Why do people still go to Dubai with its contempt for basic human rights?

Sal Butamol · 11-08-2018 02:08PM

Anyone I've known that goes to Dubai is a preening tosser. It attracts them like flies on ****e

fullstop · 11-08-2018 02:12PM

no.8 wrote: »

Except this has nothing to do with the story. The state airline...offers alcohol on the flight. If they truely abided by their laws then they would flat out van alcohol. Practice what you preach. She did nothing wrong,wtf is wrong with you?

Were you there or how do you know she did nothing wrong? You don't start recording immigration officials on your phone ffs. Anywhere.

Pauliedragon · 11-08-2018 02:16PM

Imagine if that was someone from Dubai giving the immi officials in Heathrow a gobful, the headlines would read "Unruly and abusive passenger arrested at Heathrow for threatning behaviour towards immigration officilals"

CrankyHaus · 11-08-2018 02:22PM

The treatment of migrant workers from Asia in the Gulf states is appalling, not to mention the treatment of women, and the odd Western expat or tourist getting a slap on the wrist for drinking is a minor matter in comparison.

However if you look at the history of these places its hardly surprising that they're characterised by autocrats with no democratic mandate, a venal and corrupt administration, poor human rights and a reliance on oppressively doctrinaire islam to suppress unrest.

In their modern form most gulf countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman were basically created by the British as client states to further their strategic interests (control of oil, protection of sea routes to India and Asia) and subsequently propped up by the US for the same reasons when it took the reins from the British. A ruling family or clique were installed and supported as long as they kept John Bull and Uncle Sam happy.

Nowadays they're a little less dependant, but never entirely secure, and the support continues, not least because they keep the UK defence industry afloat, and the US one flush, with their massive arms spending.

steddyeddy · 11-08-2018 02:30PM

The story isn't simple. She turned up without a visa. Do that in any country and there'll be trouble.

That said it's still a country that prides itself on treating certain classes, genders and nationalities like human execrement. My grandmother said put a beggar in horseback and they'll ride all the way to hell. In this case it's true. A highly regressive society found money and exercised their newly found power to denegrate people based on the laws of some ancient desert tribes.

Niles Crane · 11-08-2018 02:52PM

Del2005 wrote: »

They don't follow our laws they want their laws here.

I know, which is completely hypocritical and is why any of that nonsense shouldn't be tolerated.

Niles Crane · 11-08-2018 02:54PM

end of the road wrote: »

hellholes like that country don't deserve to have their laws respected. for laws to be respected, they must be just and fair.

If you don't like a country's laws just don't go there, it's very simple way of dealing with them.

Just like if Muslims don't like the way people do things in the west they shouldn't live here and expect us to try and accomodate them.

Atoms for Peace · 11-08-2018 02:57PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

when you have construction health and safety standards akin to those enjoyed by the slaves who built the pyramids it's easy to have the place looking good.

Look a little closer and you can see the trade work isn't up to western standards, very poor finish to the majority of construction work over there.

JohnCleary · 11-08-2018 03:01PM

end of the road wrote: »

only 1 of those is a reason, the first one.

We'll if you knew that in the first place, why did you bother asking me? Think your little plan backfired there :pac:

11-08-2018 03:04PM

visiting a place, or working there, is not a vote for its society or system of govt

otherwise your presume a lot of the whingers about our current lot wouldve fukced off years back

11-08-2018 03:12PM

no.8 wrote: »

Think you might have other issues... 8 cans on a flight <8hours.

I know others who've lived in Abu Dhabi and left due to the archaic laws on co-occomodation and alcohol. You haven't lived there

You can only get 330ml cans on a flight unforuntately so really only about 5 proper cans. Absolutely nothing in 7 hours, 8 pints+ in 7 hours would be a very regular evening for me in the pub.

As for not living there, I have a close female family member living there and she loves the place. They certainly have no issues with drinking, they spend most of their weekends eating and drinking in fairly luxurious surroundings. Ive been in places over there that would barely be allowed here from free for all drinking point of view.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 03:15PM

JohnCleary wrote: »

I can't help but think there's more to this story.

I landed in Dubai last year in an absolute state. Drank in the airport for another 3 hours and then on to a plane for Bangkok. They stopped.me at the gate and said they thought I was too drunk to fly. A bit of persuasion and using the excuse of me flying business class was infact because I had a very important meeting in Bangkok, they allowed me board.

What's the story with UK residents and visa for Dubai? I've never had to get a visa for Dubai visits (VOR?) and ive stayed almost a week at a time. They refer to an invalid visa in the report. What visa?!

Full story would be nice to hear.

Just to add, I don't like Dubai or what it stands for... we only go as it's either a layover or to visit friends

You got lucky. It fully depends on the immigration officer. Also she’s a woman. The immigration officer might have tougher views on women and drink.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 03:17PM

Samara Old Globe wrote: »

You can only get 330ml cans on a flight unforuntately so really only about 5 proper cans. Absolutely nothing in 7 hours, 8 pints+ in 7 hours would be a very regular evening for me in the pub.

As for not living there, I have a close female family member living there and she loves the place. They certainly have no issues with drinking, they spend most of their weekends eating and drinking in fairly luxurious surroundings. Ive been in places over there that would barely be allowed here from free for all drinking point of view.

Of course people drink there but it’s generally in hotels or clubs that are licensed.

Most westerners are walking on thin ice when they are living or working there, and most are not aware of it.

Sandor Clegane · 11-08-2018 03:17PM

To be honest I have no sympathy for any westerner that goes to places like Dubai and then for whatever reason ends up on the wrong side of their laws.

It's an Arab country with Arab laws and Arab punishment.

Westerners really have no business going there or anywhere like it, we're too different.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 03:19PM

Sandor Clegane wrote: »

To be honest I have no sympathy for any westerner that goes to places like Dubai and then for whatever reason ends up on the wrong side of their laws.

It's an Arab country with Arab laws and Arab punishment.

Westerners really have no business going there or anywhere like it, we're too different.

The problem is that Dubai has two faces, two legal systems in fact. It looks western in many ways, and it is on many ways. Then it isn’t.

awec · 11-08-2018 03:23PM

Tourists can drink in hotels (but it's incredibly expensive, €15+ for a pint).

Non-muslim residents can get alcohol licenses to allow them to buy booze and drink it at home.

No matter where you buy or consume it you cannot be drunk in the street. I don't think "drunk" is properly defined, it could mean you can't be on the street if you have had a glass of wine that day.

11-08-2018 03:34PM

awec wrote: »

Tourists can drink in hotels (but it's incredibly expensive, €15+ for a pint).

Non-muslim residents can get alcohol licenses to allow them to buy booze and drink it at home.

No matter where you buy or consume it you cannot be drunk in the street. I don't think "drunk" is properly defined, it could mean you can't be on the street if you have had a glass of wine that day.

There is no shortage of places to drink its not confined to hotels by any means. Its not as abundant as here but you wont have to walk far to find a pub (yes there are normal pubs dotted around though they are made to look like just any other building), hotel or some other designated area where drinking is allowed. Its expensive but no where near 15 euro a pint, 8 to 10 euro a pint but they do happy hours or wrist bands where you can drink all you want for 2 hours or whatever for a set fee in many places.

Its not just for tourists its mostly western people living there (the place is full of Irish) but plenty of locals will be in drinking too in their full robes etc.

I have to say I had a similar impression to many people here but after visiting its far far more westernised that I thought it was.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 03:40PM

Samara Old Globe wrote: »

There is no shortage of places to drink its not confined to hotels by any means. Its not as abundant as here but you wont have to walk far to find a pub (yes there are normal pubs dotted around though they are made to look like just any other building), hotel or some other designated area where drinking is allowed. Its expensive but no where near 15 euro a pint, 8 to 10 euro a pint but they do happy hours or wrist bands where you can drink all you want for 2 hours or whatever for a set fee in many places.

Its not just for tourists its mostly western people living there (the place is full of Irish) but plenty of locals will be in drinking too in their full robes etc.

That’s probably the Dubai marina. Being drunk is still a crime outside of those pubs and a serious one.

It depends on enforcement but i wouldn’t go around singing up the ra along residential streets.

JohnCleary · 11-08-2018 03:44PM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

You got lucky. It fully depends on the immigration officer. Also she’s a woman. The immigration officer might have tougher views on women and drink.

I was making the point that this article has nothing to do with alcohol.

The subject of this article had a visa issue. She then went on to start recording an Immigration Officer with her phone. What kind of a special idiot does that?! (If you think nothing of that, you obviously haven't seen much if the world)

suicide_circus · 11-08-2018 03:45PM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

That’s probably the Dubai marina. Being drunk is still a crime outside of those pubs and a serious one.

It depends on enforcement but i wouldn’t go around singing up the ra along residential streets.

give the cops a few bars of "come out ye blacks in tans"

JohnCleary · 11-08-2018 03:47PM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

i wouldn’t go around singing up the ra along residential streets.

I wouldn't do that *anywhere *... what's your point? Is that great banter to be at over here?

Mother of Christ....thats enough internet for one day

Tom Dunne · 11-08-2018 05:03PM

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

That’s probably the Dubai marina. Being drunk is still a crime outside of those pubs and a serious one.

It depends on enforcement but i wouldn’t go around singing up the ra along residential streets.

Have you ever actually been there? Genuine question.

It's nowhere near as bad as you are suggesting. As with any other country, if you are having a few drinks, stay within the norms of what is socially acceptable, keep your head down, stay out of trouble and you'll have no problems.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 05:10PM

JohnCleary wrote: »

I was making the point that this article has nothing to do with alcohol.

The subject of this article had a visa issue. She then went on to start recording an Immigration Officer with her phone. What kind of a special idiot does that?! (If you think nothing of that, you obviously haven't seen much if the world)

You didn’t read the piece if you think alcohol wasn’t an issue. That’s why she was arrested.

The visa is given on arrival. Why would it be an issue on departure?

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 05:11PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Have you ever actually been there? Genuine question.

It's nowhere near as bad as you are suggesting. As with any other country, if you are having a few drinks, stay within the norms of what is socially acceptable, keep your head down, stay out of trouble and you'll have no problems.

Yes I have been there. As I said most people who go there or even live there don’t really understand the place.

Some people here are saying, in effect, that what happened to this woman is would you expect it’s an Islamic country. Others are saying it’s a party town. The alcohol flows like water. The women drink for free.

So which is it? Well in my first post I was clear - it’s both. You could spend a lifetime there as a boozehound, or get yourself arrested for a minor violation of the alcohol rule. Depends. On the policeman, judge etc

However alcohol is illegal in Dubai, and the emirates in general, but some areas are excepted.

If you are jailed it’s more or less midnight express.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 11-08-2018 05:16PM

JohnCleary wrote: »

I wouldn't do that *anywhere *... what's your point? Is that great banter to be at over here?

Not only was I not replying to you; the “you” in the sentence about singing the ra song was a generic you. I’m not prince Charles so I don’t use “one”.

Mother of Christ....thats enough internet for one day

Yes. You are getting cranky.

howdido · 13-08-2018 07:53AM

The funny thing I find whenever I see a judgmental post such as this is that in every case the poster has never been there and has absolutely no clue what the place is like. Yet they still judge people and are somehow experts on what the place is like. The number of Irish people moving there is increasing every year, there is a reason for that and it’s not just the good salaries!

savemejebus · 13-08-2018 08:02AM

More info coming out now , she wasn’t traveling on a UK or Swedish passport, rather she had an expired Swedish passport that she allegedly tried to use before producing a current Iranian passport. Could explain the visa kerfuffle
Then the video issue came up and the drinking was the icing on the cake.

italodisco · 13-08-2018 08:07AM

I've travelled quite a bit over the years, dubai was one of those places that left me wondering how on earth would anyone want to stay a week or more in.
Luckily I was just a day and half there, nothing of interest at all.... Tall skyscrapers, fake beaches, supercars, Russian hookers.... Might appeal to a 15 year old boy with a hard on and a few quid but it's the most soulless place I've ever been.

Youd have more excitement in tramore ffs!

cursai · 13-08-2018 08:18AM

savemejebus wrote: »

More info coming out now , she wasn’t traveling on a UK or Swedish passport, rather she had an expired Swedish passport that she allegedly tried to use before producing a current Iranian passport. Could explain the visa kerfuffle
Then the video issue came up and the drinking was the icing on the cake.

I'm shocked. But the simpletons only work off of initial headlines I'm afraid.

Heres Johnny · 13-08-2018 08:19AM

I was in Dubai for a week and was on the piss most of the time and didn't have any hassle. But I didn't do anything to cause hassle either.
You can get caught out quite easily if messing over there or find yourself in an unlucky situation.
For what it's worth I didn't really like the place and wouldn't go back.

Why do people still go to Dubai with its contempt for basic human rights?

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