Job Discussion Forums

[alwayslol]

I'm considering a position at a university in the UAE, and I would like to get some information about what life would be like, especially for a Western female there.

First off, how restrictive is the life there? It sounds fairly free and liberal, from what I've heard and read so far. Is there anything you can/can't do especially as a woman?

Secondly, what are the general social opportunities? Is there any chance to mix with the locals? What do you do for fun/relaxation?

Finally, is there any dating scene at all for single Western women? I'm coming from Taiwan, where a white woman's chance of getting a date is generally very slim. (Western guys like the submissive, thin local girls, Taiwanese guys are scared to death of Western women. Oh, and then you've got the linguistic and cultural barriers to boot.) What are Emirati males like? Do they treat you well and with respect, or do they get too many wrong ideas from TV and movies (as many Asian men do).

I sure would appreciate any females speaking up, although others can give me feedback if you have it. Are there any good Websites where expats/Westerners talk about life in the UAE? I haven't found any.
Thanks all.

[Bindair Dundat]

[Tuttifruitti]

LOVE IT!!!!

[veiledsentiments]

[mci]

A bit of a bar scene ? I may have missed the sarcasm but if not, to be sure, Dubai has a fairly raging bar scene, on par with any major north American city. All shapes and sizes, themes, events, concerts ( although usually semi-retired rockers like Phil collins, Mark Knopfler, the Scorpions, Bryan Adams etc. )

And, along with said nightlife comes plenty of dating potential. Dubai is unique in the GCC in that the expat numbers are large and varied - not just the crusty or married types usually found. Including the locals who are often indistinguishable from everyone else as they are partying just as hard in western clothes - of course lots of other arabic expats too who may be thought to be locals. There is so much going on in Dubai, that it's become unattractive to many - traffic, prices and inflation, rent hikes and more traffic.

Bottom line - you'll enjoy it and the sky is the limit - in fact, you may be disappointed that it is really just like any other big city - of course you can do a desert tour, camping and meet some bedouin for tea and pillows for local 'flavor' and the national dress on Emiratis shopping in the malls is an interesting sight for the newcomers but it's not much of a cultural experience all in all.

mci

[veiledsentiments]

Well, MCI, for one thing, she asked about the "UAE" - not about "Dubai." And Dubai is a thing unto itself and 'insha'Allah' the rest of the Gulf will avoid becoming anything like it.

If I wanted all those trappings, I would have stayed home. Bars, louts, hookers, tourists, and horrendous traffic... I can't understand why anyone would want to go there - in particular if the idea is to see or learn about the Middle East.

But, for those who want everything to be like home, in the Gulf, Dubai is the place. ugh...

VS

[mci]

Thanks, VS, for pointing that out - perhaps she was referring to Dubai and wants to know about the cosmopolitan life there - or, at least by asking about social possibilities, she's not interested in living a segregated life. It is possible that people come to these parts for a variety of interests and not just the life you experienced or promote.

In fact, meeting the locals is far more possible than you know or ever tried. I know several single women in Muscat and the Emirates who are involved in such activities as beach volleyball, football (soccer) theme dancing etc.- all in mixed company. They love it, have met many men and women who they now consider to be friends. (MOD edit)

Of course, there are problems for the naive and unprepared and you often mention that as a valuable service to the forum readers - but, give them a break (MOD edit)

Alwayslol - I'll assume that you have got a head on your shoulders and enough street smarts to decide what is an appropriate or safe situation - as in any country, the U.S. included, small towns have less opportunity and likely a more conservative attitude, big cities have more to do and a more liberal attitude. Ditto in the UAE. It's yours to discover ! Keep an open mind and your wits about you and you will enjoy it.

mci

[DesertStar]

I agree with mci, Dubai is quite a lively place. Perhaps not to everyone's liking- but social opportunities exist, and they are plenty.

I also agree that VS (no pun intended) tends to promote or at least expects others on here to have a lot in common with her. (MOD edit)

To be fair to VS, she offers a lot of info to newcomers- however, some of it might be based on dated information and experiences. The Gulf is changing by the minute (not necessarily to the better, mind u), that it's hard to keep up with it even when u live there. So, giving info (with confidence) that is a decade old or so can actually be misleading.

Just my $0.02.

[Afra]

Anyone looking for information about nightlife and entertainment in Dubai should have a look. There are other similar publications and separate issues for Abu Dhabi. I think

http://www.timeoutdubai.com/

[younggeorge]

My social life is pretty pathetic and I'm not a woman, so I hesitate to comment. However, I know there are single women at ZU who are quite happy with their social opportunities.

I don't think that out-of-hours activities will be a big problem: I'd be more concerned with the work-place. Alwayslol says only "a university". There are now quite a few private universities here and most of them offer pretty miserable salaries and living conditions. The universities I'd consider working for, in order of preference, would be Zayed University, American University of Sharjah, UAE University, University of Sharjah. If it's not one of these, be very wary and try to get in touch with someone already working there before you commit yourself.

[veiledsentiments]

I assume that alwayslol is intelligent enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. I'm sure you two boys (mci and desertstar) know infinitely more than I ever could about living in the Middle East for a single female... being as you two have spent so much time doing so. For all we know she is heading for Fujairah or RAK... hot spots for the swinging single that they are.

And DO try to get your facts straight, I left Muscat in 2001...

VS

[mci]

Yes, of course you're right - I have never been a women in the UAE - and apparantly you have never considered that other women might want or have a different experience than you did over here. Your advice is usually accurate and balanced - there's no doubt and I'm not saying otherwise but, by repeatedly advising posters that the Arabic men in the GCC are not interested in mingling with expats and consider western women to be an easy mark, you are promoting a negative stereotype.

(MOD edit)

mci

[younggeorge]

I don't remember what was there before the MOD Edits but you did have a point and I don't remember finding it particularly offensively expressed. I think we may be experiencing a little hyper-sensitivity at the moment, as noted in posts on the Saudi and General Middle East forums. Quite why this should be, I don't know but Dave's will lose a lot of its attraction if it gets to be tame.

[veiledsentiments]