Life in Dubai: pros and cons. What is behind the gloss and luxury of Dubai

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

In the past - a wretched seaside village, where natives barely survived. Traditional occupation - fishing, cultivation of dates. Today it is a beautiful city. Dubai will become the business capital of the world in the not too distant future, entrepreneurs say. From the point of view of financial, commercial, architectural interest in this region is serious, judging by the numerous tourists. True, the weather in Dubai is not sugar.

Creating a country

UAE is a state of the Persian Gulf. In the bowels of the earth - oil reserves, which made the region secure and "doomed" to flourish. The state is young, fifty years ago there was a lifeless desert with no infrastructure. Emir is a monarch at the head of seven territories. In December of the 71st, there was a merger into a state called the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed, the leader of Abu Dhabi, became the head of the union, he is revered by the people as a politician. This emirate is larger than others, which means that the head is the head of state. The decision was made.

Sheikh Zayed realized that crude oil alone would not be successful. And it would be better to organize production, processing, transportation. Developed infrastructure, jobs, housing are the engines of progress. Trade in petroleum products - that's where the prosperity. Emir is enlisting proven foreign professionals who have helped turn the desert into an oasis.

How native Arabs live

Registered in the emirates 8.5 million people. The citizens of the country (the population of Dubai) are a minority, the remaining 88.5% are wage workers from Asia and other countries.

It makes no sense for indigenous citizens to work, they do not need funds from birth.

Local residents in Dubai are represented by civil servants and businessmen. With the beginning of the construction of a miracle city in the desert, the indigenous population left this gigantic construction site. They left to live in other countries where it is comfortable and calm, and they will return home when they want. This is the standard of living in Dubai. Arabs work only in state structures.

Run your own business, it's even encouraged. At the first job, an Arab receives $4,000. Works as a schoolboy. After graduating from university, the minimum wage is already ten thousand dollars. Women have the same right. A local resident will work, experience is accumulating, qualifications are growing, monthly remuneration is increasing. An Arab retires with a salary of $100,000. These are not fairy tales.

A stranger will not become a citizen of the country, this is possible only by inheritance.

Life in Dubai for local residents is as follows: everyone is credited by the state with income from the sale of petroleum products, at the birth of a child a plot is allocated for himland, the family is credited with 60 thousand dollars.

Public guarantees

Education is free: secondary, higher. A top student at a local university, if he finishes his first year with excellent marks, is given the right to choose to continue his education at a university he likes from the world list.

The state pays for studies and rent abroad. They rent an apartment for a student and provide a monthly scholarship of 2 thousand dollars.

Medicine is free, including treatment and operations outside the country.

After reaching the age of 21, an Arab is given land and money to build a house. This does not apply to women.

The first marriage between citizens is encouraged by a loan. After the birth of three children, the loan is repaid.

Arab is allowed to keep four wives. To do this, two conditions must be met:

• each lady is provided with a home, servants, gifts worth at least 35 thousand dollars;
• It is not easy to take a new spouse - you need the support of wives who are already available.

Local ladies dress uniformly, prefer black robes and cover their heads, often in a veil. There are strict clothing requirements. Shoulders need to be covered and sleeves need to be long. This also applies to foreigners. No matter what the weather is like in Dubai.

Economic policy

The growth of the national economy became possible thanks to the extraction, processing and export of petroleum products and crude black gold. This industry is the main one. The government nationalized petroleum andblue fuel from the mid-70s, and from the 81st sales: gas stations, transport, storage facilities. Funds are being invested in the development of the gas spur, and a special investment program is running. The main branches are followed by: energy, water desalination, the aluminum industry, and some other types. The emirates have a well-formed road network, 6 airports of international importance. The economy of Dubai does not stand still, the rapid movement is a well-thought-out process for the long term. Developed infrastructure, an enviable standard of living are the guarantor of economic stability. Attractive taxation offers a list of favorable conditions. Funds from the sale of oil products are used to ensure that the country becomes the largest international center of services, primarily of a financial and economic nature, and tourism. World experts assess investment in travel and construction as promising. Thanks to the climate, honed local service, the interest of vacationers will be year-round. Life in Dubai shows that predictions come true.

You can feel the difference

There is a tariff for passport holders. Citizens are paid differently, even though they do the same work. No equality. Living in Dubai shows this. Palefaces are people, though hired. Asians are a labor force, a biomass that caters to the whims of the employer. Forget about moving your family. Not everyone can afford this. Among the migrants, of course, are qualified personnel from Europe who receive agreed remuneration. They rent luxurious apartments, use servants, transportfamily.

The working week is 6 days long. Day off - Friday. In cities, shopping centers work without rest. The size of the shopping and entertainment giants is amazing; they serve as a place to relax on weekends. Representatives of numerous nations demarcated spheres of influence. It so happened that Indians and Pakistanis are taxi drivers. Filipinos - nannies, the Chinese keep restaurants and eateries. Jobs in Dubai for Russian speakers are offered as managers, salespeople, administrators. The place of work cannot be changed. The terms of the contract are fulfilled during the period of the work visa. Our compatriots are willingly taken to trade and travel companies. Many people from the CIS come to rest and visit shops in the UAE.

For information

It is important to follow local laws. Alcohol is banned and is not sold in stores. A special license is required to purchase spirits. In bars at hotels, where it is expensive, but you can drink, alcohol is present. You can't kiss on the streets. Living in Dubai is an expensive pleasure, the cost is beyond reasonable. Some employers pay employees rent and part of the utilities. If an independent search - get ready to "unfasten". The cost of real estate for temporary use is exorbitant. Medicine is expensive, if something happens, it is better to go home. There is no standard mail in our understanding. The owner of the car is aware that if he forgot to pay the fine - deprivation of the car. Few green spaces and animals.

There are more and more poor people who do not have enough money to pay for housing. People sleep in cars. It was banned at the legislative level. Periodically, police raids take place.

Another sad phenomenon is divorce, which is steadily growing and makes up a third of marriages. This is a clear indicator of the instability of family relationships.

The climate is hot and arid. The temperature in summer is over forty, in winter - 20 degrees Celsius.

Reverse side of the coin

You can get citizenship if you marry an Arab. Three years later, when the spouse agrees, citizenship is in your pocket. The union will take place only when relatives from the side of the head of the family give their consent to this. The bride refuses to be a former citizen, receiving something in return: free medicine and a pension. Children from the marriage of a citizen and a foreigner are en titled to something, but without benefits. A union between a native woman and a foreigner is suicide.

The concepts of "citizenship" and "passport" are separable: citizenship passes only by inheritance, and you can get an official UAE document. A person who has arrived for permanent residence, after 5-6 years, claims the coveted crusts. For our compatriots from the CIS countries, receiving it only after 15 years.

Many who come to Dubai in search of a better life feel like strangers here.

Immigration policy is to attract disenfranchised visitors to work. There is nothing to be afraid of - it will never become "one's own". A labor migrant is dust, notman, the muscular strength of a giant construction site, the population of Dubai.

It's important not to forget

Emirates - a Muslim country, exists according to Sharia law. Living in Dubai has pros and cons in abundance. Lots of taboo. Visitors to local requirements must strictly comply. In the Emirates, alcohol is prohibited. If involved with drugs: self-use - prison, distribution - the death pen alty. In public places it is not recommended to eat, smoke, litter, behave inappropriately. Non-Muslims are not allowed access to mosques. You can’t fight - immediately deportation, obscene speech is prohibited. Arab women are not allowed to be photographed. This is to be done.

The standard of living is high, only Switzerland and Liechtenstein are ahead. Many advantages. Positive points: it is easy to get a visa here, official salary, no taxes. Work in Dubai for Russian speakers will be permanent. You can make a career, there are many examples of this. The streets are safe, laws are respected and enforced, women's rights are respected. Paradise for motorists: water is more expensive than gasoline, cars are cheap, there is no traffic police. Summer all year round. Civilized level of services and personal security. The owner of the property automatically receives a residence permit in the UAE together with the family, if the purchase price is more than 300 thousand dollars. However, this purchase is peculiar: the owner will own the property only for 99 years. This is a long term lease.

Additional information

Public transport in Dubai works,but a better car. Rentals are in demand. There are high-speed roads, cheap gasoline. The car can be rented immediately at the airport or at any rental company in the city and hotels. Various brands of iron horses are presented, from cheap to not very. For registration, you need to show the required documents. When returning the vehicle, you should not be surprised if you have to pay fines for speeding, not wearing a seat belt, and talking on a mobile phone while driving.

There are many cozy Arabic coffee houses here. The menu includes traditional oriental sweets and hookah everywhere. These establishments are popular with locals who enjoy leisurely pastime, contemplation of the world around, playing backgammon and smoking hookah.

Being in a Muslim country, it is not necessary to wear a national uniform. In public places it is recommended to appear in clothes that cover the body as much as possible. Transparent models and T-shirts with offensive inscriptions of a sexual nature should be avoided. It is forbidden to bare your chest on the beach. In restaurants, classic style is welcomed, not shorts with a T-shirt, which will cause bewilderment among others. Especially in a complex hotel complex. The simpler the attire, the easier it is to communicate with the locals.

Behind beauty

Dubai is the main commercial and administrative center of the Middle East. It strikes with its gloss, chic, sophistication. It attracts to itself, a fairy tale city in a scorched desert. What lies behind the glitz and luxury of Dubai?

Guest workers, which are based on representatives of Asian countries. Complete lack of rights, work almost for free in the wildest climate conditions, living in landfills.

Endless construction around is the norm of the current global crisis. Due to the fall in oil prices, the value of real estate has fallen sharply, the economy is adapting to this. The construction of many facilities is frozen or completely stopped.

Ecology. With their merits, the emirates are ahead of the planet in terms of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. The construction of artificial islands, the displacement of coral colonies or their complete destruction is reflected in the environment. The decomposition process progresses, the water begins to "bloom", an unpleasant odor appears.

There used to be a problem with waste. But as soon as the issue with fresh water and electricity was resolved, everything returned to normal.

The local climate is harsh. Photos do not convey that murderous heat. It is impossible to exist here as usual, to move on foot is unrealistic. Life in Dubai is not easy for Russians. Reviews show that it is the climate that they endure the worst. For many, this is a problem. Therefore, wherever possible, air conditioners are installed: in cars, at public transport stops. However, there will always be a desert, and there is no getting around it.

Our compatriots come to the UAE from the inability to earn good money at home. Life in Dubai is attractive, but having been here, the Slavs go home without regret.