BestofQuora: What are the mind-blowing facts about Dubai?

Loy Machedo, lived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (1982-2016)

Updated Aug 30

Most of the people in the UAE will show you amazing pictures on Facebook, wear amazing clothes, drive an expensive car. But what they will not tell you is that they live a life that is meant for showing off. Almost 90% of them have either more than 3 credit cards, 1 Personal Loan, 1 Car Loan, 1 Home Loan and is living hand to mouth.
Dubai, UAE survives and thrives on Speculation and Future Promises but hardly delivers (World Islands, Palm 2, 3, Falcon City, Technology City, Outsource Zone)
Dubai & the UAE has announced BILLION DOLLAR projects in City after City after City. But not completed any. For example - Logistics City, Central Enterprise Park, Residential City, Commercial City, Aviation City, Staff Village City, Golf City, Sports City, Smart City - were all announced in a big manner with amazing miniatures. Money was taken from investors. No one knows what has happened to them.
Dubai, UAE Brand is handled by some of the top brains in the world. It is marketed as a Dream Heaven for Billionaires. Only 10% of the population is truly rich. The majority are middle class people who struggle to survive. No one hears about them
UAE’s corporate sector faces massive challenges of Racism & Sexism - which continue to this day. This is not a fault of the UAE government - rather it is custom & practice followed by everyone - so no one questions.
Explicit job advertisements like “Wanted UK / US Educated National” or “If you are a western expatriate & holder of a UK / US passport, please apply” are advertised openly.
Same Job, Same Position, Same Responsibility - Your Salary with differ immensely based on the Passport you hold. Western Passports have much more power & benefits than Asian passports.
Salaries - African, Bangladeshi get paid the lowest. Indian, Pakistani get paid second lowest, The second highest are British, American & Australians. The highest earners are Arab Local of the country.
UAE’s “Emiriatization” Drive - to ensure Arab Local Citizens get employed in all companies is a total failure. The majority of Arab Locals do not like to work in private company’s or long hours. There is a complete disconnection. Most of the locals want very senior positions even if they have no experience. If you consider the carrot and stick approach - you can tell an expat that you will terminate the person and cancel his visa. However, what can you tell the Local Citizen of the country? Also the minimum salaries of any Expat can start as low as AED 500. Arab Local Citizens expect salaries of upwards of AED 8,000 just for a job of stamping papers. So it becomes impossible to get this policy going.
UAE really takes care of its citizens. Gives them interest free loans, educational opportunities to study in the best schools and colleges in the world. And helps them succeed in business through help of loans. However - even after all that - the majority fail to succeed.
All the Emirates in the UAE have at some point advertised 99 years Freehold property and visa. They had taken billions of dollars from Expats. And never completed or delivered the projects.
Almost ALL the information in the Media coming from Dubai, UAE about Dubai, UAE is monitored and controlled by the Government. So never expect the complete truth.
UAE Government advertises jobs and tenders for suppliers to come and participate. The majority of suppliers now do not take part or bid for such projects. Why? Because the majority do not get paid what is promised. Can you take a government entity to court?
A lot of ‘white-lies’ and ‘grey-lies’ work wonders in Dubai, UAE. And everyone gives you false statements and exaggerated claims which they never honor. From the job vacancy that promises you a promotion every year to the employee who gets the job.
Being explicitly honest is not something anyone does. Political Correctness & Diplomacy does. That is why you will never get the clear picture.
In the UAE you will be asked to pay hidden charges with no explanations - and you cannot argue example Service Tax, Maintenance Charges, Upkeep charges, Water charges - etc
In the UAE your annual Rent can increase 100% within one year. There is nothing you can do about it.
UAE parking charges were increased 100% within one year. From AED 2 per hour, it was increased to AED 50 in some places
UAE is very smart in Taxing people - for example in Dubai, UAE they introduced Road Toll to ‘reduce’ traffic. First they charged AED 4. Now it is become AED 5. First it was only in 2 places. Now it is almost everywhere. However has the traffic reduced? Absolutely not. They are just looking for ways to tax people without using the word ‘tax’
You will be jailed for engaging in charity
You can get jailed for showing any gesture that can be considered rude - which includes showing a finger at an Arab Local.
You can get jailed for arguing with an Arab Local - even if you are right
There have been reports of women being jailed because they were forcefully raped or gang raped - Shocked that a woman was arrested for reporting rape in Dubai? I'm not
You can get jailed for a facebook comment or facebook like.
You can be jailed for having sex with your Fiancee - Having Sex With Your Fiancee Is a Serious Offense in the UAE
You can be jailed for uploading a picture on facebook - Facebook users risk jail or fine for uploading images - UAE official
You can get jailed for insulting Islam
You can get jailed for discussing religion (1)
You can get jailed for photography (2)
You can get jailed for not paying your bills (3)
You can be jailed for public displays of affection including holding hands or even kissing in a taxi (4 & 4.1 )
You can get jailed if someone ‘claims’ you insulted Islam
You can get jailed for trying to covert someone.
You can get jailed for leaving Islam (5)
The Sharia Law comes into effect if you indulge in sex outside marriage. Hence you can get jailed & killed by stoning for sex. (6)
It is a crime for a Muslim woman to marry a Non-Muslim (7)
You can get jailed for being a homosexual (8) - LGBT rights in the United Arab Emirates - Wikipedia
There have been incidents of people disappearing & torture (9)
You can be jailed for writing bad words on Social Media - Woman Jailed In UAE For "Writing Bad Words On Social Media" - One Mile at a Time
You can get jailed for taping video evidence against a criminal (especially if its a Arab local)
You can be jailed for no reason - I am unjustly imprisoned in the UAE – why won’t the UK government help me? | Ahmad Zeidan & Americans Jailed in UAE for a Year Without Charge
You can be jailed for having sex outside marriage, that also includes kissing or holding hands with someone you are not married to Expat couple 'face jail in UAE for sex outside marriage'
You can get jailed in the UAE for sympathizing with a country it does not like - U.A.E. Warns Residents Support for Qatar Could Land You in Jail , UAE: Social media users face jail for Qatar sympathy
UAE claims to be a country that follows Islam - however in practice it is not the case. Prostitution, Gambling, Horse Race Gambling, Live in Relationships without marriage - all exist in UAE. Even though this is not officially documented - this is evident if you stay in the UAE
An Arab Local Woman can put you in jail without evidence (I experienced this)
People have been put into prison for as simple a video parody or joke in the UAE - US citizen imprisoned in UAE for parody video seeks pardon and compensation
The most difficult employees to deal with are Local Arab Women as they are protected by many rules and regulations by the government.
Never argue with an Arab Local Woman.
Never take a picture of an Arab Local Woman.
Never post a picture of an Arab Local Woman EVEN IF SHE GIVES YOU PERMISSION. She can change her mind later on and you can land in prison.
Expo 2020 has been marked as the biggest success story to date. However it is nothing but speculation and hardly anyone has any idea how it will benefit them because UAE increased the expenses of EVERY SINGLE THING since Expo 2020 has been announced
Al Maktoum International Airport is a total and utter failure but no one talks about it.
Dubai World Central - no one understands the point of this set up but still no one talks about it.
UAE violates many human rights as per the global community which include torture in prisons, restricting freedom of speech. The biggest one - it has not signed International Labor Rights and Human rights treaties- Human rights in the United Arab Emirates - Wikipedia
In the UAE you can have property, money, everything - but if you can banned or thrown out of the country due to any reason - you lose everything and cannot claim any of it.