Dubai Has Been Slated – Again – In The International Press And This Just Has To Stop
Yet another article has been published, by international media on the ‘dark side of Dubai’.
An article, shared to Australia’s biggest news site, news.com.au, was written by an ex-Dubai journo and basically accuses the city of being a superficial, soulless wasteland.
It cited cliche examples of the UAE, the classic ‘big cats in super car’, the shiny towers, and the expat penchant for brunches, all painting a picture of a Dubai with no heart.
But I take issue with this article, for a few reasons.
The international media seems ever eager to write about Dubai’s ‘realities’, and its short-comings
Often, the world is infatuated with this rare social experiment that is a rapidly developing nation that is the emirates, and somehow paints the country in a less than flattering light, but often it’s only half the story.
Sultan Al Qassemi wrote an eloquent piece on how a New Yorker journalist spent a mere day in the city, and judging it based simply on a few of the tourist attractions.
I’m not saying Dubai is without its issues
As all cities are – Dubai has shortcomings, and it’s not always an easy city to live in.
There are tough times, as there are with any city. Busy traffic comes part and parcel in big cities, with wealth and opportunity comes opportunists and superficiality; every up has its downs. Sure our rent is higher than other cities, but we don’t have income tax.
So many expats come to Dubai, soaking up the sun, enjoying the tax-free income, and doing #humblebrag posts about their opulent lifestyle in Dubai only to go home and have a whinge.
The article cites three tiers of classes
Top being: ‘local Emiratis who are inexhaustibly wealthy’
Using an example: “You know you’ve spotted one if you see a polished metal Jaguar carrying a furry pet Jaguar in the front seat. Exotic animals as pets are illegal in the UAE, yet a common sight among the rich.”
Having lived in the UAE for five years, I’ve yet to see a big cat seated in a car, and several new laws are being implemented to enforce the prohibition of owning exotic animals.
Plus, being nationals of the country, why shouldn’t these people enjoy the wealth of their land?
What’s wrong with benefiting off a rich government?
Most nations in the first world offer their citizens free education and healthcare.
Then the expats of Dubai the ‘second layer of rich foreign workers’
There’s no mention of the expats on mid-level incomes, struggling to pay rent at times, no mention of expats working here to better themselves and their career, often working 12-hour days, and paying high rent, living away from their families.
Rather, it cites a cliche about old Dubai expats – the fat cats that ‘are the brains of the nation.’ (the Rulers of the UAE may dispute that)
“The CEOs, bank managers, project heads who will sit at sports bars to discuss their home country’s failed political scenario, and then follow it with shots of tequila on a Tuesday night.”
And the third example – of poor foreign workers ‘nobody wants to discuss’
The quote: “They do 12-hour shifts at a construction site in the middle of the desert on a 50C day.”
It fails to mention the mid-day breaks for summer which are law in the UAE.
It also ignores the happy men that have worked here for 12 years, saying it’s the way they can make life better for their families back home.
Again, it’s not ideal, a lot of their living situations, but they chose this life, and many are happy to live here and reap the benefits.
Life in Dubai is what you make it
The story tells of this journalist drinking “bottomless flutes of Dom Pérignon, and in the morning have my taxi driver tell me how he was not able to buy a goat for his family in Pakistan this Eid.”
Sorry, but that’s your choice. You do that.
Not all expats take to ladies’ nights, hit up all the brunches, and live an ostentatious life.
Many expats spend quiet nights in friends’ company (if they can get away from the office), with their children, or exploring off-beat restos in the back streets of Dubai.
The beauty of the UAE is that it offers opportunity to all
There are experiences you’ll not get anywhere else, there is a magic in the city, a melting pot of cultures, a tax-free income and the world’s tallest, fastest, biggest, richest.
But don’t act like that’s all there is here.
There are good people, rich culture, unique experiences and a beautiful history. If you choose to sip on champagne on weeknights and ignore all that, then you are the fool.
And frankly, if you don’t like it here, you can always leave…
