said 'everyone in Dubai is a cunt'.

I just checked the thread - the word has been used quite a lot and the only time anyone said anything like that was starwarslegoboy on Tue 24-Sep-13 22:42:56 when she was 'quoting' something I hadn't said and that nobody else had said either.

cont f the thread and check if you like.

My bet is that you are just not the type of person who can adapt to living somewhere were they don't have decent tea bags or you can't go M&S shopping?

No, we have lived in several different countries.
I have lived in India in a hut whilst we built an Orphanage the same in Haiti after the earthquake. We try to give back whenever we can, and teach our children the same values.

Yes I lie awake at night thinking about who, per capita is the richest. It's how I choose my friends and place of residence as well. It could be worse, I could just let the Guardian tell me what to think....

cote seeing as Google seems to be the preferred source of information on this thread you might want to give it a whirl

Actually sweetie, we ARE the richest country in the world. And proud of it. We also own most of your festering little island.

Who is we?? You are just a guest in that country

How do you know? Have you seen my passport?
www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-richest-countries-map.html

I dont need to see it you sound just like an expat !!

Well, it doesn't get burgled by the junkies next door most weeks like the festering little shithole I lived in and I don't live in fear of chucking out time

I don't recognise this as a typical picture of Britain. But maybe I just haven't been around as much as you.

Anyway, I think beachcomber has displayed great grace under fire.

"No, we have lived in several different countries.
I have lived in India in a hut whilst we built an Orphanage the same in Haiti after the earthquake. We try to give back whenever we can, and teach our children the same values."

So were you thinking of Indian labourers while you we're eating in Dubai's five star hotels? Or did your concern start after you left the UAE?

Well I don't personally exploit migrant workers Pops, can you say the same?

And lots of us have lived in poor countries and done the worthy stuff, it doesn't mean a thing.

How on earth do I exploit migrant workers? I cant say what we do as it would give me away but it does not involve exploitation in any way shape or form.

It's funny to see how this thread has developed from expats trying to explain that "things are bad elsewhere" and that "there may be systematic contraventions of international labour laws, but that doesn't really matter you see, because we, personally, are nice to our maids" to an out and out assault on Filipina maids and how they are a 'nightmare' and all out to get you, and anyway, you're not trying to help anyone because you just want a clean house, and that's your right. Anyway, they're lucky to have work at all!

I have often wondered exactly what a goady post looks like, and I think I just found it. What a grossly misleading representation of what has actually been said.

I think I've just worked out who Poppy is, and if she is who I think she is, I have called her on her astounding hypocrisy before.

Funnily enough I'm not recognising Poole or the UK in Theo's description as a shithole and festering little island.
Thats a real bee on your bonnet there. I quite like my hometown. I've never been burgled either, the countryside is green and gorgeous and I love the harbour.