Would you visit Dubai ?

Winty · 15-03-2010 09:38AM #1

Hello

With a new story every week in the press about the behaviour of westerners, would you visit Dubai or do you feel it’s not worth the hassle when you have to always act the way you are told.

Now before the flood gates open “it’s their culture and you must obey it” and "if you don’t want to respect their traditions don’t go”

I understand it’s the way they do things over in their country, I feel they are trying to establish a tourism industry and like Vegas they should put the customer first or if not just ban all non Muslims like they do in Mecca and Medina.

I have been to the Emirates and did not like it; they want our money but look down at us for our way of life.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/middle-east/british-tourist-faces-jail-over-kiss-on-cheek-2099240.html

bonerm · 15-03-2010 09:51AM

Wouldn't mind seeing it on a stop-over to Australia/SE Asia. Can't really say I'd be that bothered to see the place for it's own sake.

If I was there I wouldn't have any problem respecting their customs. For one thing I realise I am a citizen of the world not just the white western enclave that is portrayed to us in the Western Media, and for another I can go 3 or 4 days without a drink or a fry-up or resorting to TIB.

Also I'd imagine they're trying to create an globally recognised economic city, not just another Vegas. You don't build skyscrapers for tourists.

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 09:52AM

If someone paid and Cheryl Cole came with me, sure .. why not.

vicecreamsundae · 15-03-2010 10:07AM

likewise, if it were a stopover i would check it out, but have no desire to go there.

mainly i just don't feel particularly interested in what it has to offer -sunbathing, designer shopping and flashy restaurants etc. okay i know there is probably more to it than that, but it just doesn't sound like my style. i'd be interested in looking around, seeing the architecture but that's about it.

certainly wouldn't feel particularly safe or free there, as an unmarried woman. the stories of being given lashings after being raped are rather disheartening..

FlutterinBantam · 15-03-2010 10:10AM

It's a lovely place, much 'freer' that the rest of that area.

They are very civilised people, it's just that they don't like drunks and yobbos which means it's never going to be a 'Blackpool'.

orourkeda · 15-03-2010 10:19AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

If someone paid and Cheryl Cole came with me, sure .. why not.

Once you dont get caught nailing her on the beach

ejmaztec · 15-03-2010 10:22AM

Dubai doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. That whole region's made enough money out of us as it is, and I wouldn't want to encourage them by giving them some more.

OutlawPete · 15-03-2010 10:24AM

orourkeda wrote: »

Once you dont get caught nailing her on the beach

Yeah

Did they get out yet?

GavRedKing · 15-03-2010 10:26AM

Id like to go see it alright for myself.

orourkeda · 15-03-2010 10:32AM

OutlawPete wrote: »

Yeah

Did they get out yet?

I'm not sure. Serves them right for fornicating in this way

Xavi6 · 15-03-2010 10:36AM

I'd love to go. The club scene is meant to be quality.

xp0 · 15-03-2010 10:38AM

No, Dubai is full of foreigners.

Rylan · 15-03-2010 10:48AM

Would never go there. The whole city is built by slave labour.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

Dave! · 15-03-2010 10:49AM

Wouldn't mind checking out the mad buildings and beaches and sh*t

But don't really have any desire to explore it beyond that

Sure it's it full of Brits anyway?

Wibbs · 15-03-2010 10:51AM

Rylan wrote: »

Would never go there. The whole city is built by slave labour.

One of the main reasons I wouldnt go either. That and it should be a dictionary entry for the definition of hypocrisy.

Xavi6 · 15-03-2010 10:52AM

Dave! wrote: »

Sure it's it full of Brits anyway?

Didn't stop you hitting up Oz

Hagar · 15-03-2010 10:54AM

Sand, it gets in everywhere. No thanks.

force eleven · 15-03-2010 10:58AM

xp0 wrote: »

No, Dubai is full of foreigners.

So's Bundoran....

MaybeLogic · 15-03-2010 11:05AM

Was there 3/4 times for works.
Couldn't stand it. Just full of rich reople meeting each other in soulless air-conditioned hotels (it's too hot to be outside in Summer) and splurging out in over-sized shopping malls.
The last time I was there the construction workers were on strike and I was sickened looking up their pay (if they got paid at all) and conditions.
Then I noticed somestories in newspapers about how people would be travelling there or passing in transit and using some new technology, customs officers could detect minute quantities of hash in peoples luggage, not even visible to the naked eye, and dish out 4 year sentences as standard.
I've never been back since.

SugarHigh · 15-03-2010 11:14AM

bonerm wrote: »

Wouldn't mind seeing it on a stop-over to Australia/SE Asia. Can't really say I'd be that bothered to see the place for it's own sake.

If I was there I wouldn't have any problem respecting their customs. For one thing I realise I am a citizen of the world not just the white western enclave that is portrayed to us in the Western Media, and for another I can go 3 or 4 days without a drink or a fry-up or resorting to TIB.

Also I'd imagine they're trying to create an globally recognised economic city, not just another Vegas. You don't build skyscrapers for tourists.

Wasn't the empire state building famous for being almost empty?

"1 Times Square" is also completely vacant it's just a billboard.

Cookie_Monster · 15-03-2010 11:16AM

Been to Dubai, its fantastic. So long as you don't act the **** you are fine. I was drunk on the streets plenty of time and was drinking in pubs with locals drinking too. You should see the queue of car outside the offo's, they drive up and hand order and money out the window and get guy to put it in the boot so no-one sees who they are, crafty Muslims.

The Irish bar in the Tennis stadium is quite nice

damoz · 15-03-2010 11:18AM

Ive been too. It takes about a day for the novelty of the fancy buildings, snow dome, 7 star hotels etc to wear off. After that its a pretty boring place - and i did all there was to do there - ski, racing, dune bashing, water park, Burj etc

I did enjoy the week there, but i wouldnt go back unless i had to. There are nicer, nearer and cheaper destinations in Europe - anywhere in south of france for starters.

Its pretty much a fancy building site.

bonerm · 15-03-2010 11:20AM

SugarHigh wrote: »

Wasn't the empire state building famous for being almost empty?

"1 Times Square" is also completely vacant it's just a billboard.

Even if they eventually became tourist attractions it doesn't change the fact that neither were originally built primarily for that reason.

Teddy Chips · 15-03-2010 11:20AM

My Uncle was there at Xmas and was raving about the place. It's definately somewhere I want to check out in the coming years.

WindSock · 15-03-2010 11:21AM

Was there before for about 2 days. Wouldn't go back, not my cup of tea. Just a load of flash buildings built in the sand. No history or anything.

Cookie_Monster · 15-03-2010 11:28AM

WindSock wrote: »

Was there before for about 2 days. Wouldn't go back, not my cup of tea. Just a load of flash buildings built in the sand. No history or anything.

change sand to grassland and you have the US

Minstrel27 · 15-03-2010 11:35AM

I have no need or desire to ever go there.

anbrutog · 15-03-2010 11:56AM

Quick question to the people who are raving about the place and can't wait to go, does it bother you that its built on slavery??

Personally , I couldn't enjoy myself in a place that was built on the back of people's misery.

FLCP · 15-03-2010 11:56AM

I just moved back to Ireland after 5 years there. It's certainly a frustrating, hypocritical, unfair land with so many contradictions that sensible discussion of the place becomes hard. I would say that it is a much better place to live in, than it is to visit for a short while - it takes time to get under the skin of the place and see some of the more hard to find aspects of it. That goes for the culture/people as much as the activities/buildings etc.
There are few places where such extremes meet (or come very close to meeting) so regularly and openly. People earning 5 euro a day digging holes seems disgusting on the surface, but (with the obvious exception of labour scams - visa sharks etc which can happen to better paid people too) when guys come by choice, are earning more than they would be at home and are supporting families back home on that money then you see why they do it. I had acquaintances that chose not to go home to their kids more than once in three years, because they would rather save the money. One of my good mates (on the same money as me) chose to share a studio flat with her brother because it gave them more money to send home. Some people's priorities are different.
Having said that, and with some affection for the place, there is a real undercurrent at the moment. I think we are in the middle of a cultural backlash that has been fermenting for years and all the international criticism will do nothing to stem it - when saving face is so important, the more you push them up against the wall the harder they kick back.

bonerm · 15-03-2010 11:58AM

anbrutog wrote: »

Quick question to the people who are raving about the place and can't wait to go, does it bother you that its built on slavery??

Personally , I couldn't enjoy myself in a place that was built on the back of people's misery.

Yes, yes it's awful. I'll be sure also to never to visit New York again either because that place was built on the sweat & toil of cheap Irish labour.

anbrutog · 15-03-2010 11:59AM

bonerm wrote: »

Yes, yes it's awful. I'll be sure not to ever to visit New York again either because that place was built on the sweat and pain of cheap Irish labour.

Not really the same thing tbh..

Would you visit Dubai ?

Would you visit Dubai 146 votes

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