NationStates Jolt Archive

Dubai - Gulf Paradise? Or Corporate Slave State?

Dubai is regarded as a Middle eastern miracle. It's economic prosperity has seen dozens of sky scrapers erected and even created artificial islands. But at what price?

Pick any building in Dubai, it is likely that several dozen foreign labourers died in its construction. Dhabian industry has a well-established method for restocking their human resources, they send scouts to Third World nations in Africa, Arabia, and even further afield, these people are promised prosperity, but they are forced into debt by their employers who supply their transportation and lodging. The promise of earning a comfortable wage with enough to spare to send home is not kept and their conditions resemble that of slaves - including the denial of the right to Unionise, as such conditions are criminally unsafe, often construction workers are forced to work in all conditions without hard-hats or harnesses.

Meanwhile, the emirs use these huge revenues (many government ministers have conflicting interests in the worst offending companies) to create the facade of paradise that thousands of Western tourists flock to. Meanwhile they maintain absolute power by suppressing basic freedoms amongst the indigenous peoples. Dubai is renowned for its safety, but - however perverse this may seem - terrorism is an indicator of liberty within a society. Low levels in terrorist activity imply that the government takes extraordinary measures in restricting popular action.

Finally, the most disgusting players in Dubai. The Westerners. The wealthy tourists and businesspeople have access to information about Dubai, information about the workings of this slave state, and how democracy is denied in principle, and how racist policies imply Shari'a only to the indigenous people. Westerners know that every dinar they spend will continuate a cycle of slavery, yet they spend it anyway.

So, what is peoples' opinion of the UAE now? Is this really a bastion of civilisation in the desert? Or is an abomination against human dignity that needs destroying and reclaiming by the sands?

Sounds like a Capitalist Paradise.

The latter - obviously.

AsIfIDidntKnowThatAlready, dude.

Which part of ZeroShariaTolerance is hard to grasp?

Dubai - Gulf Paradise? Or Corporate Slave State?

Dubai is regarded as a Middle eastern miracle. It's economic prosperity has seen dozens of sky scrapers erected and even created artificial islands. But at what price?

Pick any building in Dubai, it is likely that several dozen foreign labourers died in its construction. Dhabian industry has a well-established method for restocking their human resources, they send scouts to Third World nations in Africa, Arabia, and even further afield, these people are promised prosperity, but they are forced into debt by their employers who supply their transportation and lodging. The promise of earning a comfortable wage with enough to spare to send home is not kept and their conditions resemble that of slaves - including the denial of the right to Unionise, as such conditions are criminally unsafe, often construction workers are forced to work in all conditions without hard-hats or harnesses.

Meanwhile, the emirs use these huge revenues (many government ministers have conflicting interests in the worst offending companies) to create the facade of paradise that thousands of Western tourists flock to. Meanwhile they maintain absolute power by suppressing basic freedoms amongst the indigenous peoples. Dubai is renowned for its safety, but - however perverse this may seem - terrorism is an indicator of liberty within a society. Low levels in terrorist activity imply that the government takes extraordinary measures in restricting popular action.

Finally, the most disgusting players in Dubai. The Westerners. The wealthy tourists and businesspeople have access to information about Dubai, information about the workings of this slave state, and how democracy is denied in principle, and how racist policies imply Shari'a only to the indigenous people. Westerners know that every dinar they spend will continuate a cycle of slavery, yet they spend it anyway.

So, what is peoples' opinion of the UAE now? Is this really a bastion of civilisation in the desert? Or is an abomination against human dignity that needs destroying and reclaiming by the sands?

Is not all of civilization built upon the sacrifice of the masses? Note: I'm not advocating Communism. It just seems...interesting that we should pose a question about a nation which has built itself into the modern world in the context of all nations throughout history in their struggle for "civilization."

Democracy isn’t everything. The people are perfectly content to live under Islamic law as are most in the region. It’s how they were raised. They don’t want anything else. They are much better off than many in neighboring countires who are both opressed and poor.

Also, government control has little to do with the level of terrorism. Poverty breeds terrorism, not liberty.

Is not all of civilization built upon the sacrifice of the masses? Note: I'm not advocating Communism. It just seems...interesting that we should pose a question about a nation which has built itself into the modern world in the context of all nations throughout history in their struggle for "civilization."

I would say calling Dubai civilised would be a case of judging a book by its cover. While exploitation is an essential building block of civilisation, it must also be accompanied by (at least the illusion) of liberty. People must feel that their grievences can be resolved, otherwise they will revolt.

Besides, the UAE is unneccesarily cruel in its 'struggle for civilisation', keeping foreign nationals in slave-like conditions is not just unconscienable, it is ultimately uneconomical.

Democracy isn’t everything. The people are perfectly content to live under Islamic law as are most in the region. It’s how they were raised. They don’t want anything else. They are much better off than many in neighboring countires who are both opressed and poor.

Also, government control has little to do with the level of terrorism. Poverty breeds terrorism, not liberty.

The causes of terrorism cannot be summed up in a three word phrase, it is a complex formula. Imagine a totalitarian regime, it would be difficult for you to construct a pipe bomb in your room if the Party has installed a Telescreen. And again, in a total Anarchy people would be free to blow things up simply at a whim. While terrorist foot-soldiers tend to be poor, we cannot deny that the bin Laden dynasty is one of the richest in the World, and that most of the Bolsheviks were privately educated.

The causes of terrorism cannot be summed up in a three word phrase, it is a complex formula. Imagine a totalitarian regime, it would be difficult for you to construct a pipe bomb in your room if the Party has installed a Telescreen. And again, in a total Anarchy people would be free to blow things up simply at a whim. While terrorist foot-soldiers tend to be poor, we cannot deny that the bin Laden dynasty is one of the richest in the World, and that most of the Bolsheviks were privately educated.


I'm thinking that in another thread, Neo said it was organised religion that's the source of all evil...
FlipFlop. Neo's whole 'tude is: blame anything, as long as it ain't Islamic!

The causes of terrorism cannot be summed up in a three word phrase, it is a complex formula. Imagine a totalitarian regime, it would be difficult for you to construct a pipe bomb in your room if the Party has installed a Telescreen. And again, in a total Anarchy people would be free to blow things up simply at a whim. While terrorist foot-soldiers tend to be poor, we cannot deny that the bin Laden dynasty is one of the richest in the World, and that most of the Bolsheviks were privately educated.
The Bolsheviks are terrorists now?
I'm thinking that in another thread, Neo said it was organised religion that's the source of all evil...
FlipFlop. Neo's whole 'tude is: blame anything, as long as it ain't Islamic!
Believe me, I loathe Islam, and I'll be the first to decry it in a civilized country, but you aren’t going to change those peoples minds. May as well live with their ignorance.

You should see the mexicans without papers who labor to build up america's new cities. This is an old trick - use cheap foreigners to build things - and it is and has been very popular in the US.

I know full well that Petrodollar Paradise has its dark side. However, at the same time the UAE is one of the few areas where change can be instigated in to the Islamic world. Its economic growth and large exposure to Western commerce and tourism are starting to liberalize its society and that is helping to bring about change in the country's politics.

I think it's like China; there are labor abuses, but at the same time the economic growth that causes them is the only way those problems will be solved. We need to keep the UAE growing while simultaneously pressuing it for more rights and worker protections; it might be a slow process, but the oil boom is an opportunity for liberalization in the Middle East.

Too many countries and companies to name practice this makes you wonder if there is enough of an incentive to keep the third world poor.

Dubai isn’t a hell hole its just like the Wal-Mart of the middle east

I appreciate your having brought up this topic. Without having been there to affirm or refute your 'facts', I agree with the points you make, except:

terrorism is an indicator of liberty within a society. Low levels in terrorist activity imply that the government takes extraordinary measures in restricting popular action.

....Or is an abomination against human dignity that needs destroying and reclaiming by the sands?

As I see it, the primary examples of terrorism in the US are street gangs and the government, more particularly the PNAC (and the guy that owned and bombed the NY WTC for the insurance payoff). Generally, I feel that restrictive government action is condusive to antiestablishmentarianism, or terrorism, but I think that there is so little real terrorism in the States because, predominantly, the people there don't want to blow it up. Regarding abominations in government or culture, if you want to raise that issue, I think China's, Myanmar's, and America's governments warrant such a razing before any others, and culturally, the vanquishing of America and England would be a blessing upon the world. Amen. So I feel. ;)

Wow. I never realized how kickass Dubai was. I'll have to plan my next vacation there.

Wow. I never realized how kickass Dubai was. I'll have to plan my next vacation there.

Right. I forgot to mention how much I'd like to find an 'in' to Dubai that would pay me a fat spout on that pipeline of money that they're building. Surely someone there has need of someone who's only proficiency is English literature..?

Right. I forgot to mention how much I'd like to find an 'in' to Dubai that would pay me a fat spout on that pipeline of money that they're building. Surely someone there has need of someone who's only proficiency is English literature..?

They have monies to throw around. They'll probably hire you.

... culturally, the vanquishing of America and England would be a blessing upon the world.
Well, okay, but when you achieve our downfall, you have to give back the computer you entered that post on, all your American-made or -designed DVDs, CDs, games, clothes, food processed to American health standards, etc. Enjoy the 18th century, I hear it was a blast. Sort of. :p

Well, okay, but when you achieve our downfall, you have to give back the computer you entered that post on, all your American-made or -designed DVDs, CDs, games, clothes, food processed to American health standards, etc. Enjoy the 18th century, I hear it was a blast. Sort of. :p


I have trouble believing you wear much clothing made in the US. Or use many dvds or cds made here. CDs were inveted by the dutch and the japanese. Ditto DVDs.

Its usually a pretty bad idea to drive an american car.

I much prefer eating food say, cooked (not "processed") to say, french standards.

Well, okay, but when you achieve our downfall, you have to give back the computer you entered that post on, all your American-made or -designed DVDs, CDs, games, clothes, food processed to American health standards, etc. Enjoy the 18th century, I hear it was a blast. Sort of. :p

My computer?! No!? Alright, fine. It's a deal. When america is completely submersed, I'll drop my computer from a helicopter into the, er, American ocean. (But it was a french guy that invented the binary math that makes it all possible, and he got that idea from the chinese "I Ching". Wait, this is an Asus machine! That's made here in Taiwan!)

I have trouble believing you wear much clothing made in the US. Or use many dvds or cds made here. CDs were inveted by the dutch and the japanese. Ditto DVDs.

Its usually a pretty bad idea to drive an american car.

I much prefer eating food say, cooked (not "processed") to say, french standards.
I did say "designed" as well, but whatever. I was semi-joking but one does get mightly tired of watching the endless rounds of "America Sucks" that go on (I did think it interesting that England was included, too). I voted against the idiot from Texas twice, and I think he'll go down as one of the worst presidents we've ever had. And sure, the US is not perfect. We're big and crass and loud, we wear spandex in public, we eat food of questionable nutritional value, but none of the rest of you is perfect either. As an example, the colonial records of the Belgians and the Dutch are hardly exemplary. Amen and so I believe. ;)

I really didn't mean to get into an argument on this, and I'll depart the thread now.

"We all love to walk in the W-execution Day Parade!"

Some people should really gather all the facts.

I have been in Dubai, and I have dealt with that "slave labour" you speak of. They were doing maintenance on our ship, the kind of semi-skilled labour that would have eaten up all of our time in port if we did it ourselves. And trust me, a 10-day port call isn't something that any sailor in the world wants to spend cleaning the bilges or installing new partitions in the officers' head.

So, we dealt with contractors. Those men, I'll admit, they are worked hard. Very hard. But most of them are volunteers. They come from other surrounding nations in South-West asia, from the Middle-East, from Africa. They come there because they make upwards of three times as much as they would make back home. Most of the money they send back to their families. How different is that from profssionals who leave a Western country to work somewhere else? Is it a different standard because it's not westerners who are involved?

On a really positive note, Dubai is a wonderful city. The people are as friendly as you can hope to meet in a Muslim nation (so long as they can't identify you as Americans), the local food is excellent (beware of street sellers. They have the best food around, but not for people with temperamental stomachs) and jewelry is extremely inexpensive, especially gold and silver. The souks are wonderful places to shop, where not only the merchants are open to negociation, but you are EXPECTED to negociate. No one but perfet idiotic suckers pay full-price in the souks.

For other shopping, there are several thoroughly modern shopping malls, and they do put some of ours to shame. For people who enjoy tailoring and medieval reenactors, linnen is DIRT CHEAP in Dubai. 10 meters of linen at not a tenth the price I would pay back home. And spices, too. Everything is pretty damned fresh, and inexpensive. Iranian saffron, a full pound of it, for a few US dollars. The stuff is around 5 bucks a gram back here.

And while there are many legit high-end watch places in Dubai, knockoffs are extremely popular out there. Fake watches especially.

As for amusement, it's not hard to find some. There is also a waterpark, Wild Wadi. It is much fun, but here is one tip: Stay in the shade or walk where it is wet: the concrete gets extremely bloody hot.

Some people should really gather all the facts.

Yup. Like I said, I'd like to get myself there, straightaway..haha, well, soon anyway. Any job connects? Preferably not that 'volunteer' stuff you mention...more like PR for that 7-star hotel, or massage therapist for the manager's smokin hot daughter....

I'm from Phoenix, the US's most arid and hot major city. I plan to go to Dubai and Riyadh some time to see how other people have dealt with building cities in inhospitable deserts.