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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to go to Abu Dhabi for work / employer?

70 replies

fairyella · 05/03/2015 17:27

My colleagues and I have to complete a short "mobilisation" survey once a year (basically, no one's forced to travel nationally or internationally, as there's usually enough flex, across people who can/want to travel vs. those who can't/won't, in terms of business need).

However, I'm due to submit mine again in a few months and I'm thinking of changing my usual "can travel worldwide with 1 week or more" comment, to something like that but with certain countries on an exclusion list.

My first would be to add UAE to the exclusions, not least because this sort of thing is very concerning, esp alongside some of the customs around females that already make me think twice about how I'd react if I were asked to go out there:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31692914

^Mr Pate's dispute with his employer began in December last year when he sought to extend his holiday to see a doctor about a long-standing back injury. After being told he could not extend his leave, Mr Pate posted a rant about the Abu Dhabi-based firm on his Facebook page.
... He returned to Abu Dhabi in order to resign but soon after arriving he was called by police who told him to report to a nearby police station. On attending he was shown screenshots of the Facebook message and told his employer had filed charges accusing him of breaking wide-ranging Emirates laws that ban slander.^

Maybe making the above point is a bit moot (I'm pretty sure there's only a slim chance of me ever getting to travel to anywhere hot Grin and if I did I'm sure I wouldn't stray into what I'd think would be seen as "slandering" anyone!) but AIBU to explicitly state there are certain countries like UAE where I wouldn't travel for work?

I suppose I'm worried about coming across as unprofessional, because it's essentially bringing in politics into the workplace (although with pragmatic concerns!).

OP posts:
MGFM · 05/03/2015 17:30

I have been to the UAE about 5 times for several days/weeks at a time and have always enjoyed my time there. A good friend of mine (female) has been working their for nearly two years. Yes they have different laws but if you behave sensibly, don't get drunk then I am sure you wouldn't have any issues.

LaurieFairyCake · 05/03/2015 17:32

There's a whole slew of countries I wouldn't go to - not for leisure, not for work.

I think the list of place I would visit is shorter

I've added India in the last year. That's a big place.

FuckItBucket · 05/03/2015 17:32

I always thought Abu Dhabi was a Person Grin

No other help but everyday is a learning day

misssmilla1 · 05/03/2015 18:34

No, I don't think UABU. (but then I refused to travel with work to the USA until George Bush resigned) I don't think you need the example of why, but you should probably also consider the other countries that you wouldn't go to for the same reason and make sure the reasoning (at least to you) is consistent.

becominglessofalurker · 05/03/2015 18:39

You just have to know how the country works. People who know what they are doing would know to say "yes I will report there" then proceed straight to the airport and buy a plane ticket. I lived there for 18 yrs.

Weebirdie · 05/03/2015 18:48

The social media anti slander law works really well and I wonder if you would refuse to go if a friend or family member had to use it in order to protect themselves from online nutters.

CavalierQueenCharlotte · 05/03/2015 18:52

The doctor thing was a complete lie. I agree you shouldn't go though. The ME is great.for people who choose to go there and work there but not for others. I grew up in Saudi for most of my childhood, then Kuwait and Libya. I have lived in Dubai (horrible expats) AD (nice if a little dull) and Qatar (love it) I wouldn't piss about with my leave or stag my employer on Facebook. But then if I worked for the left hand side of the socialist workers party either.

Coyoacan · 05/03/2015 19:38

I sounds like a very tenuous reason to boycott a country, OP.

I live in Mexico and on September 26th last year, six students from a teacher training college were killed and 43 other students from the same college were picked up by the police and never seen again. And unfortunately that is only a small example of the way life has been in Mexico over the last nine years. So would you please add Mexico to your list?

Feckeggblue · 05/03/2015 19:41

Funnily enough I have thought about this and think I would refuse on grounds of homophobia. My colleague (who I'd go with) is gay and wouldn't want to go so id refuse in solidarity

FluffyMcnuffy · 05/03/2015 19:45

I'm gay and I won't go to the Middle East; it is simply not a risk im willing to take.

KittenCamile · 05/03/2015 22:12

I refused a work trip to Russia on the grounds of homophobia and had no problems with work about it. I work for a huge international beauty company so have to travel all over. I am now specifying counties I am not willing to travel to so just don't get asked for those trips. So no I thing ynbu but you do need to be consistent.

SquirrelledAway · 05/03/2015 23:00

Coyoacan that helps to explain why every bloody car on the A93 had to pull over at 5pm today to let the President of Mexico sail past on the wrong side of the road with a massive police escort. He must be well worried about someone taking him out.

Never get that kind of thing when Brenda is heading off to Balmoral.

DecaffCoffeeAndRollupsPlease · 05/03/2015 23:09

Yanbu, there are places I wouldn't want to travel to, the example of places with homophobic laws above would be on my list.

Coyoacan · 06/03/2015 02:53

Thank you SquirrelledAway that is interesting to know. BP must really really want in on the deprivatisation of Mexican Oil

butterfliesinmytummy · 06/03/2015 03:29

It's your choice and you're lucky to have one. My dh works for an oil contractor so most of his working life has been in ex USSR states, middle
East, west Africa, central / southern America and usa.... We said no to Angola as I was pregnant and malaria is a huge concern, he was given the talk about how badly this would impact his career. We have not had the luxury of picking and choosing.

If it's not going to have a detrimental effect on your career, or one that you are willing to live with in order to preserve your principles, yanbu.

SquirrelledAway · 06/03/2015 08:14

Coyoacan he was meeting with UK and Scottish Government representatives, I think all the UK companies and the UK Government want in in the Mexican Gulf given that the North Sea is in steep decline and Russia is a political time bomb.

CavalierQueenCharlotte · 06/03/2015 08:15

Oh dear. Not quite the pat on the back you were looking for op. Maybe start a bikini wax thread next, you will get the narrow and unworldly reaction you seek.

UmizoomiThis · 06/03/2015 08:18

If you went for business purposes, you would get a completely different (temporary) visa than you would if you worked and resided there. even if you worked for a multinational, unless you had a contract with the office in that country, that office could not file any charges as you are not their employee.

Mistigri · 06/03/2015 08:22

If you have a choice, and you feel strongly (and I don't blame you personally) then YANBU.

I've travelled happily to places in Africa where there is a (small) personal risk but draw the line at Russia - pointless, women can't do business there in the field I'm in. My employer knows this and is OK with it. Middle East and Israel would be on my no go list too but I wouldn't be expected to go there anyway. My other hard line, as a parent, is getting into a plane belonging to a dodgy airline.

CavalierQueenCharlotte · 06/03/2015 08:22

Nobody signs up for residency without knowing what that means. People just grab the tax free salary and forget that bit. The worst thing about working in the oil industry is the expats. The best thing is usually the locals.

Comito · 06/03/2015 08:56

I think it would look unprofessional and frankly a bit odd if you started decreeing to your employer a list of countries you refuse to visit based on media reports and some vague concerns about oppression of women.

IrenetheQuaint · 06/03/2015 09:01

Are you talking about going out for a few days for meetings or whatever, or moving out to live and work there for a time? In the latter case you wouldn't be unreasonable at all, but in the former case I think you would come across as quite odd.

PtolemysNeedle · 06/03/2015 09:05

If you're not actually being asked to go to the UAE and there's very little chance of you being asked to go to the UAE then you stating that you won't go seems a bit pathetic to me. Especially as you say that if you were asked to go, you could easily decline.

Honestly, I'd think a colleague was being a twat if they did what you are proposing in those circumstances.

OnlyLovers · 06/03/2015 09:16

YANBU. It's not just media reports of vague concerns; flogging? stoning? anti-apostasy laws? Being gay being a crime? No thanks.

On the other hand, I don't think it's ever a good idea to slag off your employer on Facebook, whatever country you live in. even if that story is true

sonjadog · 06/03/2015 09:42

It is one week per year that you might have to go to Abu Dhabi, or is there a possibility that you would have to move out there?

If it is the former, then I think it would be a bit odd to refuse to go, if the latter, then fair enough.

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