NationStates Jolt Archive

Hmmm....what can I say.


It's a bit of a long story, but my father doesn't have a job, and Australia seems doesn't seem to be the best place for a foreigner (a "hardworking" German at that) to take a position of IT Manager.

So now my parents are considering to move to Dubai, which has recently been courted by Chancellor Schröder, and which now has a fairly substantial German community there. It seems like they would actually have a position for my father should he decide to move.
I'd stay behind and finish my uni degree in Oz, but I'm curious nonetheless.

What can you tell me about Dubai? Has anyone been?
I've only spent about 10 hours there alltogether at the airport - but it seems like a nice place. I'd hate the weather though, I'm much more of a rain person...

I've never been to the Middle East in my life, let alone Dubai. But that is on my short list of places I'd ever consider safe there. In additiion to being safe, it's extremely prosperous. They just built two islands shaped like palm trees, and will build malls, condos, and offices, including the world's tallest building. I feel jealous, but I'm glad you're going.

I have never been there, but one of my sister-in-laws relatives took a position in a school there. They have gone three or four years and seem to like it quite a bit. It is, of course, very warm. And as another poster mentioned they are very, very wealthy. Best of luck to your parents.

(I wish they would hire social workers.)

Surely more than two people know stories about how life is in that place!

Dubai is in the United Arab Emirates, and therefore in Asia. As far as I've heard, there's no taxes in the Emirates, since the state is incredibly oil-wealthy. Other than that, there's not much else I know about it, except that its becoming a tourist attraction for the filthy rich and that luxury is capitalized, since it can be afforded.

isn't Dubai the place with that massive (world's only) seven star hotel? :confused:
no i know practically nothing about the place, but it sounds exciting for you and your parents

isn't Dubai the place with that massive (world's only) seven star hotel? :confused:
The one shaped as a boat mast with a sail?

I think it is Progressive Conservative.

They enjoy their Sports they have wicked Cricket and Rugby 7's Tournaments and ibelieve they are the ones that have their own F1 racing circuit.

The one shaped as a boat mast with a sail?
yeah its purdy

...i believe they are the ones that have their own F1 racing circuit.
Isn't that Bahrain?

But yes, Dubai is the place with the Burj Al Arab (http://www.burj-al-arab.com/) hotel
http://www.travelshop.de/kreuzfahrten/phoenix/maxim/alarab.jpg

[QUOTE=Leonstein]snipQUOTE]

hey leo.

I would not personally recommend it. It is a lovely place, full of shopiong centres, hotels, etc... but that is really it. If you go there on holiday you'll love it! that is if you love shopping.....

Out of the Middle East, it's okay. I'm thinking about visiting in 2007.

However, after doing a little preliminary research (wikipedia, etc.)...

The government controls access to the internet and bans "harmful content".

You can't get in if you are an Israeli national.

You may be given a drug test upon entry, and if it turns up positive, you get an automatic 4 year jail sentence.

Homosexuality is punishable by death.

I have friends there, but never been there myself.

It is a nice country (considering the neighborhood)- a shopper's paradise actually.

But it is still a conservative islamic society. So no hanky panky business, if you know what I mean.

Oh and you will find lots of Indians, especially from the state of Kerala, there.

What can you tell me about Dubai? Has anyone been?
I've only spent about 10 hours there alltogether at the airport - but it seems like a nice place. I'd hate the weather though, I'm much more of a rain person...My best friend...my ultimate friend, lives in Dubai with her husband. All this info is second hand through her:)

She says: Dubai is a very modern city. Western women are not expected to walk around veiled, and you start to see the very obvious differences between Muslims right away. Saudi women wear the full gear, but Dubai is full of Phillipine and Indian Muslims who wear colourful head coverings and sharp clothes. Men look at you all the time, because prostitution is EVERYWHERE in Dubai. There are bars where only prostitutes frequent...and it may be a faux pas to ask, 'how much' if a woman is hitting on you, but you're probably right to assume.

Most western workers live in gated communities, and really don't mix much with the general population. It isn't a particularly dangerous city, but they do have secret police, and you do need to be very clear on your rights. Dubai is rich...so rich it doesn't know what to do with all that money. That's why you have two islands, man-made in the shape of palm-trees for rich people to live on. Hotels that are built so you can see the water running under your feet.

It's hot. Really, really hot. But you'll probably live close to the water, and a lot of the foreigners have pools. You can live in Dubai forever and never feel that you're in the Middle East...or you can get out and really see it. It's up to you.

Anyway, best of luck!

Edit: Oh yeah...the conservative thing...she first moved to Dubai before she married her husband, and they had to pretend they weren't living together to avoid trouble. They would not have let her husband (then fiance) continue to work there if they had been 'found out'.

And there are no laws protecting foreign workers...in terms of minimum wage and labour standards I mean. East Indian workers are very exploited.

So is Dubai close to Abu Dabhi? Will you be going to see the grappling tournament held there?

-snip-
Thanks! :)

So is Dubai close to Abu Dabhi? Will you be going to see the grappling tournament held there?
Yeah, it's part of the Emirates, I wouldn't think it'd take more than a few hours by car.

Isn't that Bahrain?

But yes, Dubai is the place with the Burj Al Arab (http://www.burj-al-arab.com/) hotel
http://www.travelshop.de/kreuzfahrten/phoenix/maxim/alarab.jpg

OK, check this shit out...

The SMALLEST room available is the Deluxe One Bedroom Suite

Area - 169 sq. mts
Lower level - Living room with large lounge, dining table for 4, private bar counter, guest washroom
Upper level - Dressing room, bedroom with king size or twin bed, luxury bathroom with Jacuzzi
Transport - Chauffeur driven Rolls Royce or BMW available at a charge

And here are some of the offered amenities...

For Buisness
Complimentary high speed Internet access
office area
Laptop
private telephone and facsimile
photocopier and data port

For Entertainment
Multimedia system - 42 inch plasma screen
video on demand
75 cable channels and DVD system
Interactive online communication and hotel guide
Complimentary access to Wild Wadi Water Park

For You
Welcome drinks, fresh flowers, fruits and Arabic sweets
Luxury bathroom with Jacuzzi, full-size Hermes toiletries
Button controlled lighting, curtains and air conditioning and private safe
24 hour butler :D
Pillow menu and Bath menu

Also
Butler Packing Service
Butler Unpacking Service
Orthopedic Pillow
Welcome Package in suite
American Newspaper
Arabic Newspaper
British Newspaper
French Newspaper
German Newspaper
Italian Newspaper
Marhaba Service
Palm Island View
Dubai View
Vegetarian Guest
Orthopedic Mattress

Price per night with no optional amenities:
$1594.20 US Dollars
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Dubai....
Some one mentioned the palm islands, but there's also these (http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/world_islands.php)

Dubai....
Some one mentioned the palm islands, but there's also these (http://realestate.theemiratesnetwork.com/developments/dubai/world_islands.php)
Wow. So THAT'S what people do when they have more money than they could possibly spend in a lifetime...

Out of the Middle East, it's okay. I'm thinking about visiting in 2007.

However, after doing a little preliminary research (wikipedia, etc.)...

The government controls access to the internet and bans "harmful content".

You can't get in if you are an Israeli national.

You may be given a drug test upon entry, and if it turns up positive, you get an automatic 4 year jail sentence.

Homosexuality is punishable by death.

Whew, sounds like hell on earth. I'd say you're better off moving to North Korea. Hangeul (Korean writing) is an awesome-looking writing system and it would be kind of cool to experience what Winston Smith experienced.

Make sure you don't pack a ham sandwich in your carry-on. ;)

Whew, sounds like hell on earth. I'd say you're better off moving to North Korea. Hangeul (Korean writing) is an awesome-looking writing system and it would be kind of cool to experience what Winston Smith experienced.

Haha.

I think they're just different areas of hell. One is a ghetto/industrial area full of emaciated people (with a no tolerance police policy), and the other is the seedy red light district full of prostitutes and drug addicts (with a no tolerance police policy). At least in the latter the buildings look cool.