Another crazy Dubai story

[sjn2004]

Tourist gestures to another motorist (obviously local bigwig) and gets arrested. Passport taken and possibly around 1 year to wait for trial. Why do people even bother going to this stupid racist place?

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s...

[4Q]

sjn2004 said:

Why do people even bother going to this stupid racist place?

Because they believe the utopia-like adverts.

Little do they know most of the Middle East is an utter sthole with a thin, yet horrendous, facade.

[pokethepope]

What I don't understand is why these cases are being allowed to happen. Dubai pretty much depends on tourism now, in the future it will be its sole source of income. They already make relaxations to cater for tourists, but these stories in the papers damage its tourism potential so much.

[EDLT]

pokethepope said:

What I don't understand is why these cases are being allowed to happen. Dubai pretty much depends on tourism now, in the future it will be its sole source of income. They already make relaxations to cater for tourists, but these stories in the papers damage its tourism potential so much.

Maybe they don't want to appear weak when most of the Arab world is fighting off mass protests.

[Victor McDade]

I read elsewhere that this chaps father is a minister and national security advisor in Ghana. I hope he can pull a few strings and get his son a Ghanaian passport which should allow him to sneak out of the country via Oman or likewise.

Letting things run it course could take months. Maybe I'm just blind to it but these kind of things never seem to happen to Americans. Are our consulate officials a bit too soft when it comes to sticking up for UK citizens?

[sooperscoop]

Things you quickly learn in Dubai #3467.

See that white Land Cruiser closing in on your ass at 100mph? That's probably an Emirati, so get out of the f***king way.

Many Europeans find it really hard to realise that they are not the top of the food chain in UAE. You may think you're the shiznit because you earn 100K, drive a Range Rover and wear his'n'hers Rolexes, but you're there to shut the f*** up, keep your hands clean and make Emiratis even richer. Welcome to the servants quarters.

[Bing o]

sooperscoop said:

Things you quickly learn in Dubai #3467.

See that white Land Cruiser closing in on your ass at 100mph? That's probably an Emirati, so get out of the f***king way.

Many Europeans find it really hard to realise that they are not the top of the food chain in UAE. You may think you're the shiznit because you earn 100K, drive a Range Rover and wear his'n'hers Rolexes, but you're there to shut the f*** up, keep your hands clean and make Emiratis even richer. Welcome to the servants quarters.

This. And not just the UAE either. If you move abroad thinking you will get preferential treatment, or be accepted by the locals as their own, or try and change the status quo, then you are in for a shock. In fact, it's only really the UK that seems to bend over backwards for immigrants - in one way it's what makes the UK great, but we've also gone too far and shafted ourselves now.

[tank slapper]

Yes, because not being arrested and threatened with 5 years imprisonment on a jumped up charge is preferential treatment.

[Bing o]

tank slapper said:

Yes, because not being arrested and threatened with 5 years imprisonment on a jumped up charge is preferential treatment.

No, it's sucky and it's st, but then that's why you have to have your eyes wide open when you leave the cosseting confines of middle england

[Mark.H]

sooperscoop said:

Things you quickly learn in Dubai #3467.

See that white Land Cruiser closing in on your ass at 100mph? That's probably an Emirati, so get out of the f***king way.

Many Europeans find it really hard to realise that they are not the top of the food chain in UAE. You may think you're the shiznit because you earn 100K, drive a Range Rover and wear his'n'hers Rolexes, but you're there to shut the f*** up, keep your hands clean and make Emiratis even richer. Welcome to the servants quarters.

EXACTLY RIGHT!

I'd also bet that he made a completely different gesture too...

The way you approach any locals here, in cars or otherwise is the same way you should treat a very pissed off, half drunk, half coked up, chimp with a gun....you dont take the piss, show respect and exercise extreme caution and keep well clear if possible. If you even for a second think about standing your ground (even if you are in the right) you will face Judge Dredd style justice!

[thinfourth2]

inkiboo said:

Last time I checked, when I drive in London and a foreigner annoys me I don't play the "But I was born here" card and get them thrown in jail.

The UAE is a sthole.

Have a think about it for a moment and which place has it right.

[Hitch78]

Hold on tight, here we go agaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn...................................

Chap clearly ("it was the angle of my hands and the trick of the light, sir") flicked a finger at a local which is not allowed and he is now paying the price. Different place with different rules; play by them or do not come - the not being pissed, fighting, swearing, kissing, flicking Vs in public stuff is the first thing you read about when you look into coming out here.

They call it public decency, not a bad idea really.

Edited by Hitch78 on Wednesday 11th May 07:29

[oilydan]

I quite like the fact that there are no pissed-up twunts fighting in town on the weekend, the fact that I can leave my car unlocked and running while I spend 30 minutes in the supermarket and the fact that when I come barrelling up behind someone on the highway flashing my lights to get them to move the hell out of the way, that they do so without raising a finger

I do have to sit on my own hands occasionally though

Labour certainly haven't ruined this place either.

[funkyrobot]

It's even more of a pee boiler when you think about what immigrants get away with in this country. They don't seem to have to abide by our rules here.

I always think of threads like this when I see the 'perfect world' Dubai trailers on the tv.

[thinfourth2]

inkiboo said:

thinfourth2 said:

Have a think about it for a moment and which place has it right.

It's certainly not the UAE.

You think that the UAE should restrict the locals and let incomers do as they please.?

[oilydan]

Isn't that what has screwed the UK? A little?

[S1MMA]

inkiboo said:

Last time I checked, when I drive in London and a foreigner annoys me I don't play the "But I was born here" card and get them thrown in jail.

The UAE is a sthole.

Having lived in the UAE for a year, I have not got into trouble with the police apart from speeding fines (which were totally my own fault).

It strikes me as odd as to how/why these tourists seem to get themselves into these situations and thrown into jail, although when thinking about it a bit - I come to the following assumed conclusions:

-Act in the self righteous, egotistical and rude manner which plenty of people adopt in the UK every day of their lives, and you get thrown in jail
-Act in an abusive or threatening manner, or assault someone and you get thrown in jail
-Display public affection not in keeping within the (already relatively relaxed I must say compared to the other Muslim countries) respectful laws of the land and you get thrown in jail

It's a bit like going to Singapore or Malaysia with drugs, get caught and you get killed. When travelling, one should really be in touch with the laws and customs of the land you are travelling to. Beach faring tourists who take the piss can and do end up in the papers like this.

A few more rules that I particularly like:

-Don't hold down a job and pay your own way, get thrown out of the country
-Get in debt through your own greed and excesses in life without thought for all eventualities and you get thrown in jail

I think that the UK could actually take a few leafs out of the above book from this sthole, and maybe it wouldn't be in the mess the society currently is. Not that the UAE is perfect by a long shot, and they have a lot of work to do in terms of education and the locals need to up their game considerably in the next 10-15 years as a start. They have created an elitist society over here where the locals get more benefits and are looked after better by the state, but it's their country, why shouldn't they benefit? My dealings with Emiratis have been mostly positive to be honest. Most of the current generation need to adapt to their new evolving culture and place in the world, and they make a few mistakes but we can't really blame them - all this money and lifestyle is still new to them, they will settle into it in the future I'm sure.

But, I don't miss paying for benefit scroungers, teenagers causing trouble, the drinking culture taking over the streets at night and lunchtimes in the city, envious eyes and jealousy seen throughout the UK when someone is doing better than the norm, vandalism like keying cars, crazy fuel prices, people with no self respect in public, lack of justice within the legal system/courts, I could go on.

I can link hundreds if not thousands or articles in the UK newspapers within the last 3 months of people being glassed in pubs, attacked on the streets, raped/shot/stabbed, vandalism, 14 year olds pregnant, benefit scroungers living in top areas in London with more disposable than the average hard working family, migrants/asylum seekers causing trouble and harassing local people - in some cases destroying local communities then claiming their rights, old people being attacked/robbed in their homes, the list goes on and on. You could say that for every 3 months ONE or TWO case like this relating to expats or tourists comes up in Dubai, and Dubai is living in the dark ages. You could think that. But where is the balance? So the UK has it right and the people from the middle east are all savages? Hmmm, I'll ponder that one...

Middle England, as safe and unassuming as it is, is a boring sthole to me. You have to live within the laws of the land if you decide to travel or emigrate, so educate yourself and change the way you act or you can end up in trouble. To travel or live in any place on this earth reveals a list of benefits and compromises/weaknesses compared to your home, no doubt, but don't be in any doubt - the UK is a long way from perfect also. I am not defending the UAE - just saying it how I see things. The UK is my home and I wouldn't change that for anything, and I will not live in the UAE forever, but I do see some clear advantages for hard working decent people whilst living here. Both countries could learn a lot from each other from what they do well, somewhere in the middle would be my ideal place to live probably.

But living overseas is not for everyone. If it's not for you, enjoy suburban paradise and take the piss out of countries you don't understand, it'll make you feel better when you go to sleep wondering where all that money you pay in taxes goes.... to Charmain and Dwayne’s retirement funds after doing a stretch for GBH no doubt!

[Brother D]

inkiboo said:

I think you need a balance. The UK is not perfect and nor is the UAE. However I don't remember the last time an incomer to the UK had his passport taken away for swearing at a local.

(That's not a bad thing is it)?

[S1MMA]

inkiboo said:

I'm quite happy that if someone drives like a dhead I can express how I feel about them. I especially would feel wrong that I, as a local, could express my opinion and a non-local couldn't.

Have you lived in the UAE?

The locals have to abide by the rules also. Yes there are isolated exceptions to the rule, but on the whole they can't take the piss also. I had a long chat with an Emirati senior police officer, and he said even he couldn't get off speeding fines so everyone has to follow the rules. The UAE is lowest on the corruption index within the region IIRC, you can't bribe the police here. Yes position/power connections gets you further than just being Joey off the street, but there are limits.

How do you feel about living in a country where someone can glass you in the face and ruin the way you look for your whole life and get a few hours of community service and a £50 fine as punishment?

[thinfourth2]

inkiboo said:

thinfourth2 said:

You think that the UAE should restrict the locals and let incomers do as they please.?

I think you need a balance. The UK is not perfect and nor is the UAE. However I don't remember the last time an incomer to the UK had his passport taken away for swearing at a local.

No normally they have thrown their passport away and get given a free house for swearing at a local

I really can't see our system being so much better