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

[GiveUsThisDayOurDailyPizza]

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.

I'd say it's a good standard of healthcare, everything done for you (if you can pay for it), lots of sunshine, great standard of living - if you like that sort of thing.

Your employers might be trying to create a trend but it's definitely not common for UK high net worth individuals to retire to Dubai or UAE. Barbaric regimes aren't relaxing retirement destinations.

No. it's expensive! Also, unless the rules change, you can't live there if you aren't on a work visa or sponsored. There are a few "golden visas" offered to high net worth individuals currently so this may be changing, but you wouldn't go there for an affordable retirement.

What, like planet earth do you mean?

@BonnieGlasses and where do you live?

I used to live in the ME as a child. I found it terribly dull. That kind of lifestyle, sitting by the pool, cocktail parties, shopping in air conditioned malls, bores me solid. Even not considering the human rights.

Also I am not white, and let's just say non white, non Emirati people are at the bottom of the pole.

Yes, but they’re generally mildly dreadful, unimaginative, materialistic and right-wing people, the kind who remark approvingly about the low crime rate without asking themselves why there’s a low crime rate, so perhaps the OP doesn’t want to spend too much time feeling her way into that mindset.

I worked in different parts of the UAE for a couple of years, and quit without any other job in prospect I was so desperate to get out. I’ve lived in lots of different places in Europe and the US too, and that was the only place without a single redeeming feature, other than it’s close to other, really interesting places.

God no.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Qatar
I wouldn't holiday in Dubai, I’m always shocked that people do.

To be honest, I'd be scared of the extremely pissed off locals and so-called "guest" workers turning on me. And if I was in some kind of fortress enclave to protect me from that possibility, I'd hate it.
Human rights violations are too bad there.

Playground WTF?
Playground is not the word I'd pair with Middle East!

All the faux outrage about Arab countries seems
a but contrived. And frankly pathetic. Most of these people have probably never even been there.

Anyway, this country is in such a downward spiral, soon the lifestyle of a middle eastern country will just be a pipe dream for many. So be careful with that little Britain mentality.

Absolutely not.

God no. Wouldn't even want to go on holiday there! I don't like the heat, don't do big holiday resorts etc. Even aside from the human rights issues, it's not a location that remotely appeals to me.

Remember it's country where the ruler kidnapped his own daughter and brought her back.

If you are raped you are likely to see the inside of a cell.

If you upset a rich person you are likely to see the inside of a cell.

No I wouldn't fancy that. It might be nice to visit if I was rich but I have no desire to live there! I don't like being too hot and struggle in a British heat wave.

Oh give over Dubai is a sparkly shit hole in desert built by slave labour. Teeming with prostitution which is mostly used by Arab men.

There are different types of expats in UAE - those long term residents who have worked while the economy developed and did not just see it as a playground of the rich, those who work on contracts such as developing the infrastructure in Qatar for sports events or support roles like teachers, and those who are from the generation of celebrities, footballers, music stars, influencers who want to see and be seen to enjoy the trappings. It is difficult to live there without a job or substantial personal wealth. Retiring out there is rarely an option.

No, for several reasons.

1 I dont want to spend 15 pounds on a pint of beer, that I can only drink in certain places.

2 I dont want to live somewhere where I cant even leave the house for over 6 months, cause the heat is so extreme.

3 As a woman, I dont want to live in a place where I couldnt live life without thinking if Im doing something inappropriate that would possibly get me in trouble (like having a boyfriend and living with him without being married!)

"Anyway, this country is in such a downward spiral, soon the lifestyle of a middle eastern country will just be a pipe dream for many. So be careful with that little Britain mentality."

Not sure how caring about human rights is a BAD thing

I'm too gay for the Middle East. They wouldn't want me there.

Absolutely not! I loathe the place.

I recently looked up women’s rights in Dubai. The source I read did say that things are improving (young women no longer need permission from a male guardian to work, study or travel), but it brought me up short to see that a man can legally withhold his wife’s passport.

I can't think of anything worse.

I like a green temperate environment and proper seasons. And I'm a single mum. Why would I want to live somewhere I would be regarded with contempt or tolerated only because I had money? Horrible !!

Yes! We are planning to. We will split our time between Dubai/ Abu Dhabi and the west coast of Florida. We’ve been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the last yeR, love them both plus we are going to both again for Christmas/ new year.

I feel very safe in both areas as do my children, the people are very friendly and the food is excellent!

Perhaps there is more of a retirement community than I am aware of but I don't see evidence of much of an expat retirement community.

I wouldn't retire here. I am working in a role that allows me to introduce new and different ideas to a generation of young women. The young women I work with are from more than 30 different countries but most have grown up in Qatar, and some are Qatari. I am not here to change their culture or religion but to provide them with a different perspective and to learn from them as they learn from me. While the situation is not as people portray it, there are human rights issues for sure and being able to be a part of the solution to that is a worthwhile work experience for me. It has challenged many of the assumptions, biases, and prejudices that I didn't even know I had towards the ME, Arabs, Muslims, Islam, and Qatar. I have liberties here that I don't have at home however I don't think anything would entice me to stay long term. Doha is too isolated and is a fairly quiet city without a lot to do. The winters are wonderful weather wise but the summers are too hot. The years I have spent here have been memorable but when I retire it will be to somewhere that is less isolated, has a more liveable climate, and is closer or more accessible to friends and family.

No, because, you know, human rights..?