DH just got a job in Dubai

[FitbitAddict]

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!

Dubai is a beautiful place but I think it's inevitable to not experience some sort of culture shock. At any rate, you'll be fine i guess.It's one of the richest places on earth hence if I were you I'd be so excited.

I dont read the DM, have been going to the uae since the late 90's.
I wont be going back there for sure, for a long time. I would never, ever work there. I think it would only be through desperation for money. I just wouldn't risk it.

Shen
That's because there is a Ladies only cabin as well as mixed cabins.
The ladies in his group chose the ladies only cabin......as opposed to the joint male and female carriage.

What is the need for women only carriages? Can someone explain?

My brother lived in Dubai for many years and I never once visited him there I can't see the interest and I agree with other people that the way they treat women there is is below par.

The UAE is great for women (even non-Arab ones) provided you know about the various customs, rules and regulations. Make sure you brush up on this before you go. Would also suggest you don’t under any circumstances drink alcohol anywhere except for a hotel.

@iggley - women only carriages is something women in the Gulf Countries pushed for. It might surprise you to know but in the Gulf region rich women are driving feminism - it’s them that convinced Saudi to change driving laws (raising concerns over women being along with drivers being unislamic for ex), and allow women into the airforce, it’s them that effectively brought the UAE lingerie industry to it’s knees by refusing to buy lingerie from a man (many even going to India or the UK with their business instead). If rich women in the gulf want something, and use Islamic values as the excuse to do it, they will eventually get it.

What is the need for women only carriages? Can someone explain?

Muslim women who are breastfeeding?

Yes, it’s not the West, yes some rules are odd - some women won’t sit in the same train carriage as a man because of their religious beliefs. The same women tend to only eat in segregated restaurants.
The ‘poor’ migrant workers work in the Middle East because they have families to look after and they earn a lot more in the Middle East than back home. For instance, a guy who waters my garden who earns around £100 a month, would earn less than £8 a month back home. In 5 years max, he’ll go home a rich man and live in his new house which was built when he was working away. He’ll no longer worry where his next meal will come from or how to pay medical bills or school fees. He’s not alone or unique. Many who come to the Middle East know it’s short term pain for long term gain, no matter what nationality. If someone offered to pay you over 12 times your salary, you’d pretty much jump at the chance knowing it would set you up for life.

A drinking license would be assumed @lostmojo as nobody can drink without it. The reason I say don’t drink at home, is that in Dubai I have known colleagues who got in serious trouble for ‘public drinking’ on their terrace and the shared pool area of their private flat. Luckily our company is huge and the UAE CEO intervened personally to get the charges dropped. But wouldn’t have worked for most normal people.

'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.

You really are deluded. These people work hard, and I mean really hard long hours doing manual jobs and lifting. They’re treated worse than animals living in cramped rooms they share with 9/10 other people. Everything they earn they send back home and carry on with their shitty existence. At the end of this, they’re not even allowed to become citizens! They go back home after years of labour and die. At least in the uk, if you come and work hard here there is always a chance of getting on the property ladder: there is nothing holding you back from achieving this if you really want it. For all your hard work you’ll receive a pension, healthcare and benefits.

You really are ignorant.

Woman can travel in any carriage they want, men are restricted.

Actually tourists need a license to drink too. So get your facts straight.

Also, the landlord owned the entire complex and had signed the no objection waiver for my colleagues (who are very senior people). They weren’t getting drunk, just enjoying a glass of wine on a deck chair and in their balcony - but another really rich Dubai resident complained to the police and charges brought up anyway.

Or you can become a UAE resident by buying property worth 275k USD or greater. They practically give out perm residencies. Jc!

@lost - you clearly don’t know anything about the UAE and are just trolling this thread. No longer responding to you.

@ginorchoc - agreed!

Yes I know it’s not a privelage conferred on white westerners but white westerners are much more wealthy and are earning a lot more money!

Tips: Mumsnet is not the place to ask about the middle east. You will, as proven up thread, get some horrific, often uninformed, responses.
There are quite a few posters based out in the ME who talk much sense. And I don't know how some threads attract sense, and some turn into a bun fight.

I suggest finding a Facebook group that deals with expats. My favourite has just moved onto a paid platform, but there are general ones, and almost certainly Dubai specific ones. PM me if you want some specifics names to join.

I suggest thinking about what you wish to do with your house (if you have one) and furniture. Also start a big declutter. And devide if you want to ship stuff over, or pack your life into a couple of suitcases and start over. We airfreighted 30 boxes over - all the furniture is in the UK, in our house which is rented. We also have boxes in storage in the UK.

Do you gave kids?? If you don't need to be there in August for School, i strongly recomend delaying to September. August is brutal here, so I assume it will be in Dubai (I'm in Saudi).

Check the package VERY carefully. Packages are going down, cost of living is going up.

I think shopping the UAE is much easier than with me. I bring over bras, shoes (size 7 is hard to find), long legged trousers, shampoo and tampons in bulk. Also kids books, and (strangley) school trousers and jumpers. And sun hats for everyone. Usually bring sunscreen, but after some leads from @Orangebird69 have located some here (Thanks Orange).

Embrace the adventure.