Comments on: Dubai: A damning portrait http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joseph http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-5961 Joseph Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:57:07 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-5961 I'm glad that someone is spreading the word about this horrible situation. I lived in Abu Dhabi for nine months and I read the Independant article about halfway through my stay. even though ive only been to dubai a few times, it is the same all over the UAE. and it is easily seen in every day life there, half of dubai is still under construction, masses of workers are seen crammed on to buses with no air conditioning at the change of shift, to drive out into the heat of the desert suburbs that gets up to 45 or 50 degrees celcius in the summer. workers are imported from all over the world, and fit into a type of caste system with rich arabs at the top, then westerners in buisness and engineering , then the predominantly asian population of service workers. and of course the local emirati's are not subject to their own laws because they are the kings of the land. another thing is that you can be arrested, fined, and deported for being publicly intoxicated or for showing any signs of public affection. there are many things outlawed by Islamic standards in this country and if you are challenged by a local then they will always be right. Dubai is trying to lure tourists with its grandiose industry and unique hotels but who would want to travel to a city where you risk getting arrested for something that is a normal part of nightlife in most cities around the world. everyone goes to work there for the high paycheck and just suffers through this strict environment, but its not worth it. and we should absolutely not support tourism in the UAE. I’m glad that someone is spreading the word about this horrible situation. I lived in Abu Dhabi for nine months and I read the Independant article about halfway through my stay. even though ive only been to dubai a few times, it is the same all over the UAE. and it is easily seen in every day life there, half of dubai is still under construction, masses of workers are seen crammed on to buses with no air conditioning at the change of shift, to drive out into the heat of the desert suburbs that gets up to 45 or 50 degrees celcius in the summer.

workers are imported from all over the world, and fit into a type of caste system with rich arabs at the top, then westerners in buisness and engineering , then the predominantly asian population of service workers. and of course the local emirati’s are not subject to their own laws because they are the kings of the land.

another thing is that you can be arrested, fined, and deported for being publicly intoxicated or for showing any signs of public affection. there are many things outlawed by Islamic standards in this country and if you are challenged by a local then they will always be right.

Dubai is trying to lure tourists with its grandiose industry and unique hotels but who would want to travel to a city where you risk getting arrested for something that is a normal part of nightlife in most cities around the world.

everyone goes to work there for the high paycheck and just suffers through this strict environment, but its not worth it. and we should absolutely not support tourism in the UAE.

]]> By: telse http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-5397 telse Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:19:50 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-5397 Further reason for me not to go to Dubai. I don't really want to go to a nation with a police force that put a man in jail for having traces of poppyseeds from a bun eaten in London: http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/06/30/10-extreme-cases-of-travelers-imprisoned-abroad/ Further reason for me not to go to Dubai. I don’t really want to go to a nation with a police force that put a man in jail for having traces of poppyseeds from a bun eaten in London:

http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/06/30/10-extreme-cases-of-travelers-imprisoned-abroad/

]]> By: Dijana http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3914 Dijana Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:39:55 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3914 A cuople a weeks ago i've seen a ducumentary on this subject, and i have one thing to say; I will never go to Dubai!!!!. Its sad that even in "modern times" this things still happening in the world, yet we all know about it, but still what can we "ordinary" people do to prevent or to stop it. A cuople a weeks ago i’ve seen a ducumentary on this subject, and i have one thing to say; I will never go to Dubai!!!!. Its sad that even in “modern times” this things still happening in the world, yet we all know about it, but still what can we “ordinary” people do to prevent or to stop it.

]]> By: Linda http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3845 Linda Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:53:32 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3845 http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/09/dubai_sex_for_s.html It's about 10 minutes long. I have a hard time committing to anything longer than about 2:44, but this was interesting. http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/09/dubai_sex_for_s.html

It’s about 10 minutes long. I have a hard time committing to anything longer than about 2:44, but this was interesting.

]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3797 Hal Amen Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:32:13 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3797 For sure, Linda. These video responses are solid. For sure, Linda. These video responses are solid.

]]> By: Linda http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3796 Linda Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:43:09 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3796 Recently watched a video about a photographer documenting the trafficking of women in Dubai. At the end of her stay, her hotel room is ransacked and most of her film and footage stolen. Her videographer manages to sneak out some tapes (since they are stopped when leaving the country). Of course, now I can't find that link, but I'll ask my friend to resend it to me if anyone's interested. Recently watched a video about a photographer documenting the trafficking of women in Dubai. At the end of her stay, her hotel room is ransacked and most of her film and footage stolen. Her videographer manages to sneak out some tapes (since they are stopped when leaving the country).

Of course, now I can’t find that link, but I’ll ask my friend to resend it to me if anyone’s interested.

]]> By: Baxter http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3774 Baxter Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:53:18 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3774 It's true - check out my video 'I Dubai Declare' on YouTube to get a peak into what I saw there. I Dubai Declare http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXNrxP3thdE It’s true – check out my video ‘I Dubai Declare’ on YouTube to get a peak into what I saw there.

I Dubai Declare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXNrxP3thdE

]]> By: Travelin' Mike http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3766 Travelin' Mike Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:57:14 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3766 I first heard of these stories a couple years ago and now they slowly seem to be getting more frequent. How long is it going to be before this is no longer accepted and someone is held accountable? I know I certainly won't be supporting Dubai by spending my money there... I first heard of these stories a couple years ago and now they slowly seem to be getting more frequent. How long is it going to be before this is no longer accepted and someone is held accountable?

I know I certainly won’t be supporting Dubai by spending my money there…

]]> By: Julie http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3256 Julie Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:25:11 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3256 Hal- Thanks for this piece. I've never been there, but there was an excellent long feature in the NYT Magazine about a year ago about this very issue, focusing primarily on the immigrant workers. Reports of passport seizure were rampant, according to the author, as were slave labor wages, no benefits (of course), and what seemed like the impossibility of returning home. Hal-

Thanks for this piece. I’ve never been there, but there was an excellent long feature in the NYT Magazine about a year ago about this very issue, focusing primarily on the immigrant workers. Reports of passport seizure were rampant, according to the author, as were slave labor wages, no benefits (of course), and what seemed like the impossibility of returning home.

]]> By: Michelle http://matadornetwork.com/trips/dubai-a-damning-portrait/#comment-3741 Michelle Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:41:55 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=4703#comment-3741 Wow. I had no idea as well. This is horrible. Wow. I had no idea as well. This is horrible.

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