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adorabilly
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: A question about the ME/UAE |
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So following VS's and others suggestions I have spent some time reading over the boards. I think I have a pretty decent grasp on some of the issues of the gulf (for a complete newbie to the area), and i realize how little I actually know. (makes me feel ingorant)
Someone earlier asked how safe the ME was, and was promptly given ridicule for the question (I was howling with laughter over some of the answers)
My questions aren't how safe is it, but how safe do you feel in the UAE?
let me explain a bit more. When we told our families we were thinking of moving our family (my wife, me and our 3 children) to the UAE the reaction from all of them was "oh no... why would you go there it is so unsafe."
now I now the UAE is very safe for foreigners. It is no where near iraq and it's unstability, not near afganistan, or even Iran.... I know there is extremely safe in terms of murder, robbery and rape of westerners...
But how safe do you feel? How do you view Iran having nuclear centerfuges enriching uranium right now? Do you believe their claims of peaceful nuclear development? Or do you worry about an iran with nuclear weapons? |
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007

Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 2684 Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:47 am Post subject: Re: A question about the ME/UAE |
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adorabilly wrote: |
But how safe do you feel? How do you view Iran having nuclear centerfuges enriching uranium right now? Do you believe their claims of peaceful nuclear development? Or do you worry about an iran with nuclear weapons? |
I worry about USA nuclear weapons than Iran's! Because USA is the only country in this lovely planet who used an Atomic Bomb against another country, Japan.
Iran, as a sovereign country, has the right, as USA, Uk, India, Israel, Pakistan, etc, to enrich uranium for use for civil activities or nuclear weapons as required by the interests of the country.
If US/UK don't like that, then why not negotiate with Iran for a comprise treaty, and offer them an alternative for their economic/energy development?
I think the motives of US/UK/Israel are more suspicious than Iran's. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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As usual 007's post goes off on a basically unrelated tangent... rather than turning into a political scribe about whose nuclear capability should we fear most... North Korea's? Pakistan's? or more probably our own here in the US... let's stick to what the OP is asking.
Adorabilly... Whether someone feels safe somewhere or not depends on so many things. As I recall, you are American. Do you feel safe in your city in the US? Would you feel safe if you got off on the wrong exit in an urban area and found yourself surrounded by boarded up buildings and loitering young males? Do you follow the advice that we hear constantly here such as... "before getting into your car in the shopping center parking lot, be sure to look around to see if anyone is lurking about and check out the back seat before you get in?"
The culture is permeated with fear in this country. It is how the government maintains control. The latest target in their fear campaign is to make us fear anything to do with the Middle East and Arabs/Iranians and Muslims.
The reality is that few people ever encounter crime in the US. And with a few well-known examples, you are not likely to encounter any problems in the Middle East. Those who feel that the political situation created by the US aggression is dangerous have left (or not taken a job there in the first place).
Everyone has to decide for themselves how much unknown risk they find acceptable. Single people like myself tend to be very blase about it. But, those with children like you, are in a different situation.
The world can be a dangerous place. Last year about this time, a teacher in Egypt went to the beach at Dahab with his visiting in-laws and they were the 4 Americans injured in a bombing that killed many. His life has been changed forever and he just had another surgery to try to get some usage in his right hand. On the other hand, in the US we have unstable people with guns who go on random rampages.
No guarantees... you have to weigh the risks for yourself.
VS |
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007

Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 2684 Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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veiledsentiments wrote: |
The world can be a dangerous place. Last year about this time, a teacher in Egypt went to the beach at Dahab with his visiting in-laws and they were the 4 Americans injured in a bombing that killed many. His life has been changed forever and he just had another surgery to try to get some usage in his right hand. On the other hand, in the US we have unstable people with guns who go on random rampages.
No guarantees... you have to weigh the risks for yourself.
VS |
The World can be a safe place!
I think schools, colleges, universities in Egypt and ME are much, much safer than the ones in USA. Just, see what happened in Verginia tech. !!! I think it is the crime of the 21st century in USA!!
May GOD save the innocent people of USA from unstable people with guns. Ameen. |
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adorabilly
Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 430 Location: Ras Al Khaimah
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks.
I was asking because you all have been there and done that.
We have lived in central china for 2 years and now are in Tokyo. I know that while we have been abroad, I have felt much safer where we have been than i ever felt in most major cities in america.
I am no too worried, and I was mainly hoping to hear from expats who have moved their families there.
Now I appreciate the replies. My main concern is that the UAE has quite a bit of expat residence, and seems to me to be a prime target for having terrorist activities vs the expats.
I also know there has NEVER been a terrorist attack vs foreigners in the UAE. And that they have pretty good safety concerns.
as you pointed out VS, the fear mongering and demonizing of the ME that is rampant in american media (is also in japanese and chinese media even more) shows the ME as "all one big bomb waiting to explode." (which I know is false)
having kids makes me a little more cautious when moving places, or considering relocating.
One of my concerns would be the threat of terrorism, crimes vs expats (especially rape, or child molestation). |
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007

Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 2684 Location: UK/Veteran of the Magic Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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adorabilly wrote: |
... shows the ME as "all one big bomb waiting to explode." (which I know is false) |
The above statement is correct. The ME is a �political� bomb in sleep, and it can explode anytime, depending on the move from US, Uk, and Israel.
Quote: |
having kids makes me a little more cautious when moving places, or considering relocating.
One of my concerns would be the threat of terrorism, crimes vs expats (especially rape, or child molestation). |
Do not worry Adorabilly, UAE is safe for singles or married people with children, and it is much safer than USA, China, and other countries. |
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sandy gallop
Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 33 Location: San Dunia
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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...
Last edited by sandy gallop on Tue Jul 02, 2013 4:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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I agree to an extent Sandy, but as a single person, my decisions only really affect me. That said, I have many friends in the Gulf with kids and none of them spend much time worrying about what 'might' happen. It is likely that almost the only time it comes up is when one is back home visiting.
VS |
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like2answer
Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 154
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Had friends who were going to come visit me cancel because they were so afraid of this area. Americans. They finally came and had a wonderful time and couldn't believe they believed the media.
Some people like to worry. |
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WD40
Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 104
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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Adorability
We have kids. They are safe, go to a great school that does not have problems with drugs, sex, drinking, violence, racism, politics, bullying. This is perhaps reflective of the society that exists in the UAE. A safe haven. We go the the park, beach, ride our bikes, go shopping, movie theater, hire a boat, walk around at night, take taxis everywhere, leave the front door open, let strangers pick up the kids (especially male waiters, bank clerks, shop keepers) because kids are at the heart and soul of the ME. It is not perfect and we are mindful of the children when we are out and about. It is very similar to souhern Europe - Spain, Italy, Greece, Lebanon: people are genuinely friendly and just like to get on with their lives and fillit as much as possible.
If you are positive and open when you come here, you will encounter few problems. Why not come to the UAE for a holiday and get a feel for the place. |
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globalnomad2

Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:45 am Post subject: |
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My wife was sexually harassed and followed on a daily basis in this country, and my kid was bullied in UAE schools because of his mixed race and nationality. I've lived in eight countries around the world outside my own country for 32 years. I'd prefer almost any place outside the Middle East, because the quality of life is better elsewhere.
I wound up in EFL/ESL 20 years ago because opportunities were good in East Asia then, and it was an excellent way to continue living around the world. Now, unfortunately, the only real money in EFL is in the Gulf, except for certain anomalies such as Equatorial Guinea. My first good job was in Kuala Lumpur; after that, Japan. If those places still offered lucrative EFL opportunities, I'd be over there. UAE has its good points, to be sure; I like Dubai except for the Bangkok-style traffic jams. But I think a lot of people in these threads have vested interests in convincing themselves it's a paradise here. So, I'm sure they stay here during the summer vacation--why would they want to go anywhere else but this paradise? (I know what they'll say: to visit relatives, of course!)
I don't think the US media lie about the Gulf area, by the way. For example, I have never seen a negative report about the UAE. All they do is rave about how rich and glittery Dubai is. The trouble is, the American public tends to get the UAE confused with Saudi Arabia, a truly horrible place, a vast, gender-segregated, theocratic prison. I know, because I was there for four years. The UAE, as everyone here knows, is like a luxury resort with untold freedoms compared to Saudi. The British are less confused about the Gulf because they have a long imperial history in the Middle East--and it's geographically much closer. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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You haven't lived in the US for awhile have you GN2 and you are missing out on the drumbeat of hating Arabs and Muslims that goes on daily here. Dubai and the UAE government are regularly pointed to as major financiers of the terrorists and as being as much to blame for 911 as Saudi Arabia and Iraq. (mustn't let facts intrude with hate speech...) Some of the things that I have heard reported on US TV news and especially talk shows has literally made my jaw drop. I can't tell you how many times I have heard pundits suggest that we should have bombed Dubai and Riyadh at the same time as Baghdad. This is bizarroland now!!
If and when they talk about the glitz of Dubai, it is in a snide and demeaning way.
As to the problems that you and your family have had there, it displays the ever present racism that permeates the Gulf. It is certainly unpleasant and uncalled for, but those with lily white complexions don't have any of these problems. Racially mixed couples with kids will definitely have a less positive experience there in many ways.
VS |
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globalnomad2

Joined: 23 Jul 2005 Posts: 562
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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Yah, that's probably on Fox News in their Op Ed shows, VS. I seldom hear that stuff on the reputable networks. I get not only CNN but also the major three broadcast networks here. And I read the New York Times, not the Meansumbitch Chronicle. (Not that you don't read good stuff!) |
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stoth1972
Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 674 Location: Seattle, Washington
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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I almost always felt 'safe', as in, in 5 years, I was the victim of a petty crime only once (teenage girls in the Maadi Grande Mall/Cairo stole my handbag which happened to have my passport in it) and though I heard various cat calls from Egyptian men, I was rarely bothered in the UAE. On a political scale, I worried about my own nation's actions in the region, but never feared the local governments in either the UAE of Egypt.
As a teacher, I saw bullying in those countries as much as I see here in the US. In Egypt, it was the kids who didn't speak any Arabic that struggled to fit in. Once they learned some, life got easier. The school I worked for in the UAE had an international mix, and kids usually found someone to pal around with of a shared background/interests. At the high school level, I do recall there being incidents between Indian expatriates and other Arab expats. Perhaps it was the social hierarchy beginning to play out for these young adults.
I don't think these are necessarily dangerous places to have kids-they're certainly kid-friendly, though the UAE, for example, would be a pretty dull place (IMO) for a teenager. Parents would have to be aware, as they are in any other country, of normal problems: drugs, alcohol, premarital sex. |
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veiledsentiments

Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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globalnomad2 wrote: |
Yah, that's probably on Fox News in their Op Ed shows, VS. I seldom hear that stuff on the reputable networks. I get not only CNN but also the major three broadcast networks here. And I read the New York Times, not the Meansumbitch Chronicle. (Not that you don't read good stuff!) |
NEVER EVER EVER watch Faux News. If I want fiction, I pick up a novel.
The NY Times has been particularly bad about Middle East coverage... abysmal, in fact. I presume that you mean CNNInternational which has no relationship to regular CNN, which is way too close to FOCKs news. Since the Dubai ports fiasco the coverage has been uniformly negative. (not that the Middle East gets that much discussion at all anyway... after all... Anna Nicole died... Sanjaya got kicked off Idol...)
VS |
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