Dubai documentary

I went on holiday a few years ago, stayed with a friend that lives there. Enjoyed it for a few days but I have no desire to go back. Soulless, fake and OTT. It was all hotels, shopping centres and bling. It was just very superficial. Everything is man-made, there's no natural anything except sand. My friend gets paid enough that the ridiculous prices don't bother him. I'm not sure the salary is worth it. I'd far rather live in the UK but I wouldn't say no to better weather.

The inequality is stark as well, far worse than anything you see here. The workers are bussed into the city and hidden behind construction tents and then sent out to live in tents in the desert. Paid a pittance in a country with endless wealth.
 
zzzzz said:
Centuries of tradition. A rich history dating back to the time before people started recoring it.
A rich cultural tapestry and a hugely diverse society. A democratic soul.
To compare the UK with Dubai interms of soul is just ridiculous.
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Ah, I think you've misinterpreted my reply. I wasn't comparing the UK to Dubai in that message. I just asked what the soul of the place is, as I'm sure everybody's interpretation is different...
 
The mountains looked great, but I could not understand how people would actually love views of skyscrapers. Its interesting for a week then I would prefer a more natural view. The documentary did show the mountains in the context of women (with police escorts) racing up them in super cars.

All the social media influencers irritated me and the most popular word was Instagram.

In episode 2 & 3 - I also kept thinking who was doing the menial jobs. In episode 1 thyere were some Phillipino servants who lived in and did all the cooking and cleaning - it was like a modern upstairs/downstairs.

There was no one over 65 neither.
 
I watched it the other night and found it interesting as I've had 2 stints there, a year in the boom period between 2006 and 2007 and a shorter stint about 4 years ago. The lifestyle is very affluent and image driven, and most of the expats I encountered drank to excess (not particularly a Dubai thing, expat life is very boozy in general). It's a place of massive contradictions...witness the Dubai World Cup horse racing when gambling is illegal, and the bikini-clad girls everywhere when they locals preach modesty. The couple posing for photos in the bath overlooking the city...wow.

The episode on the other week with the rich Brits flying off in their private jet while the Filipino maids went off to Little Manila to find some cheap second-hand clothes to spend their pittance wages on was the whole thing in a nutshell.

I won't be rushing back. As I've said before...good for a visit and the experience, not for living. Horses for courses. A lot of people love the place!
 
zzzzz said:
It's far from perfect but it is a democracy.
To compare it to Dubai is just daft.
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Democracy? I'm not so sure a FPTP system that doesn't reflect actual voting can be considered a democracy. Is it really a democracy when politicians lie, media is controlled by billionaires who then back whoever does their bidding for them? I'm not sure.
 
Magic Man said:
Very similar myself, mate. I can understand why some people may have issues with the place on the face of it. I'm currently living in Abu Dhabi, it's perceived to be much less 'pretentious' that Dubai, but, that said, no matter where you live in the world, people looking on from afar are always going to look down their noses at you one way or another. No matter where you are living, you make your own way. The UAE is most definitely not perfect, but I'm not sure the UK measures up to be much better - if at all (especially at the moment). The benefits I see living here for myself and my family far outweigh the life we were living in the UK - but that's just my personal situation, others may be swayed differently.
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dropped you a pm. next time i am in abu dhabi for midweek business if the boro are on telly we can go and watch it... green al hosn permitting of course....
 
The other thing I was thinking is what happens when UK people get old there - do they come back to the UK and use the NHS and UK social services with others here than typically pay 32% of their income in UK taxes. So Dubai gets you at your peak years and the UK has to pay for health and education for say someone who has not contributed to UK taxes for 25 years. Doesn't seem right.
 
Redwurzel said:
The other thing I was thinking is what happens when UK people get old there - do they come back to the UK and use the NHS and UK social services with others here than typically pay 32% of their income in UK taxes. So Dubai gets you at your peak years and the UK has to pay for health and education for say someone who has not contributed to UK taxes for 25 years. Doesn't seem right.
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i personally have kept up with my NI contributions..... :)
 
S7DiscoDown said:
I'm not a fan. I often moan about it and say I'd never go on holiday there as my mates are booking it as a 'dream holiday'.

I've probably spent a total of around 10-12 weeks in Dubai for free (well on deployment with the Navy). I just never liked the place. We once broke down and spent 5 weeks alongside. I was brassic.

Everything is so expensive and pretentious as everyone' appears' to have money (although many rent super cars etc). Bell ends with 4 litre bottles of Gray Goose and taking photos of every cocktail or meal.

I imagine it's brand has been tarnished by the sheer amount of YouTubers and influencers that go. Absolutely not not for me and definitely not for everyone. I've had a few mates go and all they do is complain about the price of everything.

I imagine if money is genuinely no object then 'crack on' as nice beaches and you'll get looked after.

That said I've not been for 9 years. The first time was 98 so I'm sure it's changed. I did pick up an original James Bond early naughties Blue Omega Seamaster for about a 3rd of the price and still own to this day. Think it's still worth about what I paid 👍
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First time in 94 (same as yourself courtesy of The Andrew).
It was so much different then. The Al Karama was cheap and cheerful, the gold suq was relatively cheap. The Irish Village was the place to go, and the Highland Lodge was still open.

It's now just rammed with The Real Wives of Essex. The gold suq is now full of rings and earrings to cater for westerners and the prices are ridiculous.
Not what it was and that's much for the worse.
 
Nero said:
Britain cannot lecture any other country or how people leads their lives in my opinion. Britain is a mess politically, has been arguing amongst itself since 2014 and has a system of government that is not fit for a modern society.
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It may be flawed, but it is a democracy.
 
fozzylegend said:
i personally have kept up with my NI contributions..... :)
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Fair dos - if you have. I assumed people working in Dubai would not.

Interesting said that if anyone criticised the ruler they would be asked to leave.

If we applied that to this Board and the UK, about 33% of FMTTM posters would have had to leave the UK. :rolleyes:
 
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