After reading about another foreigner basically thrown in jail without a trial I’m wondering what the appeal of holidaying in Dubai is? Appreciate that some people may be going for work or for an unavoidable stopover but have never understood the appeal of it as a holiday destination. Anyone ever been and thought that it’s awesome?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-41536636

Aye, don’t understand the attraction either.

The don’t even like the flintstones. …
But the people in Abu Dhabi do.

I always find it’s usually utter cretins that can’t judge anything beyond it’s financial value that always waffle on about how great dubai is.

I’ve desire to go near the place, sounds like my idea of hell tbh.

Do folk not go and wander round air-conditioned shopping ‘malls’ (as it’s too hot to go outside) and drink themselves in to oblivion in their hotel bars?

It’s not anywhere in my top-50 destinations for a holiday tbh so I’m curious too.

Yeah it’s all about the hotels, shopping centres and not really anything else

The last place on earth I’d think of going to.
Appears to be a monumental display of wealth and fakery.
Might be nice though, meh…

Stopped briefly while flying elsewhere, was kak.

It sounds like what Vegas would be like without the sex, gambling and unlimited access to alcohol.

Depends on your definition of luxury, I guess.

seosamh77 – Member
I always find it’s usually utter cretins that can’t judge anything beyond it’s financial value that always waffle on about how great dubai is.

I’ve desire to go near the place, sounds like my idea of hell tbh.

I’ve no desire

Fewer mass murders than Vegas though, so every cloud…

Lived in Abu Dhabi for a year. Before it turned like dubai. Dubai was and always will be an absolute hell hole of a place full of rich Arabs and twatty westerners who have been corrupted by gold & riches. One of the most fake and corrupt places I can think of and I don’t want to ever set foot it that cesspit place again.

The people who holiday there are probably in the big tourist all inclusive hotels, which to be fair are pretty spectacular as far as hotels go. So if you’re the sort that likes to sit in an all inclusive hotel for 2 weeks then you might as well be in Dubai than the Costa Del Sol.

But as a tourist destination it is crap. I’ve spent a long time in Dubai over the years through work travel and it is pretty dull and boring. Unpleasant climate, crap beaches and not much to do other than to shop, eat and drink.

However I have very little sympathy for any foreigner who gets banged up in prison over there. They are very tolerant of tourist bad behaviour and would have given them many warnings before taking action. If you’re in another country you need to abide by their rules and if you find yourself incarcerated in their brutal system then you’ve only got yourself to blame. Once you’re in their prison system then you can’t expect the sort of humane (relatively) treatment you get in UK prisons. They are pretty brutal and it is effective. Crime is virtually zero, I could leave my wallet and phone in any public place, and come back an hour later and it will still be there. If its not it will have been pinched by a western tourist/holiday maker.

I work in an industry where a lot of people get seconded out there for a few years. The big draw obviously is the tax free salary. People think “I’ll just go out for a few years and save enough to buy a house outright and then come back, it will be worth it”.

Which is fine if you can handle a few years of a lifestyle that is a direct contrast to the aspirations of the typical STWer. There is no outdoor lifestyle for much of the year. Mate of mine plays a bit of golf in the “winter”, a bit of squash the rest of the time but mainly just drinks, eats and works.

I had several opportunities to go there when I worked in London but I moved back to Hampshire instead. Just thought it would be a massive waste of the best years of my life for running and cycling my way round the countryside.

wobbliscott

However I have very little sympathy for any foreigner who gets banged up in prison over there. They are very tolerant of tourist bad behaviour and would have given them many warnings before taking action.

Unless you turn up there with trace amounts of a recreational drug, or you get raped and report it to the police.

If you’re in another country you need to abide by their rules and if you find yourself incarcerated in their brutal system then you’ve only got yourself to blame. Once you’re in their prison system then you can’t expect the sort of humane (relatively) treatment you get in UK prisons. They are pretty brutal and it is effective. Crime is virtually zero, I could leave my wallet and phone in any public place, and come back an hour later and it will still be there. If its not it will have been pinched by a western tourist/holiday maker.

Sounds great. How do we go about getting Sharia law in Europe?

I sort of understand the draw to work there, couple of my old banking colleague did just that – 8 years later they should all be set for life, but judging by FB conversions between them ‘joking’ about the quickest way to the airport if they lose their job i get the impression they spend it all and more.

Why anyone would want to go there on holiday though I have no idea, it seems the sort of thing you boast about rather than enjoy.

Wife’s going there tomorrow. She asked if I wanted to go. I’m still laughing…

Quite possibly the most repulsive place I could ever image.

They are very tolerant of tourist bad behaviour and would have given them many warnings before taking action.

Which doesn’t seem to be true in many cases. Especially the one the Op is alluding to. One if the charges against him is drinking alcohol despite being in a club licensed to serve it.

It really doesn’t appeal to me at all, I’m really not sure – of the folk I know that have visited (only a handful) what the attraction is..

City in the desert. I don’t like cities and I don’t like deserts. Like Vegas it will run out of water and be swept up ozymandias like in the sands of time.

Horrible place, just a monument to consumerism in a desert. People go there for low tax regime and low cost of living. Personally I think it’s everything which is wrong with western society magnified…

A place built on slave labour and corruption. Knocked back the chance to go there to work for one of the big construction firms. Couldn’t take the money (and it was lots) and watch whilst poor people from India were treated like prisoners, paid a pittance and had to put up with utter shite H&S systems.

**** anyone who choses to go there and ‘make their fortune’.

As said above, if someone’s been on holiday and enjoyed it, they’re the kind of person I can avoid talking to.

Seems to be the place to go if you want to (pretend to) be a billionaire and mock up pictures that make it look like you are, see rich kids of instagram posts for more info.

And sleep in a magnificent gross display of weatlh hotel built by slaves

Most ‘great cities’ were built on the backs of the poor, slave labour and corruption. We just got a head start.

On that basis it will probably be OK to pop in and admire the architecture in 150 years or so.

I’m going in a few weeks. Spending 3 days there before going on to Oman. It was effectively free as we were transferring through the airport and we are using work hotel points for accommodation. There does seem some interesting stuff to do to fill a few days. We decided to go and make our own opinions.

Not normally the type of place I’d go for leisure*. But if you look at the FO advice there are 1.5 million visits a year. I’ve also had friends move out there and they seem to get on fine. Been to other places in the ME on holiday and for work so will be interesting to compare.

*I tend to like big open empty natural spaces.

Unless you turn up there with trace amounts of a recreational drug, or you get raped and report it to the police.

Well clearly make sure you clean up after taking drugs if you’re going to visit one of those countries. Their rules are clear – doesn’t take a genius to follow them and take a bit of extra care to save you from the firing squad. The raping thing is a problem I grant you, but I meant that in most cases it is the foreigners who are acting in a manner that is disrespecting their culture and laws – usually when pissed up. I don’t respect or agree with their laws, but they are what they are and when i’m there i’m going to make sure I abide by them.

I’ve only just read about this latest issue. Getting arrested for ‘brushing up’ against somebody? I suspect that isn’t the whole story. I was thinking more about the issue a few years back when a couple were done for having sex on the beach. Tourism is Dubai’s number 1 industry so the last thing they want is a bad rep and scare tourists away, so they are pretty tolerant and will give plenty of warnings before taking more formal action. But when they do take action they clearly throw the book at you. Tourists behaving badly in these countries keeps embassy’s very busy.

Sounds great. How do we go about getting Sharia law in Europe?

It doesn’t just sound great…it is great and a breath of fresh air compared to feeling like you’ve got to check your pockets every few minutes in the UK to check they’ve not been picked, but thankfully sharia law is not required. The same is true for alot of countries in south east Asia.

I’ve worked there a bit and have staff that have spent time there. Can’t disagree with anything said above, bizarre place full of wannabe richlisters who are in fact middle management gone bad. Awful human rights history, strange culture and the ex-pat thing is plain odd. No thanks.

Worked there in ’96 when you could walk from Zabeel to the Creek, was dodgy but had some charm then, went back 2y ago for a 5d work thing and thought it was an awful place. Know people who’ve done it – big salary, but big cost of living so no real advantage when you come back, unless you like the expat treat the staff like crap thing, and can tolerate the locals treat everyone like crap thing. Many many better places in the world

wobbliscott – Member

Well clearly make sure you clean up after taking drugs if you’re going to visit one of those countries. Their rules are clear – doesn’t take a genius to follow them

Yes because it’s perfectly logical to assume that microscopic trace residue of cannabis will land you in jail.

the raping thing is a problem I grant you, but I meant that in most cases it is the foreigners who are acting in a manner that is disrespecting their culture and laws

Yes, except when a foreign slut woman makes accusations of rape against one of their fine upstanding gentlemen. That’s also disrespectful of their laws.

wobbliscott

I don’t respect or agree with their laws

wobbliscott

It doesn’t just sound great…it is great

Perhaps you should move there? They might swap you for an atheist or homosexual they have in jail 😉

Tourism is Dubai’s number 1 industry

Better tell that to OPEC, they’re obviously missing out on trillions…

The weather’s pretty good.

When transiting through the airport you’d frequently see groups of expensively attired Russian women, and sometimes in hotels. Very easy to spend your tax free salary if so inclined.

I’d rather live and work in Swindon (so long as it’s near Nationwide).

Tourism is Dubai’s number 1 industry

Better tell that to OPEC, they’re obviously missing out on trillions…

[/quote]

There’s very little oil in Dubai….

Oil revenue first started to flow in 1969.[9] Dubai’s oil revenue helped accelerate the early development of the city, but its reserves are limited and production levels are low: today, less than 5% of the emirate’s revenue comes from oil.[10]

The weather’s pretty good

Not three weeks ago when a sandstorm delayed landing by over an hour.

Mrs_oab went to visit family who lived there. The only bit she enjoyed in the fortnight there was when her uncle and aunt took them out camping in the desert. She disliked the obvious slave like labour culture, the weird ex pat culture, the Pride over chasing money, bling and extravagant shows of power and riches. Vowed never to go back.

It doesn’t just sound great…it is great and a breath of fresh air compared to feeling like you’ve got to check your pockets every few minutes in the UK to check they’ve not been picked

Oh please. Get real 😆

My old man has lived there since 2004.

I’ve been 4 times for two weeks at a time.

It its very safe. You can leave your wallet and it will be returned.

Also the fakest place on earth. Its essentially milton Keynes in the desert with added gold.

All the expats love it, all spending stupid money. My oldan tells me he is poor then goes out on his boat and has brunch in the burj dubai. Yes dad.

Asians are second class citizens. I went to a phone shop. Indian in front of me in queue, shop keeper has me bypass him cause I’m white.

Ive had little Filipino women carrying drinks for me like I’ve lost the use of my arms. Very uncomfortable.

Dad employs a whole bunch of Indians.(he works in construction obvs) They get paid naff all and live in portakabins at the site. Dad says they are on good money. But not relative to us.

Lots of corruption. Old man got drunk (hotels are the pubs) decided to drive, hit an Arab car, Indian in a car hit them. Indian gets taken away cause hes Indian, dad goes home to his “villa”.

Its boring. Shops. More shops. Concrete. More concrete. Fake everything. More buildings. Can’t walk anywhere cause you’ll melt. Air conned building to air conned car to building again.

The people are vapid. All money driven. “Daves bought a new boat” Daves new boat is the size of my terraced house. Fair play. But then Dave insults me buy telling me I couldn’t afford the B&O sound system he has in it. Cheers Dave. Twunt. Got a point though.

Old man works 6 days a week from maintain his lifestyle. Step monster lives like a dubai princess and just socialises moaning over first world problems like her car being three years old etc. Both have forgotten where they have come from.

I hate the place. I am avoiding going back. The only draw is its a free holiday and unlike my old man I am not well off, I’d go just to take my boys to lego land etc.

Being a nurse all the young girls on the ward want to go there. Why?

Probably to pair up with bellends willing to finance them living like a Dubai princess.

Never been there, sounds like everything I hate so no interest in going.
My wife has been there 5 times, her mate used to live there teaching English so my wife used to go visit her.
Said she had some decent meals out and found it interesting at first, but no desire to go back.

My boss (slightly TOWIE type from Thurrock who drives a white Mercedes and wears UGG Trainers) loves it, and takes every opportunity to tell us how expensive his dinner was in some tacky restaurant on the 80th floor somewhere. Says it all really.

Given the choice I’d rather go back to Monaco – I loved that place – tacky but there is some class in there somewhere.