Meant to be moving to Dubai in 4 weeks

[Medesres]

We've been planning a move to Dubai for a while now. Dh's work has an office out there and it seemed like great opportunity to live abroad and experience sth different. I've got a couple of friends out there already too who love the lifestyle.

Watching the news for the past 24 hours and I'm really starting to question things. I had no idea how close to Iran it was and who knows what might happen next. Part of me is hoping it will all be resolved soon but hard to believe.

My friend who already lives there has spent the night sleeping in one room with her dh and kids scared of all the missile noises.

It's unfortunate what is happening there but I would not be put off moving.

The leaders of UAE are protecting their people so well. I trust them more than our government!

You may just need to delay it slightly.

I admit I was wrong.

Everyone does not want to move there. Many of us wouldn't move there if you paid us.
Modern slavery and human rights abuses are not glamorous, no matter how many influencers you follow who pose in bikinis from Dubai.

For me it isn't even the war or the human rights issues that would put me off Dubai, it's the heat, having to live in air conditioning 24/7, living in a manufactured environment in general.

People go there on holiday to drink and spend, you need more to do than this if you actually live there.
My DH knew Dubai before all the construction work and says that even then, although it had character, there was nothing to do.

I bet you are not any time soon. No way would I agree to go to any middle east country now. The world is changing and not for the good.

Well clearly it suits vacuous people?

You'd think! 😊
I'm guessing some people get their information on UK education from GB News. 🙄

Yes, you did, that's absolutely fine, but my point is that things are not always how they are perceived.

My DS is due to go on a college volunteering trip via Dubai in a couple of weeks……. He worked hard applying and interviewing for it, been excited for months, basically packed and vaccinated and ready to go………..

Surely you now don’t want him to?

If it's for a stop over, I'm guessing it'll be changed.

You might want to be a bit more critical about the SM you are viewing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g8r23yv71o

@SleeplessInWherever.. At present the college say they are “ monitoring the escalating conflict”, and essentially it’s a “ wait and see”….but, yes, I absolutely do not want to wave him off to the other side of the world right now. I’ve been to UAE a few times pre DC, early 2000’s, totally different vibe to how it appears to be now. (Fujairah essentially only had one hotel back then). My DSIL has lived in Abu Dhabi for 20 years and I didn’t really think twice about a Dubai layover…. yes, even when Trump started heating up a bit.

@Cardomomle… it is for just a short few hours layover… ironically I think they have also used a different hub! I’m guessing probably too many on trip to be able to change… 🤷‍♀️

Interesting, thanks, @Smeuse . I've been watching BBC verify about this conflict, which is also illuminating.
So much fake news, and unreliable reporting.

Yes, they'll be using a different hub, @Sisublondie

All hail our glorious leaders! 😅 Genuinely suspecting some of these posts are from pro UAE bots…

It’s very very easy to go along with all this ‘feels safe, protects their people really well etc’. Until it doesn’t - you lose your job or in the case of someone I know got accused of a business thing going wrong by an Emirati. It then became incredibly frightening and this person won’t touch the ME now with a barge pole and as I’ve said before the thing about no tax, it’s really not cheap and if you want to keep up with your new friends who may well be into flashing the cash- you may well be going to get through more than you think - I’m definitely not against people moving around, we had 2 years in Copenhagen and may well go to Netherlands shortly , but I do think places like the ME are a different ballgame and you need if going as a family to really think all aspects out- there including the fact that a big salary may not seem as much if ‘all ‘ costs aren’t fully covered off, including flights back if you want to come back at all - if the expectation is expensive group evenings out frequently, you can’t presume family will be out to you, few cheapish hobbies for kids, it’s a very particular world and lifestyle that in some ways I think is easier if on your own. My friends lived there for a few years but then went to Oman and then Saudi - both of which they have found more manageable in honesty and saved money - they didn’t in Dubai - bloke got into the habit of blingy nights out for company and they earned well and spent a lot - and the woman struggled to get a job too

I know someone who went to UAE on a temporary contract but when they got there, the terms and conditions were nothing like what they'd been told. It was VERY difficult to leave the country - they were held at the airport (DBX) until the organisation signed to release them from their contract.
That could be standard procedure world-wide but was a horrible experience, nonetheless.

Sorry, I meant they have “ always” used a different hub in the past…..

But, yes I guess it’s whether they can change to a different hub with so many booked on the trip, or not. Or that they look at the wider picture and just cancel it. Which will also in turn be gutting to the local people who have spent months preparing for them to stay…..🤷‍♀️

It's difficult to know, without knowing the ultimate destination, but I would assume that alternative hubs are in use.

Stand on the beach in Dubai you can see Iran on a good day. Did you do geography at school?

Oh don't! We've already had Geography teachers blamed! 😂

How can anyone plan to move to a country when they dont know where it is? Boggles beliefs

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/picture/2026/mar/03/expat-dubai-startling-revelation-the-stephen-collins-cartoon

Not normally a Guardian fan but that is spot on. Can’t they just go over to Turkey and get some more work done