To think the British people who went out to Dubai to profit from slave labour by "influencing" (i.e. manipulating) made their beds and now should lie cosily in them

[Mightneedencouraged]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/01/uk-citizens-detained-uae-frustrated-government-intervention-iran-conflict

The brass neck of these family members complaining when the boot is finally on the other authoritarian foot

Fair enough, you don’t feel comfortable living there. But those who choose to live there need to follow its rules. Why is it so important to post photos/ videos on social media when it is illegal during war by these influencers?

Definitely not jealous at all. I just don’t understand the thinking. Also I think no-one deserves to hurt by bombs and their lives affected. However people make choices and I’d rather pay taxes to contribute to the wellbeing of society in general than be annoyed when I don’t necessarily get direct benefit. Luckily I’m in good health and have been in constant employment but that could change through no fault of my own, as it does for some people. Also some people, again through no fault of theirs, are born disadvantaged and often don’t have the talents, resources or luck to pull themselves out of this. I’m happy to pay into funds that help them. They’re only babies after all, to begin with anyway! To me it’s like any insurance. You pay in hoping to never have to claim and don’t get angry when you don’t get your money back at the end of the day!

I mean they aren't living here so they aren't a tax resident here. They didn't do a single thing to deserve being bombed.

Again, the issues with migrant labour is improving. Can't see what's so misogynistic about modern dubai? Many women have built successful careers there. There are numerous entrepreneurs.

Where do women feel safer walking alone at 2am, Dubai or most cities in west? The answer 99% of the time is Dubai.

They have simply failed to notice the censorship rules because in general they’ve been trotting out the government line of ‘Dubai = safe luxury’. Now they’ve gone off message, and are dealing with the consequences.

Just follow the laws of the nation you are in. Simple enough. It's very easy to follow the laws and keep certain things to yourself. No one is persecuted simply just for existing.

What are British people actually getting for their tax?
The country is going to pot. Hospitals cant cope with the demands, wait weeks for a GP appointment, gangs of feral kids roaming around, stabbings, assaults, burglaries, massive drugs problem, useless police force, roads full of potholes, 1000s of people desperate for a home, waiting lists are years long, thousands of undocumented men illegally entering the country and being put in hotels, free bed and board, free medical and dental care ahead of the British tax payer. No wonder people want to move to Dubai. As long as you obey their rules you will have no problems. I would be out there like a shot if I was younger

Nobody deserves to be bombed, but as you rightly say if they’re not a tax resident here and have purposefully moved somewhere to avoid paying taxes then why should my taxes bail them out when it goes wrong?

And no, I’d feel perfectly safe walking alone at 2am in my UK city anyway, plus I won’t be in danger of being bombed, or put in jail for sharing the ‘wrong’ photos so the concept of ‘safety’ there simply isn’t true.

@ToasterBonanza Sorry I think you are being disingenuous if you really believe that so called modern Dubai is not misogynistic. Are these entrepreneurs Saudi women or some of the economic migrants ? I think not .
And it might be safe if you are a European woman in a gated compound but I doubt if the labourers feel safe .
And yes not living here but want British government to aid them now ? Like I said you can have it both ways .

That’s fine, people can move there and be responsible for themselves rather than expecting help from a country they’ve not paid taxes in and is clearly struggling, what makes them think we can afford to bail them out when we’ve got all of this to deal with?

By that rationale there would be no legal aid or health care for those who live in the UK but don’t pay tax.

People who live in this country and don’t pay taxes generally haven’t chosen to do that purely on the basis of being able to earn huge amounts of money and purposefully avoid it, it’s not a like for like comparison.

Because all UK citizens are entitled to UK Government protection as support?

Also I think most of the flights are paid privately by the UK citizen as well?

Walking alone at 2am in the UK you're vastly more likely to get mugged, attacked or worse SAed, especially from a random man. In Dubai, it's not 0, but it's damn near close to 0.

Official guidance says British nationals can be required to pay a fee for charter flights or sign an “Undertaking to Repay” if the government provides transport or travel documents.

There are plenty on the UK who chose not to work and are on benefits or who work cash in hand. The principle seems pretty similar except those who left for Dubai weren't seeking UK government hand outs.

The benefits culture in the UK is out of control in some places.

How do you know they’re purposely avoiding it?

Exactly

If you don't pay taxes in this country and if you break the law in this country, no more benefits for you. Does that seem fair @Mightneedencouraged ?

This wasn't in Dubai. But elsewhere in the gulf an Arab man politely refused to enter a lift with me and my DDs out of respect for us.

It’s so boring and quite embarrassing. I didn’t much like Dubai and no desire to live there, I am a high earner why pays a lot of tax. The high earners that left the uk would have been net contributors and paid more tax than they took in service.
the minimal number of Dubai expats I am sure is far less than the UK population sector who have never paid tax and deliberately work a ludicrous UC system to the maximum advantage
know which group I have more issue with

The thing about this argument…
If you were unlucky enough to be SAed while walking home alone at 2am edited to add “in Dubai” would you feel comfortable reporting it to the authorities? I think this might go some way to explaining certain crime statistics.

If they’ve paid no taxes and think the UK is so awful why should the government spend time & effort to help? Others are in much greater need.

And nope, none of those things have ever happened to me in the UK, and the chance of sexual assault from a stranger is actually very low - that’s why these incidents get so much press coverage, because they are out of the ordinary.

By purposefully going to a country where you don’t pay tax, people don’t go there by mistake.

I may be wrong but I thought that if you report a rape you are more likely to be charged than any man. I'm not surprised the SA statistics are virtually zero.

The chance of incident occuring is a lot higher in the UK and how often do we hear "oh they didn't do anything".

They changed this law.

YANBU I have seen posts on here from people who moved to Dubai and loved having nannies and cleaners that cost very little that they would not be able to afford in the UK... they are taking advantage of people in vulnerable positions and absolutely exploiting them.