Dubai Favorites

Favorite thing:
Dubai has often been viewed as a safe haven and it's true that many foolishly leave the doors to homes & cars open and can still come back to find them untouched and intact.
But as the emirate has grown and begun to attract more money and tourists, the place has also become more vulnerable to crime.
Luckily, most expatriates & tourists have so far been deterred from crime because of Dubai's strict deportation laws.
You will notice that Dubai Police is constantly patrolling certain areas of the city.

With the arrival of crowds of tourists, the odd pickpocket can be spotted in busy public areas frequented by visitors that are too busy taking pictures, without noticing a hand in their pocket or bag.

A disturbing phenomenon is the arrival of "date-rape" drugs in the clubbing-scene. It's advisable for women to not leave any drinks unattended, and to keep a close eye on the cute stranger that just offered to buy you a cocktail...

Especially in the summer months most expatriates flee from the heat and take-up "shelter" in their home countries in Europe, USA, South Africa, etc.
It is at this time that thieves come out of the shadows, prying on uninhabited residences: large villas in expensive parts of town (e.g. Jumeirah)) are at highest risk. The danger is amplified by the fact that many residents never got acquainted to their neighbours, and so this incredible story happened a mere 5 houses from my old residence:
Personal Experience: the family was on vacation, and cunning burglars drove-up in broad daylight with a van painted with the logo of a fake removals/furniture packing company. Neighbours & passers-by simply assumed that another expatriate family was leaving, and nobody even looked twice whilst the thieves emptied out the entire house over a 4 hour period: television sets, sofa, curtains, beds, furniture, painting, clothing... Everything!

Fondest memory:
Either way: Dubai is still one of the safest places in the world where we all live a relatively care-free existence, but residents & tourists should not be fooled into a sense of false security - there's always the exception to the rule...

Dubai Police: 999.
Ambulance: 997.

PROBLEMS? Since August 2007 there is a new department within Dubai Police, especially for tourists: Tourists may call on toll-free number 8004438 (24 hours) or e-mail t.s@dubaipolice.gov.ae.

Favorite thing: Duai is a wonderful city with places to impress and invite locals as well as tourists and business travellers. The only problem is how to which of the multitude of interesting things to. I found this site very useful, it helped me find a hotel, andactivities to keep the kids happy during the day, while providing vast amount of info on places to take my wife out on the town. Check out http://www.thedubaiguide.com

Favorite thing: Dubai has no culture and character. Arabs make up only 20% of the population and you will hardly see or interact with them. They hide behind tall compound walls in their mansions. The taxi drivers are all Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, the hotels and businesses are run by Indians. These are people who are not allowed to bring their families to stay with them even if they have been working there for 20-30 years. The permits to bring families are dictated by how much you earn. Low wage earners are denied the right to be with families. They have an option of bringing them to visit at their expense for 3 months in a year but not more than that.

There is nowhere to see the local culture except in a make believe area at the museum. The Arabs otherwise like to ape the west and everything else is geared to that. However they do things backwards! They built big big buildings but not enough roads to accommodate the traffic. Traffic jams are a nightmare in this man made make believe city. There is construction everywhere. They are building more tall buildings, roads and elevated rail lines, there is chaos everywhere. Hyped for tax free shopping, the prices are the same as in Australia and US and more than what you pay in Thailand or Singapore etc. Even that will stop as they introduce VAT from next year. The climate is VERY VERY HOT & HUMID. One wonders what is there to see or do in Dubai. NOT WORTH VISITING!!!!

Fondest memory: The sunglasses and camera lenses fogging up due to the heat and humidity! The pictures come out all hazy.

Favorite thing: Meron month sa dubai na celebrate nila isang feast na mababa lahat presyo ng bilihin, especially mga gadgets.. mahal accommodation.. fried chicken na ang pagkain ng mahihirap.. may mga open beach na pede puntahan ng libre.. dami malalaki malls. IBN Battuta Mall yung tanda ko na isang napuntahan ko.. Astig interior, composed of 6 malls actually na pinagdugtong dugtong..kada isang mall eh may theme / feature na bansa.. China, Egypt at iba iba pa.. Sarap sa dubai kung madami ka pera.. ahahhaa

takte! kung maabot lang!

kailangan may mag sponsor ng visa mo na nasa dubai na! di pede apply visit visa on your own!

dame russians na nagkalat! bwahahahahahahahahahahhahah!

Pag CE, ME, EE, Arki, o ID basta mahusay sa design software astig dun! laki sweldo ahahahhahahahah

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Favorite thing: WELCOME To the poetic garden of eternal friendship
We welcome you all to this beautiful world of friendship built upon love and trust. Lying aside with our motto this group is for people who forsake their homeland, family, friends and everything for the sake of earning money. This group gives aid to all the Indian expatriates living all over the world. This place can shoulder your tensions, worries and you can make this wonderful place to enjoy your present and cherish your past moments. We help you contact your beloved ones back home, giving you any kind of help and advise.
We have representatives all over middle east, later it will be appointed all over the world. We also arrange to send gifts and stuffs to your home. We don’t allow any religious, political discussions and anything, which disturbs the peace and harmony of the group.
So come on friends, let us all make this dream come true, let us all be more closer to our loved ones, let us all be there for each other when time demands. A real platform of love, care and togetherness in this virtual world.
Arts & Cultural Activities
With the intention of motivating group members skills, Daffodils group conduct writing contests during different occasions and festivals. Further, the entries are evaluated by prominent writers and declare awards to the winners. This activity has helped to motivate many of Group members to improve their skills as well it was an inspiration to them. Also, Group is planning to take more steps to improve the skills of Group members. Group has planned to start a Ghazal troop based on Dubai and a Film Band as good singers and actors are in Daffodils Group.
Charity Works
Daffodils Group aims at doing charity services also by a collective effort. Its efforts will be to include technical experts on various fields, legal advisors, medical experts etc. and ensure their active participation directly or indirectly among the group members.

Fondest memory: For member ship contact>>>>

contact@daffodilsindesert.com
membership@daffodilsindesert.com
admin@daffodilsindesert.com

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Favorite thing: According to rumours, the UAE's press is swiftly becoming a bastion of free speech. Why then, is the UAE still ranked below Yemen on the Press Freedom Index?

Much has improved in the past 2 decades, but the UAE still ranks an astonishingly dismal 137th in the world on respected free-speech organisation Reporters Sans Frontiers' Press Freedom Index, sitting below such "havens of tolerance" as Yemen, Sudan & Egypt.

At the turn of the millennium, openly recommending anything other than a "hops-based beverage" or "bottle of grape beverage" brought unwanted attention from authorities.

In an online survey in 2005, over 80% of residents agreed:
Dubai's heavy censorship is a real cause for concern.

"The problem is restriction of access" a journalist explains. "There was a big accident at the dry docks and they didn't allow us in. We reported their statement but added our eyewitness saying how many people were in the body bags. We counted 3 times the bodies acknowledged by the government!"

Dubai's press still faces a subtle pressure to avoid highlighting the uglier side of life in the city. Journalists here are always afraid of writing something will get them in trouble, so they start ignoring facts because they're worried about upsetting someone high up, be it in the Information Ministry or a business tycoon.

UAE LAW Article 70:
"No criticism shall be made against the Head of State or Rulers of the Emirates."

UAE LAW Article 84:
"It is prohibited to malign a public official, or anybody occupying a post in the public prosecution, or assigned to perform a public job. The writer shall not be held responsible if he proves he did so in good faith."

BANNED BOOKS: One of the most notorious & desirable forbidden reads is Robin Moore's 1977 blockbuster "Dubai": "Dubai. The hot spot... Where adventurers play the world's most dangerous games; Gold, sex, oil... and war."

Fondest memory: Sadly "Dubai" has been out of print for decades. The rumour is that Sheikh Rashid was so appalled by its contents, and the accuracy of its portrayal of the Creek, gold smuggling, tribal politics and so on, that he bought the rights to it to prevent further publication.

After talking to editors & journalists it becomes clear that this view is driven by 2 main factors. 90% of media staff in the UAE are non-local & therefore need a visa to work - many professionals are cowed by the prospect of deportation...
Secondly, journalists walk a tightrope, both culturally & legally, of not really knowing what they can get away with.

Journalists shy away from the region's bigger stories that are always being ignored.
> Prostitution is happening everywhere, even in Saudi Arabia.
> What about human trafficking of house maids & construction workers?
> What about money laundering?
> And the real estate boom? Who's buying these villas, sometimes 50 at once?

Also, this is an Islamic country, which has endemic prostitution.
Sensitive things such as religion, prostitution, corruption & anything on the Royal family are not touched by the media.

The fact remains that the UAE is a largely appointed society dominated by tribes and powerful families; perhaps it's understandable that, in the medium term at least, it's who you know and not what you have to say which influences the stories making it onto the newsstands.

Favorite thing: Sheik Zayed (died in 2004) is the prominent leader of this youth nation. He actually "invented" the UAE. His vision and sense of opportunity created a successfull nation and a safe and modern place to live.

He used to say "Impossible is a word that does not exist in our dictionary". And that is true. In the UAE you will find men "fighting" against nature, men creating and constructing "impossible" things. In the UAE, everything would be said a challenge to nature and adversity.

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Favorite thing: The business district, and more precisely the buildings on Sheik Zayed road, are a heaven for modern architecture... You can find glittering skyscrapers with character, and the famous emirates towers.

It's an area that's growing... everywhere you can see cranes and new skyscrapers in the making - each more opulent and flashy than the other. Most with helicopter pad... There are parks and gardens, too... and zillions of interesting restaurants.

Fondest memory: The emirates towers are just so spectacular - even more when viewed from right outside. But what I like best is that it's an area that is changing - and changing fast. On my Dubai return vist, just under 2 years later, it had really altered...

Look out for the arch... doesn't it look like the defense arch in Paris?