Would you choose Dubai as a holiday destination?

[Letshopenextyearisbetter]

Colleague told me excitedly she has booked to go to Dubai with her family for two weeks. I said ‘Oh wow!’ But really I was thinking 😬
I realise we all like different things, but just curious if you’d choose to spend your money on going to Dubai? I can personally think of some really lovely places to go for that amount of money, especially over Christmas

Weird question. The last few countries visited by ppl I know are the Netherlands, S Korea, Japan, France, Italy, Canada, USA etc. I am sure you can nitpick but they don’t stone ppl at least.

Maybe because Dubai is a symbol for everything that is rotten in this world? Also look at the type of people that are going there. I can honestly say that I know who would like to go to Dubai and who doesn't without them telling me. And it's not my kind of people.

I have been to both in the past. They are in a lower level of group for me, I don’t like the regime but it’s not on the same level.

Really? Google Cuba & China human rights abuses and they do appalling things.
Is it because they are both nominally left wing? The Soviet Union used to have all sorts of excuses made for it on those grounds.

GreenTeaLikesMe
I don’t think it’s that weird, I was asking because it’s relevant to the point people are making. Pp are saying that the laws in Dubai are so awful they would never set foot there, so I’m asking - well, where has acceptable laws and a decent government?

I love North America and have visited both Canada and the US many times, but some of their laws, state laws and sex offender president, treatment of native peoples etc are abominable. What’s the difference to Dubai? Also, stoning is definitely not legal in Dubai.

I’m really not being obtuse, I don’t see that each listing of problematic issues with Dubai isn’t the same in a more ‘acceptable’ destination.

Japan have only just raised the age of consent to 16 from 13 and their rape and sexual abuse record is disgusting. For each acceptable destination I can think of many horrible things going on there.

Stoning does not happen now in the UAE.

@GreenTeaLikesMe why was it a ‘weird’ question?

To each their own but I have no interest in going to Dubai ever. It just seems to be a collection of flash hotels and shopping malls in a desert, way too bloody hot (because of the aforementioned desert), very strict regarding alcohol and what women can do in general and none of those things equal a good holiday to me.

That’s without the slave labour it’s built and run on.

No, definitely not. It’s illegal to be gay, the economy props up oppressive regimes. Other reasons but those are enough. I’m not gay but if my son can be thrown in a very abusive prison for just being gay in private then the entire shitshow of the Emirates can all fuck off.

No. I take some heavy duty medication occasionally and I’ve always been worried that I’d be arrested at the airport 😂

I've no interest in skyscrappers, shopping malls or "international" cuisine. My preferred destinations are Italy or Wales and I imagine Dubai is the complete opposite of both.

DH and I got engaged there on a work trip of mine several years ago. Spent 5 days there. It’s malls, man made beaches / resorts, large hotels, highways, taxis to everywhere, hot af. Once was nice but not a holiday destination in my opinion.

Nope, not my thing at all. Capitalism and misogyny at its finest, plus a multitude of other things. Superficial sparkly stuff and shopping seems to be popular with some people though, and I guess it appeals to them?

What does that mean?

Dubai is good for families, very safe and kid friendly. Don't know why so much hate, kid places are void of plastic influencers

Husband was working there and my youngest and I joined him for a week. Had interesting conversations with taxi drivers, they were promised triple earnings only to find that wasn’t the case and their passports were all confiscated (Pakastanis and Bangladeshi’s) many reside in work camps that resemble prisons. The general lower caste workforce are treated abominably, never saw a happy face amongst them.
The Emirates rule with a rod of iron, their word is the only one heard. That country was built on suffering!

I’ve been a couple of times because a friend wanted to go and it was sort of convenient flight wise. I wouldn’t rush back. We did a few excursions, went to the top of the world’s tallest building, had lunch at the Armani hotel …pretty swanky. And drank a camel milk mocktail. The weather is as expected … as hot as a desert and as two women travelling alone we were stared at an awful lot! The water park at the Atlantis was pretty fun.

I really enjoyed it there, my daughter loved it there's so much to do for children
We are going back next year April
It priced up cheaper than Spain

God no. Way too hot and sod all to do so far as I can see.

Not really, it's just an influencers bucket list destination, but if that moves you.

A while ago, I did see a foodie/travel program which featured the original old town. That was quite interesting, featuring individual local people, not the got rich, or international, insulated residents.

Been to Dubai twice. Cannot imagine choosing it as a holiday destination especially with kids

Yes. I’ve been to all the Emirates. Dubai wouldn’t be my first or second even choice but it’s fun for a visit.

No, I have no interest in going to Dubai or anywhere similar on holiday. I have been to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar before to visit family or had 24 hours there in between connecting flights, and there is nothing for me in countries like that nor in big cities really. Mind you, I feel exactly the same about Las Vegas or Disney world, or even staying in an all inclusive hotel with a shared pool anywhere - lots of people desperately want to go to those places and I couldn’t imagine anything worse! We’re all different I suppose - I like a villa with a private pool either by the sea or up in the mountains and I know some people would hate that.

Absolutely not, why anyone would choose to go there is beyond me.

I regularly went to Dubai for holidays until a few years ago, because I had family who lived and worked there. Nothing nicer than a fortnight in the UAE in February. Safe, sunny, culturally fascinating if you care to probe a little. It really isn't all naked exploitation, although I appreciate that if your family are migrant construction workers then their experience is going to be different to my family, who were European management consultants and accountants.

It was beautiful and different and no crime and hit and sunny ❤️
hotel was superb food was out of this world ❤️