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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you go to the UAE?

227 replies

Sleepdeprivedbadger23 · 14/08/2025 16:57

I’ve always had zero interest in a holiday in Dubai because it’s not my scene - I am more a European villa or active holiday person and not into designer gear so politely nod along if friends tell me about their Dubai holidays.

I also know the human and women’s rights etc are generally very poor. I’ve heard from relatives who have lived there for periods and they also found migrant workers in the hotels they were working in were treated really badly.

My in laws have now moved there. I’m not keen on visiting, but obviously DP wants to see his family.

Would you go for a visit to family? There’s lots of places I would rather not spend loads of time in (the US at the moment to be honest!) but if someone bought me a trip to NYC I would probably go…!

OP posts:
Simonjt · 14/08/2025 16:59

No, my very existence is against the law and our children wouldn’t be considered our children.

KateMiskin · 14/08/2025 16:59

I'd go to visit family. I am uninterested for holidays as I have zero interest in shopping or the beach.

Radiatorvalves · 14/08/2025 17:04

I’ve been for work and also to stay with a friend in his (lovely) villa. I get the outrage about human rights particularly re workers from India etc, but as a woman you do feel very safe. In October the climate is lovely. I’d go back if there was a reason, but I do prefer European destinations.

Alexandrine · 14/08/2025 17:12

Depends on how often they come back to the UK. If there’s any chance you can see them back here sooner rather than later then I’d wait for that. Personally the combination of the human rights abuses, cultural inequalities, the climate and as far as I can see, not that much to do (apart from shopping, dining out or the beach/pool) means I’ve got no interest in visiting UAE.

But if it means your partner will rarely see their parents now and you can afford to visit, then you probably don’t have much excuse not to give it a go. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as you (or me!) think it is there.

MavisandHetty · 14/08/2025 17:12

Yes of course I would go to visit family. I don’t think the impact of my absence on decision-making in the UAE would be > the harm caused by me telling my in laws I didn’t want to even visit a country they’ve decided to actually live in 😂

Also, I firmly believe you have to go to a place to see it for yourself. I don’t pay much head to second hand reports.

SummerEve · 14/08/2025 17:14

Yes. I went for the first time this year and really liked it.

Maddy70 · 14/08/2025 17:14

Yes to see family

W0tnow · 14/08/2025 17:19

To see family? Of course! I’d also go to the US and to Saudi to visit family. I may not otherwise but of course I would. I think it’s kind of extreme to not go for moral reasons when you’re visiting family.

HotTiredDog · 14/08/2025 17:19

Holiday - No
Seeing friends - No
Seeing family - If I had to.

All because of their societal & religious attitudes; I can’t support any economy that does what these country-states do.

OwlBeThere · 14/08/2025 17:21

No. I wouldn’t spend time in a place that thinks my child shouldn’t exist.
and I think less of anyone who chooses to live there.

PauliesWalnuts · 14/08/2025 17:23

No I wouldn’t go. I’d only go if it were to change planes - and I would try to change elsewhere if possible.

RingoJuice · 14/08/2025 17:23

If the labor conditions were worse than back home, they’d never go. So it may be ‘bad’ from a European perspective, but they still have families to feed and futures to plan (and pay for)

dairydebris · 14/08/2025 17:25

Yes I'd go to visit family. And do. Very interesting to see how other cultures work.

Naomival · 14/08/2025 17:25

HotTiredDog · 14/08/2025 17:19

Holiday - No
Seeing friends - No
Seeing family - If I had to.

All because of their societal & religious attitudes; I can’t support any economy that does what these country-states do.

Yeah, this.

Original poster
Sleepdeprivedbadger23 · 14/08/2025 19:47

They do come back once a year and have lived overseas before so we are used to seeing them 1-2 times a year some years.

I haven’t actually priced it up and we’re not loaded so it may be a moot point! But DH has asked and I’ve been a bit cagey about my answer…! He knows my views and he shares them, but he’s not asking me if I’d move there.

The incident in Qatar airport with the newborn baby scared me though! I’m a catastrophiser so think it might happen to me even though (hopefully) it was a one off!

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 14/08/2025 19:49

If a loved one died and their funeral was there, or was seriously ill and never likely to return, I would go. Not otherwise.

incognitomummy · 14/08/2025 19:50

Yes. To see family. And keep kids and ILs connected.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 14/08/2025 22:19

Honestly, nah

I don't say anything but i silently judge the dubai types

Chompingatthebeat · 14/08/2025 22:21

Why the heck have they moved there

Robin67 · 14/08/2025 22:23

Nope

Bubblesgun · 14/08/2025 22:24

even though i would never go (human rights, environment, etc), i would absolutely visit family. I can separate the two.
for us, family is important so i would go in the full knowledge that i m visiting family not my choice of holidays - if i could ever reconcile that in my head. Not that i would love to, but i d love visiting family.

Chompingatthebeat · 14/08/2025 22:24

Sleepdeprivedbadger23 · 14/08/2025 19:47

They do come back once a year and have lived overseas before so we are used to seeing them 1-2 times a year some years.

I haven’t actually priced it up and we’re not loaded so it may be a moot point! But DH has asked and I’ve been a bit cagey about my answer…! He knows my views and he shares them, but he’s not asking me if I’d move there.

The incident in Qatar airport with the newborn baby scared me though! I’m a catastrophiser so think it might happen to me even though (hopefully) it was a one off!

What incident

Robin67 · 14/08/2025 22:26

Bubblesgun · 14/08/2025 22:24

even though i would never go (human rights, environment, etc), i would absolutely visit family. I can separate the two.
for us, family is important so i would go in the full knowledge that i m visiting family not my choice of holidays - if i could ever reconcile that in my head. Not that i would love to, but i d love visiting family.

Actually I probably would go to visit if my kids moved there as adults. Even then, I would complain a lot. Not any other family member though.

RH1234 · 14/08/2025 22:26

I’ve been for work, the people were very friendly and was interesting to look around, and do the odd tour in spare time.

Would I take my wife/daughter, if they wanted to go, I’d go with then. Would I choose to take them there, no.

Amby99 · 14/08/2025 22:27

I said I’d never go to Dubai etc either but my BEST friend moved there to be a teacher and so I kinda had to go (and I did want some hot weather because it was just after Covid)

Look, there’s really nothing special about it as you say. My friend took me to the mall which unimpressed me but I did enjoy sitting by the pool for a few days. I definitely wouldn’t go longer than 5 days

but visiting family should be bearable - if you’re close to them enough X