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

Would you retire to a Middle Eastern playground if you could?

251 replies

GiveUsThisDayOurDailyPizza · 12/05/2023 15:19

For example UAE, Qatar

I will probably never be a high net worth individual anyway but even if I was I can’t imagine choosing to spend my retirement years in such places.

Work and live there for a few years to get ahead financially, yes, or a long layover on the way to somewhere else but what makes so many UK expats want to retire there?

This is prompted by something that came up at work. I’d love to understand the appeal as I have to interact with people for whom this is a long term ambition or plan.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
BonnieGlasses · 12/05/2023 15:21

I personally can't think of many worse places to retire! But I guess maybe some people are attracted by the warmth and the lifestyle, cheap to get carers to look after you etc.

HolidayHankering · 12/05/2023 15:23

Nope.

I don't want to holiday there either and would not go for conferences etc.

TallulahBetty · 12/05/2023 15:23

NO WAY. I don't want to visit anywhere, much less live there, where people of certain sexes/colours/sexualities/religions are second-rate citizens.

bellinisurge · 12/05/2023 15:23

No. Not ever. Won't go there on holiday either

ItsCalledAConversation · 12/05/2023 15:24

No way. The climate, ths landscape, the capitalism and commercialism, the human rights abuses. I think it’s awful that people go to those places as a way of avoiding paying their way in tax, such revolting self-interest. I don’t want slaves looking after me in my dotage either.

CosyFanTucci · 12/05/2023 15:24

I can't imagine a worse place to go, for retirement, work or a holiday.

jenandberrys · 12/05/2023 15:24

It wouldn't be for me, but it's not that hard to understand surely. Comfortable standard of living, good healthcare available, good weather, no need to learn a language, domestic labour relatively affordable. I am not sure that 'so many' brits aspire to this but it seems odd to think you may have difficulty interacting with people who fancy that sort of life. Of course there will be multiple posts telling you how evil and ghastly the ME is and that posters themselves would never want to go there but it's really not hard to work out why certain people may fancy it.

clpsmum · 12/05/2023 15:24

BonnieGlasses · 12/05/2023 15:21

I personally can't think of many worse places to retire! But I guess maybe some people are attracted by the warmth and the lifestyle, cheap to get carers to look after you etc.

This

No chance

SchoolShenanigans · 12/05/2023 15:25

I guess it's great for those who have no ties to families or places. A chance to retire in the heat with a better lifestyle on tap (in terms of value for money).

But no, I wouldnt want it. I hope by 60/70 that my family still want to be near me/see me more than once a year and that I'll still have friends and hobbies locally.

And I don't think I'd want to spend all that long with fellow retirees who think living in a wealthy enclave is attractive, just isn't my style really.

jenandberrys · 12/05/2023 15:25

Looks like all the ME haters beat me to it!

tuvamoodyson · 12/05/2023 15:25

No.

LoobyDop · 12/05/2023 15:26

Absolutely not under any circumstances. How could any woman who values freedom?

NutellaNut · 12/05/2023 15:36

No way. I don’t even want to go on holiday there either, for all the reasons other posters have alluded to already, and many more.

HeidiUpTheMountain · 12/05/2023 15:37

No! The whole thing is abhorrent.

Beezknees · 12/05/2023 15:37

Absolutely not. If I had the money there are plenty of other places I'd rather go.

Errmmmmmmmmmmm · 12/05/2023 15:40

It's a no from me also. They don't appeal as a holiday place either.

RavenclawDiadem · 12/05/2023 15:40

Absolutely not. I have a friend who has lived in Dubai for the last 5 or 6 years and it's turned her into a shallow, money-obsessed person. She talks about how it's too hot to go outside between April and October. Everything is new and shiny and there is no history or anything over 25 years old. Lots of Russians and plastic surgery.

No thank you.

coxesorangepippin · 12/05/2023 15:41

As pps said. Not a chance.

The heat, the human rights, the lack of green, ugh. Just no no no..

LlynTegid · 12/05/2023 15:42

Not a chance.

Howlongdoesittake · 12/05/2023 15:42

Those of you who won't even holiday there do you go to Thailand or any Asian country? India? Cyprus ? Where do you go on holiday if human rights and decadence are a problem? Not being goady just really interested.

coxesorangepippin · 12/05/2023 15:43

domestic labour relatively affordable.

^

Yeah, slaves are easily bought

Againstmachine · 12/05/2023 15:43

Nope I've not got much knowledge of the others but Dubai is a vile disgusting fake hole in the desert.

Livinginanotherworld · 12/05/2023 15:44

No way, most Brits come back to the UK for the summer anyway as it’s just too hot….a week….maybe for some winter sun, but I can think of many better to places to retire to.

Nonylonneeded · 12/05/2023 15:45

To the Middle East possibly. To a middle Eastern playground never , but it takes allsorts and I can see the appeal for some.

Schroedingersimmigrant · 12/05/2023 15:46

The heat wouldn't be good for me. I plan to retire somewhere warm but not extreme and bit stable. Or flip between 2 places depending on weather 😂

Swipe left for the next trending thread