Some people may find this a pointless topic but i'm interested. There are many many topics on Dubai such as for and against. All the new building, skyscrapers palm island etc. I would actually know who has actually been to dubai and if you think that it seems what everyone is talking about: all the 'wonderful' buildings 'stunning' architecture.

I have been but it was October and I'm suure there is a lot of changes since then. I remember the ships depositing the sand to make the islands for 'The World' project. I wen't for a holiday and stayed in the Jumeirah Beach hotel. The free upgrade to business class made the holiday even more special, :)

I've been. I went for 6 days, back in 2004. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and am seriously considering going back quite soon!

:cheers:

Went in Aug 05 for 4 days to visit my brother. Have to say that it didn't meet my expectations. Especially after coming from Hong Kong on my return leg to the UK.

Great place to visit for a few days but I got really bored as there wasn't much to do (I'm very hard to please!). Having done all the shopping, expensive hotels, great food and service in Hong Kong... Dubai didn't really offer me anything special I guess.

The thing is though, I really enjoyed myself in Dubai. Went to the beach, Burj Al Arab, Jumeira beach etc, a number of malls, went around the Souks and the old city. Have to say that the taxis are really cool and the drivers are very friendly. I was amazed at the lack of public transport in the city. Only a handfull of buses and no Mass Transit. Can't wait for the city to complete the planned metro system.

Regarding the architecture, there are some gems but most of the buildings were quite tacky. However, the projects that are under construction now are jaw-dropping. So I will be back in Dubai (probably as a stop-over if I'm flying Emirates again) sometime in the near future, although my brother is moving to Hong Kong...grrrrr.

I think the best thing about Dubai is the 24/7 sunshine. Wouldn't advocate living there though.

i live in the neighbouring city of abu dhabi and go to dubai almost every weekend

I was never there. How's about human rights there? Is Dubai democratic? Excuse me for asking this, but I am curious.

was in Jebel Ali in 2002, nice there...kinda hot but hey... :)

I'll go when it's finished

I didn't . But my arabic friend said Dubai was very american. Is it true?

^^well it's a lot more American than most mid-eastern cities. Capitalism and consumerism seem more dominant than religion. I was there back in the late 90's when their building boom had barely begun. I was quite surprised at the endless shopping options as there are huge malls all over the city (my favorite was Burj Juman and the Gold Souk) but other than shopping and experiencing the local culture there wasn't much else to do. But that was almost 10 yrs ago so I can't tell it from a more up to date point of view. . . .

I lived & worked there from 1996 - 1998.

Building was booming back then (Twin Emirates Towers were well on their way up when I left) but it has still changed massively the 8 years since.

I remember seeing pics of Dubai from 1992 and the Sheikh Zayed Road where I worked back then had only a handful of towers. When I was there, the SZ road was pretty built up but now it's probably got very few empty plots left. The Marina, both Palms, The World etc. were all flat sand (& open ocean) back then. The hotel on the island was nearly complete on the exterior, and most beaches were still all public access - not like now.

It's changed hugely in the last 8 years. Traffic has become chaotic and apparently it's not such a great paypacket these days as the cost of living (esp housing) is so much higher.

Great place to live for just a couple of years, but it gets to you after a while and it's nice to be back in the real world. People become very spoiled in Dubai - there's too much excess.

The place still looks great though for all the tall structures, even if many are a bit cheap looking.

I've been to Dubai, and enjoyed my time there.
The Gold Souk was superb, as was the sparkling Al Burj
Top City :okay:

i lived there from 94 to 98

i lived there from 94 to 98
my dad worked for hienz ketcup. i went to the american school asd(american school of dubai)
when i was there there where large areas of empty beach between the creek and the half way completed burj dubai (the sail shaped hotel).

in 94 i remember that the trade center was huge compared to the other buldings in dubai also u could walk from town to empty beach.

but even back then there was lots of malls which i thought were nicer then the malls here in america.

also to any people who think it is hot there u get use to it fast. i remember one morning i was walking to school and it was 11c (about 55f i think) and i was wereing two winter coats and ski pants because i thought it was so cold. just yesterday it was 52F here in maine and i was out in shorts and t shirts

i think it is a bit to overgrown know though.
but i would move back in a second

well i have been there some times now ;) and will be even more now that we got our apt finally.

and i love it more and more.

the feeling when you step out the plane, and you know it, THIS is the place to be, this is where it happens :D

can't wait for april, i'll be back for two weeks.


and let me tell you guys:

Visit the city, i guarantee you, you won't be disappointed, not now, and even less in 3 to 5 years.

I was very disappointed on my visit. I had just been travelling in SE Asia and dusty dry Dubai was very dull and unattractive by comparison to, say, lush tropical Singapore, or thrilling Bangkok. I wasn't able to visit the Burj al Arab because you have to book in advance and the nearby hotel beach is private. The sun was extremely hot and the city was quite boring. It was either a sterile strip of skyscrapers with no real urban feel or the boring concrete old city. However my visit was very brief. Friends told me of a nightclub they visited stuffed with Russian whores - some of them gorgeous. The developments are truly spectacular too. Right now I wouldn't recommend a visit except as a stopver to somewhere more interesting. However in a few years time, once the current wave of projects have been completed, I think it will make a compelling destination. I am not sure if I would ever want to live there. It is an exciting place with huge ambitions but I don't like the climate nor the underclass status of Indians, Pakistanis, and Filipinos compared to Arabs and Western expats.

I was in Dubai in april 2005. I really enjoyed my trip.

It doesn`t matter where you are, you always have the feeling that something big is happening. The city is so peaceful. I relaxed for 1 hour on the gras between the skyscrapers. The biggest surprise are the people. I didn`t expect that they would be as friendly as the people in Japan. And the city is really really safe.

I might get there someday. No rush.

interesting many actually went there.

Dubai is my city :D

I was very disappointed on my visit. I had just been travelling in SE Asia and dusty dry Dubai was very dull and unattractive by comparison to, say, lush tropical Singapore, or thrilling Bangkok. I wasn't able to visit the Burj al Arab because you have to book in advance and the nearby hotel beach is private. The sun was extremely hot and the city was quite boring. It was either a sterile strip of skyscrapers with no real urban feel or the boring concrete old city. However my visit was very brief. Friends told me of a nightclub they visited stuffed with Russian whores - some of them gorgeous. The developments are truly spectacular too. Right now I wouldn't recommend a visit except as a stopver to somewhere more interesting. However in a few years time, once the current wave of projects have been completed, I think it will make a compelling destination. I am not sure if I would ever want to live there. It is an exciting place with huge ambitions but I don't like the climate nor the underclass status of Indians, Pakistanis, and Filipinos compared to Arabs and Western expats.

From what I heard there is still a sizable no. of white collared Filipinos, Indians or Pakistanis in Dubai.

Anyway, I have never been to Dubai but I saw a Filipino movie on it. The city kinda reminds me of Dallas or Houston. It is laid back and alot of of its residents rely on automobiles. But the place has some really nice developments happening :)

http://www.filipinomovierentals.com/movie_images/movie_263/510247.jpg

I've been to Dubai International Airport :D

wanch
movies can be very deciving
dont always base ur thoughts on them
but it is true in that it is laid back

and also it is nothing like dallas or houston
some of the suburban componds are but the city as a whole is unlike any other in the world

From what I heard there is still a sizable no. of white collared Filipinos, Indians or Pakistanis in Dubai.Perhaps there are. However it seemed to me like a lot of the construction workers and taxi drivers were Indian or Pakistani and the cleaning maids were Filipinas. Apparently there are some high caste Indians in managerial roles. Nonethless, friends of mine who have lived in Dubai, say that there is a lot of racism and that Indians, Pakistanis, and Filipinos often get treated poorly by Arab bosses.

Indians, Pakistanis and Philipinos workers are treated poorly by their respective Indians, Pakistanis and Philipinos bosses too.

You're wrong if you think that Asians are just blue collar workers, when in reality there are more Asian business owners in Dubai then Arabs, which is logical since local Arabs are just 15% of the population.

As for me, I'm living here since late 1999 and I don't have a Arab boss, nor I work for one.

Not yet, I will someday. :)

i visited the city regularly from 2002 onwards and since 2005 i'm a proud resident :D

it will always be a fav place of return for me

additionally it is truely a great feeling to see a city improving and growing every day
so many things have changed since i first came here in early 2002, in fact everything has changed except dubai's roots.

being part of dubai's growth is a pleasant thing because so much is happening here and the city continuously adds projects for the well-being of its residents and tourists

don't expect dubai to be a completely mature tourist and business destination

it's too young to be as successful and versatile as the world's most vibrant cities, but it certainly is on a good and fast way to achieve its goal to become one of the most important business and travel destinations worldwide with a completely different city planning and layout as elsewhere on this planet

I went there in 2000 to visit family and then again in 2003 when stopping over before going to Somalia.

When I went there, I was like "everything is under construction here" and then I noticed that there were many buildings there that wasn't there when I went the second time.

lived there from 1985-2000

althought I love what Dubai is becoming, i REALLY miss what it used to be when it was quiet and laid back.

its the small grocery shops, the illegal fireworks and bb guns, the 4WD in sandy areas, crazy ass locals, the FOOD! from expensive restaurants to cheap street ones, shawarma, sheesha cafes, fishing trips, playing pranks on the watchman, pranking calling all of dubai before dubai got caller ID technology (THOSE WERE THE DAYS) - haha since in Dubai everything can be delivered to your house for free, we used to people home delivery of all sorts of things KFC, groceries, pest control etc. these things are what make dubai.

the old quiet beaches, playing cricket on the street, playing soccer with baluchi kids from satwa, my british private school and the funny ass english kids. the indian sports club! - that place was crazy - u found the funniest people there hahaha! all the house parties throughout the city on NYE. chillin in deira. eating food with construction workers, makin fun of english kids ;)! field trips to hatta, road trips to fujairah. playin golf and night time golf with my friends at nad al sheba, beingin on the junior national golf squad and being treated like a king, street racing (irresponsible, yes i know), getting chased by guard dogs. havin BB gun fights in abandoned houses in jumeirah. renting out 5* hotel ballrooms at age 15 and having for-profit parties with all sorts of alcohol and wait staff generating 10,000dh profit! having such parties busted by the CID! lighting mattresses on fire on SZR and running away leaving a huge flaming plume of smoke like a kuwaiti oil fire.
renting pirated videos before the movies were released in the US! AL-NASR LEISURELAND FRUIT GARDEN HAHAHA! crazy afghan taxi drivers tryin to convert u to islam! crazy taxi drivers tryin to touch u where they shouldnt! filipino fast food workers! RICKY the gay filipino barber in the alley next to the al diyafah street hardees. gang "fights" between wannabe gangstas

one funny story, I was watching the midnight showing of "The Mummy" in Lamcy Cinema. it was FULL of locals all in khandoora. it was like a gathering of ghosts. anyway theres one part in the movie when Rachel Weisz was in a library alone, and she heard a suspicious noise. she thought it was the library worker so she yells out "Mohammed?" and all the locals in the cinema go "YEAH?" thats some funny shit which happens only in dubai.

so many good times


nowadays, theres just too many tourists and the new population of Dubai really has no grasp as to what makes Dubai special. they come expecting everything to be like how it is in their own countries... complainin about the bad driving - haha the bad driving is part of what dubai is!

I was in Dubai a few weeks ago. I'm planning a new trip for october this year.

I'm also considering to work 2 years in Dubai in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

I live in dubai and am an expat but call it home

I live in dubai and am an expat but call it home

You're an Aussie? What kinda work are you actually doing?:)

Dubai is without a doubte most fascinating city on earth,I want to go there ASAP.

Indians, Pakistanis and Philipinos workers are treated poorly by their respective Indians, Pakistanis and Philipinos bosses too.

You're wrong if you think that Asians are just blue collar workers, when in reality there are more Asian business owners in Dubai then Arabs, which is logical since local Arabs are just 15% of the population.

As for me, I'm living here since late 1999 and I don't have a Arab boss, nor I work for one.

What the hell, I never knew that I am shocked man that only 15% of dubai's population is arab. so which other ethenic group live there which make MOST of dubai's population. :eek2:

15% of the population is Emirati
there are other Arabs living there tho

indians are the most represented nationality in dubai
lot of keralites and tamils + a shit load of various north indians

^^mind your language :sleepy:

^^ or somebody gonna get a hurt real bad

^^ or somebody gonna get a hurt real bad
:hahaha: ......Russell Peters...

Been 2 times... going again this summer.

^ for some reason i thought u lived there

its the small grocery shops, the illegal fireworks and bb guns, the 4WD in sandy areas, crazy ass locals, the FOOD! from expensive restaurants to cheap street ones, shawarma, sheesha cafes, fishing trips, playing pranks on the watchman, pranking calling all of dubai before dubai got caller ID technology (THOSE WERE THE DAYS) - haha since in Dubai everything can be delivered to your house for free, we used to people home delivery of all sorts of things KFC, groceries, pest control etc. these things are what make dubai. renting out 5* hotel ballrooms at age 15 and having for-profit parties with all sorts of alcohol and wait staff generating 10,000dh profit! having such parties busted by the CID! lighting mattresses on fire on SZR and running away leaving a huge flaming plume of smoke like a kuwaiti oil fire.
Hey mate, your real name isn't Raj, is it? Reading what you got up to, you sound just like a guy I used to know by that name.

one funny story, I was watching the midnight showing of "The Mummy" in Lamcy Cinema. it was FULL of locals all in khandoora. it was like a gathering of ghosts. anyway theres one part in the movie when Rachel Weisz was in a library alone, and she heard a suspicious noise. she thought it was the library worker so she yells out "Mohammed?" and all the locals in the cinema go "YEAH?" thats some funny shit which happens only in dubai.
Now that IS funny! :) I can just imagine it. You're right-only in Dubai.

I remember watching a movie at the Hyatt Galleria when laser pointers became all the rage. Throughout the film, locals (that includes adults, as well as kids) kept shining red dots all over the actresses (clothed) chests. We had a bunch of locals sitting right behind us doing it, they must have been about 20 years old, giggling like schoolkids. Pathetic!

Hey mate, your real name isn't Raj, is it? Reading what you got up to, you sound just like a guy I used to know by that name.


Now that IS funny! :) I can just imagine it. You're right-only in Dubai.

I remember watching a movie at the Hyatt Galleria when laser pointers became all the rage. Throughout the film, locals (that includes adults, as well as kids) kept shining red dots all over the actresses (clothed) chests. We had a bunch of locals sitting right behind us doing it, they must have been about 20 years old, giggling like schoolkids. Pathetic!

hahaha thats funny man! nah im not Raj. but im curious to know what Raj's last name was. Dubai is big but can be surprisingly small at times.

watching movies in the Cinema with locals is fun. ive got another story.
i cant remember what movie it was, but was watchin another night show with lots of locals in the cinema again. a bunch walk in and split up on either side of an aisle. during the movie, some slutty woman appears on screen, and one local on the edge of theatre shouts out to his friend on the other side of the aisle "SAEED!... UMAK!! (umak = your mother, in case you didnt know)" and everybody in theatre, the Men, the kids, the women etc just burst out laughin.

never been there before.

hahaha thats funny man! nah im not Raj. but im curious to know what Raj's last name was. Dubai is big but can be surprisingly small at times.

watching movies in the Cinema with locals is fun. ive got another story.
i cant remember what movie it was, but was watchin another night show with lots of locals in the cinema again. a bunch walk in and split up on either side of an aisle. during the movie, some slutty woman appears on screen, and one local on the edge of theatre shouts out to his friend on the other side of the aisle "SAEED!... UMAK!! (umak = your mother, in case you didnt know)" and everybody in theatre, the Men, the kids, the women etc just burst out laughin.

Nice story! Made me fall about again. If you have any more, keep 'em coming. It's a laugh a minute.

You're right, Dubai is a small place and I'm curious to know what Raj's last name was too(!)... I've forgotten, this was a while back. He's of Indian descent (obviously!) but I'd say he's about 25 now. Real troublemaker but funny as heck - parents sent him off to NYC for schooling (his Dad worked there) as a last resort after he got kicked out of most schools in Dubai! Troubled kid, but if you got on with him he was a diamond. Kept you laughing all day long!

I've been there at once

Been 2 times... going again this summer.

Don't forget your sunglasses and a tissue to wipe the dump after steping outside. :tongue2: ;)

Hi, i've been in dubai, June 2005, for 6 days, it is a nice place, but i don't believe in it. Nice building, but all the work is made by immigrants.

so? if they are 90% of the city of course most of it will be done by them :dunno:

Not my kind of city, but I wouldn't mind to visit sometime. I enjoyed nearby Sharjah, and if Dubai is similar in places - then I would probably like it.

Only a stop-over on the way to Kuala Lumpur 12 years ago. I was surprised when I went out of the airplane at night how high the humidity and termperature was - guessed it has a desert clime, but it was very tropical!

Not my kind of city, but I wouldn't mind to visit sometime. I enjoyed nearby Sharjah, and if Dubai is similar in places - then I would probably like it.

:runaway:

you won't like it.. sharjah is...

Haven't been there yet... I had planned a trip this summer, but stuff happened and tickets was changed :sleepy:

Lately shops in the UAE have started to sell Danish stuff again, so unless anything blows up again, there's a chance I'll go next year, but I might wait until the Burj Dubai is finished - that alone would be worth the trip for me! :drool:

^ Islamic scholars urged not to boycott Arla products only

anyway no one would blow u even if the boycott is still on ...

^ Islamic scholars urged not to boycott Arla products only Not to start any debate about it, but B&O is also doing great, just as Jack n' Jones, Mearsk Sealand, FL Smidt some funiture stores and what not...

Anyway, back to the issue..

don't tell them you're from Denmark, they might blow you up.

^ troll

don't tell them you're from Denmark, they might blow you up.

did your shit come out in your pants???

^ troll
yeah well at least I don't go blowing up embassies and boycotting countries because of a cartoon.

grow up.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT DENMARK!!!!

^ ur still a troll

yeah well at least I don't go blowing up embassies and boycotting countries because of a cartoon.

grow up.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT DENMARK!!!!

troll

yeah well at least I don't go blowing up embassies and boycotting countries because of a cartoon. To be fair, although I do appreciate the support, the people in the UAE has done no damage on any Danish property, and has been among the most adult about the situation. There has however been some small acts of violence towards arabian people working for Arla, bringing out products, in the beginning, but nothing major.

Anyway this is all old news, and has very little to do with the thread, so let's forgive and forget... :cheers:


I for one are looking forward for my visit, and is a bit curius about where the best hotel location is ( or will be )... from what I've heard from friends who spend some R&R there, a beachfront hotel is almost a must, and cabs will bring you fast to the downtown areas and nightclubs..

troll
why don't you consult someone who gives a damn.

Mr Denmark, I wasn't singling out the UAE, I was talking more about the violent few of the islamic population, such as this 'smussuw' character; who went ape shit over a freaking cartoon and felt it was necessary to destroy Denmark embassies and boycott the country, all over 1 cartoon.

^ because that has nothing to do with this thread :D

There has however been some small acts of violence towards arabian people working for Arla, bringing out products, in the beginning, but nothing major.
r u sure that happened in the UAE? I dont think so !

if yes provide a source plz, I really want to know how did that happen.

r u sure that happened in the UAE? I dont think so ! Yes I'm sure, but as I said nothing major... from some stone trowing and denial of delivering products to some pushing and slapping..

Exactly wich took place in Dubai I have no idea, as it's just some minor stuff mentioned in the news and a documentory about Arla in the UAE

As I said the UAE has been among the most adult about this issue, so I see no further reason to discuss this here..


What I would like to know is about what people enjoyed the most, and maybe a Top10 "must see" list...

You're an Aussie? What kinda work are you actually doing?:)
develop properties. What elese do we do here?
seriously, its home, my chilren are born here, I am about to buy here and Im pasionatly proud to be part of this amazing experience and defend Dubai whenever its unjustly attacked.
This is not to say Dubai is perfect, far from it, we have major IR issues as well as polution and traffic issues.But what is refreshing is that the leadership does not ignore the issues like many western "democracies", they actually adress them, spend the time and money to make sure they dont happen again. However some need more work and the promotion of further basic rights is the next thing the government is addressing.

Yes I'm sure, but as I said nothing major... from some stone trowing and denial of delivering products to some pushing and slapping..

Exactly wich took place in Dubai I have no idea, as it's just some minor stuff mentioned in the news and a documentory about Arla in the UAE

I dont know, it doesnt sound right. I dont imagine that happening here, even if it was minor as u said.

I never read that in the newspaper (they wouldnt cover something like that)

Maybe kids throwing stones at those guys? even that doesnt sound right:D

I dont know, it doesnt sound right. I dont imagine that happening here, even if it was minor as u said.

I never read that in the newspaper (they wouldnt cover something like that)

Maybe kids throwing stones at those guys? even that doesnt sound right:D There was a tv documentory called: "Et døgn i Muhammed-krisen - set gennem fem forskellige danskere (http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php?id=3635286)" ( "A day doing the Muhammed crissis - seen trough the eyes offive different Danes" )

It followed, among others, Jacob Mikkelsen ( in charge of Arla in the UAE, based and living in Dubai )
You saw how he visited the shops and warehouses and spoke to the workers, and was told by them what had happened to them and other workers doing the day and the conflict - wich areas the workers delivered to was not mentioned, but it was within the UAE.


I can't find a transcript for the program ( rare seen in Denmark ) but I might look a bit more into it later... but as mentioned it was nothing serius, compared to other places.. wich is why I'm still positive towards Dubai, and looking forward to visiting it :)

I don't like sprawling cities and suburbs. I hope that Dubai isn't anything like certain North-American cities. (?)

Never been there. But from what I've seen in the pictures and documentaries, it looks very nice. But i do not believe in the construction of these artificial islands. Dubai is already beautiful, they do not need to go for plastic surgery. Their beaches is one of the best in the Middle East. Well, if these artifiicial islands are good in the long term effect, then they should go on with it. Dubai as well as many other places in the Middle East gives the Arab world a good image, something for the west to think about. :)

I think Dubai is very interesting but...
I won't visit a country that would kill me just because I love a man and not a woman!!!

although homosexuality is a crime in Dubai, I have not heard of any executions of homosexuals. im pretty sure homosexuals who are caught are jailed and then deported... but the country would face an international shitstorm if it were to execute them.

even still, there is a thriving homosexual community in dubai

I have never been to Dubai. However, soon Ill be going to India with my family so Ill probably stop over at Dubai (lol hopefully)

I think Dubai is very interesting but...
I won't visit a country that would kill me just because I love a man and not a woman!!!

I've seen more gays in and around Dubai then in and around Vienna, and I've lived in both places. Just don't make out in public and you'll be FINE!

^^^LOL

ive been to the airport and i was outside in the city for a few hours, but seriously, i dont know how ppl can take the heat, when u step off the plane, you just end up walking into a baking wall of heat, which most people could never experience unless they'd been to a sauna. I dont think i could ever live in Dubai, but by the looks of all the development going on there, it would be a great place for a holiday.

ive been to the airport and i was outside in the city for a few hours, but seriously, i dont know how ppl can take the heat, when u step off the plane, you just end up walking into a baking wall of heat, which most people could never experience unless they'd been to a sauna. I dont think i could ever live in Dubai, but by the looks of all the development going on there, it would be a great place for a holiday.

Only 15% of the people in Dubai are 'locals'. Families who have lived in Dubai all their live, they are used to heat. Remains the other 85%, I think more than 50% of those people are from areas where summer is pretty nice and the winter is very cold (like the Netherlands, UK, Denmark etc.). I think they live in their own country in summer and go to Dubai in winter.

I suppose this right. If it is pure bullshit please correct me :D