Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People should not go on holiday in Dubai

82 replies

MariaAngustias · 28/02/2021 08:37

After reading and hearing about the treatment of women in general and, in particular, what has happened to Princess Latifa how can people go on holiday to Dubai? Also her sister, Shamsa, allegedly abducted by her Father in the UK, drugged and taken back to Dubai. WTF is wrong with people who can go to Dubai for a freekin holiday whilst this is happening.

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 28/02/2021 08:41

There is a thread abpit it somewhere already, where people pointed out that many more destinations should be off the travel list by these standards. Not just the ones currently in newspapers. I am sure if you AS "dubai" in last 2 weeks it will pop up. Interesting read

DisgruntledPelican · 28/02/2021 08:44

Yanbu, but as @SchrodingersImmigrant says there are a lot of countries with shoddy human rights records that people easily overlook because they’re hot with nice beaches. Dubai’s probably one of the worst.

I keep seeing an advert on Sky News with two young women travelling together in Saudi Arabia. Unlikely!

Imapotato · 28/02/2021 08:48

@SchrodingersImmigrant

There is a thread abpit it somewhere already, where people pointed out that many more destinations should be off the travel list by these standards. Not just the ones currently in newspapers. I am sure if you AS "dubai" in last 2 weeks it will pop up. Interesting read
I’m sure there’s lots of places with shady goings on, but the treatment of women and migrant worker in Dubai is well known. I couldn’t enjoy a holiday there knowing how baby certain groups of people are treated. If I know similar about another country I would spend my money there either.
BoKatan · 28/02/2021 08:48

The US locked immigrant kids in cages and separated them from their families. Weird you don't see people railing against holidays to Disney on here.

Original poster
MariaAngustias · 28/02/2021 08:52

@BoKatan I agree that Dubai is one of many countries with horrendous human rights records and I think we should try to avoid going to all of them, US included certainly whilst Trump was in charge.

OP posts:
Senabak · 28/02/2021 08:59

I won’t go the there for this reason and their rules which I don’t like the sound of. Yes I’m sure the hotels are nice but it’s not for me.

sst1234 · 28/02/2021 09:00

Where else should people boycott because of shady practices? The list is very long. Or is best to be selective based on whatever is in the news.

Hopdathelf · 28/02/2021 09:01

That Saudi advert made me laugh. They’re trying to make it like lots of countries with a fun, exotic facade but underneath it is utterly barbaric.

It shocks me how often people don’t do their due diligence on a country they intend to travel to. I know a gay couple talking about Jamaica for a honeymoon when travel starts up again. 🤦🏻‍♀️

The incident being reported today from Mexico says it all about how other supposedly liberal countries treat some minorities.

GrumpyHoonMain · 28/02/2021 09:05

@MariaAngustias

After reading and hearing about the treatment of women in general and, in particular, what has happened to Princess Latifa how can people go on holiday to Dubai? Also her sister, Shamsa, allegedly abducted by her Father in the UK, drugged and taken back to Dubai. WTF is wrong with people who can go to Dubai for a freekin holiday whilst this is happening.
After what happened to Edward Snowdon why wouldn you go to the US? Why go to Japan or Korea when women still don’t have equal rights in the workplace and when interviewed most schoolgirls experienced some form of harassment? Why go to Germany with it’s history of Nazism or France / Belgium / Italy with how it treats immigrants. Why stay in the UK with the institutional racism going on and how BAME women are actively discriminated against within healthcare settings?

Honestly if you’re going to take outrage to every single country’s unsavoury parts then the only place to left live would be the moon.

GrumpyHoonMain · 28/02/2021 09:06

@sst1234

Where else should people boycott because of shady practices? The list is very long. Or is best to be selective based on whatever is in the news.
On MN it seems to be the daily mail that impacts selectivism.
HeronLanyon · 28/02/2021 09:08

Well for me personally I agree fully. I also don’t go to several other places including eg the USA (death penalty might think abkut states with no death penalty) etc etc. I have family in the states so it’s a significant decision.
Two big things about this -
Sick of people making inconsistent decisions and often without examining our own (white ‘western’ here) societal morality.
I’ve got to a place where I have to accept that people have differing personal moral codes about this. I can disagree vehemently. Tend to keep this internal.

Hopdathelf · 28/02/2021 09:10

I personally chose not to holiday in NI a few years ago because of their appalling abortion rights. Would do the same now with Poland.

HeronLanyon · 28/02/2021 09:25

Actually remembered I don’t always keep it internal even now.
Within last 10 years I booked a beautiful holiday on Malaysian island new small resort - had been to neighbouring island decades before. Then the whole death penalty for gay people issue resurfaced and became enshrined in law of certain districts. I cancelled and wrote to the resort owners. Got very thoughtful reply which told me things they themselves were doing about this issue, that they were campaigning, found out more about the situation etc. They fully understood and said many had cancelled. We parted in good and respectful terms and I felt I’d learned and had a say.
So want to go and am going to see what’s going on there.

ghostyslovesheets · 28/02/2021 09:30

See this debate always attracts a lot of whataboutism - often to justify the posters live of cheap holidays in the UAE

There are many countries I wouldn’t visit - I’ve even avoided France (where possible) the last few years but saying ‘lots of countries have poor human rights’ isn’t a justification for going to UAE

Rollmopsrule · 28/02/2021 09:31

I agree Op. Its never apoealed to me and I don't understand anyone that thinks it's a great holiday destination.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 28/02/2021 09:35

@ghostyslovesheets

See this debate always attracts a lot of whataboutism - often to justify the posters live of cheap holidays in the UAE

There are many countries I wouldn’t visit - I’ve even avoided France (where possible) the last few years but saying ‘lots of countries have poor human rights’ isn’t a justification for going to UAE

I've never been to UAE and don't plan on it. Still think I can, and others can, point out that if someone isn't visiting somewhere based on human rights issues, ignoring that there are places with concentration camps etc, isn't ok. It's not to say "ah, UAE is ok". It's to say "Let's judge all of them, not just the one currently in newspapers".
picklemewalnuts · 28/02/2021 09:35

It's not just about poor human rights- there can be a bit of whataboutery there.
It's the personal risks. Countries where I could be imprisoned for reporting a rape do not appeal as holiday destinations.

Linning · 28/02/2021 09:36

YANBU. I keep getting jobs offer for Dubai or Saudi Arabia. Excellent pay package but the second I would take a step there I would risk the death penalty, so no thanks.

I personally can’t support countries who are still so backwards in their treatment of fellow human beings and have a total disregard for human rights.

NailsNeedDoing · 28/02/2021 09:37

Personally, I don’t fancy the idea of going to Dubai, but I don’t understand why Dubai is always first in line for criticism when it comes to travel destinations.

It’s not ‘whataboutary’ to question why Dubai is criticised more than all the other countries that have poor human rights records, because it comes across as anti Islamic, and that is not ok. Especially at a time like now when the world is admiring Israel for their vaccinations despite the international laws they are breaking against Palestinians.

If there’s going to be threads complaining about other countries and their ways of doing things, then it should be done with a bit more perspective.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 28/02/2021 09:44

but I don’t understand why Dubai is always first in line for criticism when it comes to travel destinations.
Newspaper coverage

BlackCatShadow · 28/02/2021 09:44

I once met a Chinese professor who told me that he had no interest in visiting the UK after what they did to India, which rather surprised me because China doesn't have a great human rights record.

I recently read that 6,500 migrants have died during construction of the 2022 world cup site. It's shocking and I do agree that more pressure needs to be applied to all countries to treat migrant workers better.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 28/02/2021 09:47

@BlackCatShadow

I once met a Chinese professor who told me that he had no interest in visiting the UK after what they did to India, which rather surprised me because China doesn't have a great human rights record.

I recently read that 6,500 migrants have died during construction of the 2022 world cup site. It's shocking and I do agree that more pressure needs to be applied to all countries to treat migrant workers better.

That was a sensational headline be OP and the news and really shit journalism by The Guardian. The Scum would be proud of that journalism...
GrumpyHoonMain · 28/02/2021 09:49

@BlackCatShadow

I once met a Chinese professor who told me that he had no interest in visiting the UK after what they did to India, which rather surprised me because China doesn't have a great human rights record.

I recently read that 6,500 migrants have died during construction of the 2022 world cup site. It's shocking and I do agree that more pressure needs to be applied to all countries to treat migrant workers better.

What the UK did to India and the USA was colonialism and they did it to Shanghai and Hong Kong and many countries in Africa too. It’s the reason why many Asian and African people refuse point blank to come to the UK for holidays.
DdraigGoch · 28/02/2021 09:50

After what happened to Edward Snowdon why wouldn you go to the US?
Whataboutery at its finest. Edward Snowden has been granted permanent residency by that well known pillar of democracy that is Putin's Russia. He risked the lives of many personnel and there wasn't really anything surprising or shocking about his "revelation" that countries spy on other countries.

Why go to Japan or Korea when women still don’t have equal rights in the workplace and when interviewed most schoolgirls experienced some form of harassment? Why go to Germany with it’s history of Nazism or France / Belgium / Italy with how it treats immigrants. Why stay in the UK with the institutional racism going on and how BAME women are actively discriminated against within healthcare settings?
Are you really claiming that discrimination equates to slavery? As for Germany's "history of Nazism", you do realise that WWII has been over for 75 years, don't you? There aren't many people left alive who even remember - let alone took part in - the atrocities of the early 20th Century. We're talking about crimes which are going on right now.

In the UK, if someone brings a complaint of rape to the police there is a chance that the police might not take the victim seriously. In the UAE, if someone brings a complaint of rape to the police, there is a chance that the victim will find herself imprisoned, charged with adultery. I know which is worse.

We're not asking for countries to be perfect, we only ask that they not be barbaric.

Swipe left for the next trending thread