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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

DH just got a job in Dubai

148 replies

FitbitAddict · 07/12/2017 22:30

I'm delighted and dismayed all at once, as I'm in a job I love where my skills are really needed. However, relocating to Dubai has been our long term plan for the last three years and now it's coming to fruition. He'll go in March and I'll follow in August.

Any tips for packing up your life and moving overseas very welcome!

OP posts:
MrHaroldBishop · 08/12/2017 01:34

If you’re white then the Arabs will treat you like a king/Queen. If you’re brown/Indian they’ll treat you like shit on their shoe. Can’t be doing with racism like that.

graziemille · 08/12/2017 01:40

What a load of twaddle most of you talk!
I live in Dubai and have for many years.
Sunshine and a great lifestyle. Lots of choices of how to spend your leisure time, safe and a great community feel. Don't believe 99% of the negative stuff said.
Life is what you make it wherever you are.
There's lots of community websites on FB, if you know where you're going to be living.
Feel free to pm me.

bluesu · 08/12/2017 07:30

Seems like OP has done a runner (and I don’t blame her). If you’re still there pls take your advice from the people on the thread who have actually BEEN to Dubai and have actually experienced it. Not those that are pedalling stereotypes found from the pages of the daily mail.

Enjoy OP! I’d love to move there

MsGameandWatching · 08/12/2017 08:05

I spend a lot of time in the UAE; family live there. Some people on this thread are talking utter nonsense. I've never been treated as a second class citizen, mainly in dealings with locals they call me "sister" and are unfailingly polite. Never had to show a marriage certificate etc. Mainly I travel alone with my children, never had an issue. I would grab with both hands an opportunity to live there for a few years.

MsGameandWatching · 08/12/2017 08:08

Just another thing I thought of, my family member who lives there works nights and his wife keeps the same hours. She goes walking and exercising in the early hours or late at night as she feels so safe there.

Savvyblonde · 08/12/2017 08:11

I currently live in Dubai and have done for 18 months. I do not feel like a second class citizen, in fact I feel far safer and protected here in London. The segregation is optional and is actually more out of respect for women than to shun them. I do agree that it sounds like people are getting confused with Saudi. I have never been asked for my wedding licence or treated like a prostitute. I have only been shown lots of respect and appreciation. The labour laws have also been updated and checked to protect the workers. We love it here especially for kids.

SueSueDonahue · 08/12/2017 08:17

Proper eye rolling at this 😂

The Daily Mail has a lot to answer for!

veiledsentiments · 08/12/2017 08:22

I've lived out here practically all of my life, am now in my mid-40's. I work, and am sponsored by work, not by my husband.

It's safe. It's clean, but it's also expensive. Make sure that the company are paying enough for housing and school fees. My work recently cut school fees from 60 thousand per child, to 60 thousand top whack for however many kids you had. I only have 1 left at school now, but that doesn't cover it. Medical is covered by work.

In January they are introducing VAT at 5%. No one is quite sure how much things will increase by. Be careful taking out loans. You can be thrown in jail if a cheque bounces.

KhalliWali · 08/12/2017 08:29

Coughee, do you spare a thought for all the many people in the U.K. In desperate situations, working 14 hr days while you sip your Starbucks?

This. People are happy to disregard poverty and exploitation in their own country whilst smugly stating they would never live in Dubai.

MrHaroldBishop · 08/12/2017 09:09

All you people who aren’t treated as second class citizens, I bet you’re all white and reasonably rich? It’s a different story if you’re brown and poor.

MsGameandWatching · 08/12/2017 09:24

I’m not rich. Again there’s plenty of white people living in disgraceful poverty in this country and many of us are so hateful of “outsiders” that more than half of us voted to leave the EU, but no one is pontificating about boycotting living here are they?

KhalliWali · 08/12/2017 09:43

It’s a different story if you’re brown and poor.

There are plenty of 'brown and poor' people in the UK. Are you as vocal about that?

DXBCat · 08/12/2017 09:43

I live in Dubai and have never heard so much garbage and incorrect facts as written above. Funnily enough written by people who have never been here and must get their "facts" from the Daily Fail.
I am a white western female and have a very senior position and have never been treated with anything but respect. I have a great social life and it's a lovey place to meet people from all over the world. I have lived here a long time and had my daughter here. It is a great place for young families. I agree Dubai is not perfect (expensive, inequality, summer weather) but nowhere is. A great experience for a few years for sure.To the OP I would suggest joining 2 Facebook groups....Real Mums Dubai and British Mums Dubai. Feel free to PM too.

MrHaroldBishop · 08/12/2017 09:50

There are plenty of 'brown and poor' people in the UK. Are you as vocal about that?

No, I don’t need to be vocal about it here because poor brown people in the uk still have basic human rights. Their passports haven’t been confiscated by their employers and they’re not being persecuted and abused by their employers whilst working 15 hour days in the hot sun building tall buildings.
I don’t even believe it’s pure racism. Is there even a word for hating poor people or people who earn less than you?

MrHaroldBishop · 08/12/2017 09:58

Everyone who goes to Dubai from the UK go for high paid jobs. Many south Asians and south East Asians go for “low” jobs. In turn, these people are treated in accordance to how they’re paid and what they’re doing.

Everyone with their good experiences have the good experience because you’re being paid a nice wage and have been invited over to do a high end job. Ofcourse you’re going to have a good time!!

MsGameandWatching · 08/12/2017 10:04

Those people flock to work there because their lives are better there than in their own countries and a few years in the UAE can set them and their extended families up for their entire lives. I spoke to a taxi driver in Dubai who had educated four children - all now professionals and bought land and built a house for himself and his wife by working in the UAE. He said his family back in Sri Lanka couldn’t have dreamed of such a life without him working there. My own family member works in construction and it’s

MsGameandWatching · 08/12/2017 10:05

Posted too soon.

And it’s the same with his employees, No system is perfect but some of the assertions made on this thread are nonsensical.

KhalliWali · 08/12/2017 10:24

MrHaroldBishop, most 'brown' people working in the UAE are able to provide their children with an excellent education and build themselves a house where they are set up for life.

This is at gross variance with the experience of many 'white' people who go there to work, who don't have a chance in Hell of ever getting on the property ladder.

Maybe think about that for a while...

Shen0102 · 08/12/2017 10:33

I've been there 3 times for holidays..and it's a beautiful city.

But it's true that their human rights are stuck in the last 2 centuries. On the trains men are not allowed to be in the same carriage as women. My dad had to ride in a different carriage than us sometimes..

KhalliWali · 08/12/2017 10:49

On the trains men are not allowed to be in the same carriage as women. My dad had to ride in a different carriage than us sometimes..

Which country are you in? It's certainly not the UAE!

Shen0102 · 08/12/2017 11:35

It was Dubai I even took a picture of the sign that you'll get a Fine, but don't know if still on my phone.. and yes he did ride in the same carriage with other men.. not every train had this conditions as we travelled to some other towns hence why I said sometimes.

Sorry but it's silly to argue when I saw it with my own eye and we had to abide by the rule.

Shen0102 · 08/12/2017 11:43

I've found the picture of the sign that clear states "100 ADD fine for men in this cabin" I took with my own phone..how do I attach it please so I can get some people off their high horse ?

I'm posting using the app and also can't see the option on my laptop.

Shen0102 · 08/12/2017 11:44

AED fine **

iggleypiggly · 08/12/2017 11:45

shen I’m eagerly awaiting the accusations that you’ve taken the picture from the Daily Fail Grin, those that disagree are clearly uneducated, stupid Daily Fail readers Wink

SteelyPip · 08/12/2017 11:52

I lived and worked in Dubai/Sharjah for 8 years. It's interesting that the majority of previous posters who have not lived in The Emirates still feel entitled to spout a load of claptrap about the place. I never felt vulnerable, I always felt safe any time of day or night. I was treated very respectfully by locals. Maybe it's changed in recent times after the death of Sheikh Zayed and the explosion of tourism. I haven't been back for a number of years. I would definitely say embrace the challenge though and give it a try. PM me if you want to ask anything specific and I'll try to answer.