Job Discussion Forums

[mr fawlty]

How would you feel about living in a gated, walled compound without security?

[anaxiforminges]

The question is oxymoronic. The adjectives "gated" and "walled" seem to suggest at least a whiff of security.

[Zoot]

Where is your query coming from? If a community is gated and walled, and living in the UAE is one of the safest in the world, why you think you need any other security?

[Afra]

I live in what is technically a gated and walled compound - Dubai, not Abu Dhabi - although I'd never thought of it as that until now. The gardens all have walls and there is one car gate through which everyone enters but it has never been closed in the years I've lived here - why would it be? We live in the UAE, not . . . name your country!.

[SD BOY]

As much as I may criticize the Emirates for other things, I must say honestly...Westerners are physically safe there. Much safer generally, than they'd be back home in London, Los Angeles, Sydney...Tokyo might be the exception
The only danger...and it really is a danger...is the driving.
Also, be very careful crossing the streets. There is an unbound contempt and utter disregard for pedestrians throughout the Gulf.

[newtogolf]

How bad is the Dubai traffic? I saw on Youtube quite a few terrible car accidents caused by totally reckless drivers (can't help wondering if they had some really excusable emergencies or were just being utterly stupid). I don't know any stat, but apparently traffic situation is much worse than that in NY or Chicago. How could I survive driving through that?

[anaxiforminges]

@newtogolf: I'm pretty sure I saw the exact same videos on YouTube! If I can buy a Volvo, I'll probably do it. Pound for Pound, it's the safest passenger car around.

[newtogolf]

anaxiforminges, I agree with you. But we still have to watch out. Even so, the so-called defensive driving could be of little use if those offensive drivers are around us. I just wish the Duabi Public transportation will catch up by the time I get there.

[adorabilly]

newtogolf.

the driving is just as bad as it seems (sometimes worse).

there are lots of horrific accidents (usually on the parkways), but they are there.

it seems to come from an attitude of inshallah (as god wills) and the arrogance of I'm an emirati get off of MY road.

western defensive driving will get you killed here. Usually you have 2 lanes the slow and the uber fast. if you arei n the slow you will be behind lorries, or vans, so when you go to go around you get rear ended. the biggest issue is don't panic.. that will cause an accident.

the bigger cities seem to have better driving in the city (the folks have learned) but much worse traffic.

[veiledsentiments]

[anaxiforminges]

VS, wow, you sure have travelled around in the Gulf! I'm in awe...

[veiledsentiments]

Really it just means that I am old... and worked in the Middle East from '85 through '01 when I retired. There are a few here who even have my years beat because education was my second career.

VS

[mr fawlty]

Thanks for the reassurance !
Oxymoronic as it was. I only asked because a private, gated compound, in my humble opinion, seems lacking if there isn't a security guard wondering around to give off more than said whiff.

[veiledsentiments]

Not only are there no guards... there are no gated, private compounds. At least not in education.

There are a very few employers that have their housing on campus in the UAE - one would be Sharjah University City. I expect that they require a permit to drive a vehicle in, but I doubt that there is any guarding of the mostly decorative fences around the area.

"Compounds" are a Saudi thing... and a few in Qatar, I hear... but none to speak of in the rest of the Gulf for teachers.

VS

[Splitting Hairs]

I know of a few compounds in AD - mostly exclusive and very expensive. There are also quite a few in Al Ain