Dubai? Oh my!

[micdans]

So I found this article online and began reading it because my best friend just moved to Dubai (with his wife) to teach at The American School of Dubai. This article was fascinating; to read about some of the things going on in Dubai. I knew that things were stalling and beginning to fall apart because of financing. But everything else that is happening there! It's terribly sad!
Check this article out and let me know what you guys think.
It's really long, though.

Dubai's Slave society

[mish99]

When I was in Dubai I did notice the 'slums'. I thought it was awful. My father and I drove and got lost (somehow) and ended up in such a horrible area I nearly burst into tears. In South Africa I have a settlement about 15 minutes away from where I live, so I am used to seeing them, but this was absoloutly awful.

As for the 'housekeepers', I had read so much about how they were being raped, beaten, abused in every single way, but it just isnt spoken about. Nothing is. We stayed in this great apartment, and the neighbour would always be screaming at her nanny in the hallway and no one would care. This poor nanny couldnt even look me in the eye.

My father and I found it very hard dealing with banks, contracts etc...and he got tossed out with no pay or anything because the company wasnt doing well. It is happening to proffessionals. He also had debt, and made an arrangement with the banks to pay it back. One day everything is fine, the next, well if he steps a foot into Dubai he will get arrested.

For certain parts, about laws etc...this is a different culture, even though it is an 'international' place, we still need to treat it as we would any foreign country. Know the laws, stick to them.

[Canadian Bacon]

Yeah in Dubai, there are so many southeast asian and south asia people, when I was in the mall I could swear I was actually walking around in Scarborough Town Center (Scarborough is a big immigrant section of Toronto).

Apparently the Emeratis don't really do anything... they just relax all day, shop, and hire people to do their work for them... I have to say it if it wasn't for the amazing security services in Dubai, there would be a higher crime rate due to poverty/living conditions of migrants.

[mish99]

^^I know a few families that have had there houses stripped clean while they were tied up. Apparently gangs from African countries come up and go back to their own countries with a load of money. Its just covered up by the police.

Saying that, I walked around quiet a bit - it was winter and just cool enough to walk outside - and I walked past developments daily and never once did I feel unsafe.

[worldwidemike]

It was in Dubai that I got a real taste of what it feels to be part of an underclass. I was at the post office, waiting in line (with all the Bangladeshis and other immigrant workers). The Arab men would sail right in and go to the front of the line. No one would say a word to them. I didn't mind, and considered it part of the "cultural experience."

However, it is definitely a society based around class, and anyone planning to work or visit there should know that...

worldwidemike