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Does Your Marriage Pass The Dubai Test?

23/08/06

I came across an interesting article today about how marriages amongst the expat community are becoming increasingly rare in Dubai. Indeed, most expats are free and single, but what is astonishing is not only are those that were married in Dubai beginning to find divorce is the only answer, but also married couples that settle in Dubai are finding it hard to stay together. So what is it about Dubai?

The article from 7DAYS mentions several reasons as to why this is, including the age old adages of drink and temptation, but also that husbands are quite partial to pretty girls from Far East Asia!

A quick search on Google throws up some more interesting facts about Dubaians' marital affairs. Weddings generate up to 80 per cent of the UAE’s consumer credit. The UAE has a marriage fund to encourage Emirati youths to marry local women and they expect to receive 8,000 applications this year. And last but not least, the divorce rate currently stands at over 45 percent!

However, Dubaians do what Dubaians do best it seems, and in this case they are no different. Leading the way was the story that the world's first divorce on mobile took place in Dubai itself when a man divorced his 26-year-old wife by sending her a text mesage.

Posted by TheDubaiLife.com on 23/08/06 at 12:52 PM
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London Keeps An Extra Eye On Dubaians

23/08/06

The news that a family from Dubai were turned away from the London Eye, one of London's top tourist attractions, is a sign of things to come in our new ultra tense world that we live in. The couple on holiday to see their brother Syed Husain 65, who has lived in London for 30 years, were told they couldn't get on the London Eye with their bags. Having left their bags in a safe place they were then searched for knives. It would seem the whole incident was sparked by a conversation in Arabic.

British Airways, who run the London Eye, apologised to Husain following the incident and offered him two free tickets.

A spokesperson told the BBC: "The London Eye employs people from all nationalities, cultures and religions and we will not refuse any entry unless it is a breach of company policies and procedures."

However there are reports in some sections of the British press that they have since changed their tune and are denying any wrong doing and refuting the story put forward by Syed Husain.

Posted by Editor on 23/08/06 at 12:30 PM
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Hair To Go?

21/08/06

I'm sure that it hasn't escaped the attentions of those that follow the game of cricket of the extraordinary events at the Oval yesterday involving Pakistan, England and an umpire called Darrell Hair. With the ICC based in Dubai and there being a large community from the Indian sub continent, it is sure to dominate the talk of many Dubaians.

Indeed, it has stoked up quite a lot of controversy amongst the Asian communities and PakistanCricketNews.com have already began a PETITION in a bid remove Hair from the ICC’s Elite Panel of Umpires.

For those that seemed to have missed one of sport's most notorious episodes, you can click here to find out more.

In simple layman's terms, Darrell Hair, the Australian officiating the match decided that the ball had been altered. Cricket balls often deteriorate in the course of a match, and quite often balls are replaced during play. However, Hair deemed that in this instance the ball had been changed deliberately by the Pakistan team, and by allowing the English team to change the ball for an inferior one (or one to their liking) along with the award of five penalty runs and without consultation of the fielding captain, it in effect accused the Pakistanis of 'cheating'.

Thereafter, Pakistan protested, the umpires protested and as they say, the rest is history.

This is not the first time that Darrell Hair has clashed with Pakistanis and his appointment for the test series was opposed by the PCB. Furthermore, amongst the ensuing chaos, no video footage has been presented of any player deliberately altering the ball illegally, or for that matter Hair embarking on his disastrous course of action on any evidence that he had witnessed to that effect.

Indeed, Hair has quite a charge sheet on him reporting high profile misdemeanours, most of which seemed to be directed at South East Asian countries (for more on his cricket controversies click here)

Posted by TheDubaiLife.com on 21/08/06 at 08:15 PM
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Make Your Own Hotel Room!

21/08/06

I wonder if Dubai International Capital (DIC) know exactly what they are getting for their Dh4.66 billion investment into Britain-based budget hotel operator, Travelodge. Given the high level of rates of expansion and occupancy that is currently being experienced in Dubai, I wonder if maybe DIC are about to launch Travelodge's new gimmick of mobile hotel rooms on the Dubai market?

See what you think here.

Although, they'll have to be quick as they have already begun thinking about when to sell their stake. Sylvain Denis, DIC's senior vice-president and head of direct investments, told Gulf News:

"Definitely in three to five years Travelodge will be a sizable player in the market and would be a great candidate for an IPO. A listing is very likely to be a logical route for our exit but this is still quite a long way and a lot of things can happen."

Here today, gone tommorrow it would seem.

Posted by TheDubaiLife.com on 21/08/06 at 01:52 PM
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What’s wrong with Wasta anyway?

21/08/06

Please Please help. wasta needed

"please please help. if any of you have prominent dubai police or government contacts and want to help please PM me.thanks guys"

This was the message posted on a popular Dubai forum.

A plea for help, the rantings of an insane man, someone in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to be somewhere else? NO! Just life in Dubai.

There is something about human nature and the essence of man that makes some of us want to get things done the easy way and not the right way. Now I'm not saying whoever posted this message is a wrongdoer or a criminal but how often do you get a parking ticket and wish your uncle was a policeman who could magically make it vanish?. It could be simpler than that even you may want Etisalat to actually help you for once, wouldn't it be nice if your brother worked there and could help you jump the queue?

These kind of things happens not only in Dubai but all over the world, in some places it is just a 100 rupee backhander to get some paperwork through the local government office, in others it's cash for questions (UK), in Dubai it's good old Wasta.

I have never really understood Wasta in terms of precise definition those who indulge in it feel offended if you call it a bribe. An article I found describes it as follows "Intercessory wasta involves a protagonist intervening on behalf of a client to obtain an advantage for the client - a job, a government document, a tax reduction, admission to a prestigious university."

Daniel Pipes in a review for the book "Wasta: The Hidden Force in Middle Eastern Society" comments "Understanding wasta is key to understanding decisions in the Middle East, for wasta pervades the culture of all Arab countries and is a force in every significant decision. . . . Wasta is a way of life"

So it's a way of life, a fact of life, something we all must learn to live and deal with?

Well I see it a different way. Growing up one of my all time favourite films was The Untouchables starring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro it followed the story of Elliot Ness and his battle with Al Capone during prohibition in the US. This film has some great dialogue one little snippet sums up my views on Wasta.

Having conducted a successful operation Elliot Ness is approached by one of Capone's men, who proceeds to hand him a brown envelope, the script follows:

What's that?

- What is that?
- Mr Ness, you're an educated man.

Let me pay you the compliment of being blunt.

There is a large and popular business which you are causing dismay.

Why don't you just cross the street and let things take their course?

Would you come in here, please?

In Roman times, when a fellow tried to bribe a public official,they would cut off his nose,sew him in a bag with a wild animal and throw that bag in the river.

You tell your master
that we must agree to...disagree!

Posted by Editor on 21/08/06 at 03:37 AM
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Looking in from the Outside

20/08/06

I sometimes wonder how the "outside" world sees Dubai, and what they think about the way we live. I recently came across a news story from the Gulf News discussing Pink Taxis in Dubai. Driven by women and to be only used by women they will be situated outside shopping malls and Al Wasl Hospital the biggest maternity hospital in Dubai as well as other locations. The taxi's would have pink roofs and interiors to give them a more feminine feel.

The original story in the Gulf News caused some debate on their website with most of the comments accepting this as a part of life in Dubai an essentially Muslim state with a distinct cultural heritage.

However Brian Whitaker commenting on the Guardian's [a UK based newspaper] website seemed to think this was nothing but a clear case of gender discrimination. I quote from the site "Combine the gender-colour stereotyping with the assumption that women are only good for shopping and having babies and ... ugh! It's enough to make you cringe." No Brian! - Women in Dubai both national and ex-pats are a part of the workforce and do study (65% of all University students are Women) and YES! they do shop and have babies. What is ironic if not comical about this statement is it comes from a man from the media in the UK, a society and press single mindidly obsessed by footballer's wives such as Victoria "posh spice" Beckham who has seemingly done nothing BUT shop and have babies for the last 5 years.

He then goes on to equate it to apartheid, commenting "Many of these projects appear reasonable enough until you draw an analogy with race..... If racial apartheid is unacceptable, is sexual apartheid OK?"

Here is a clear example of an "outsider" not understanding the cultural depth and diversity of this great city. Whilst the world seems to praise the great achievements of Dubai in terms of commerce and technology, they sometimes fail to grasp the fact that it is a Muslim country with a Muslim heritage and maybe the people who were born and live in Dubai don't want to clone good old London town, I mean do we really want cardboard city along the creek?

The locals seem to see it in a totally different light, some comments from the Gulf News site:

"It's a very good decision to introduce taxis for ladies. As a muslim family, my wife, mother and sister will feel comfortable and safe traveling with lady drivers. Once again thanks RTA."

"I feel very lucky to be a resident of Dubai who is going to use this Pink Taxi. I am eagerly waiting for its arrival on the Dubai Roads."

I wonder if the taxi's will look anything like this ?

Posted by Editor on 20/08/06 at 12:49 AM
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Today Dubai, Tommorrow The World!

18/08/06

Those jolly nice fellows at Forbes are about to unveil it’s first ever rankings of the 50 best performing companies in Arab countries. Most of them are taken up by those from Saudi Arabia, who have 22 organizations in the Top 50 and the UAE, which has 11.

Few eyebrows will be raised at some of those that are amongst the top fifty, with Emaar being the top ranking UAE company at number four. Given the rate of expansion of Dubai and the number of constructions that Emaar is responsible for and that currently litter the Dubai skyline - it is hardly a surprise.

What may come as a surprise is that Emaar are now more than just a property developer and they seem determined to have their fingers in as many pies as they have hands. They’ve branched out in quite a few sectors recently, most notably health, education and finance.

Moreover, they seem to be extending their horizons beyond the Dubai creek and its neighbouring waters. It was recently reported that they were UAE's largest overseas investor, with a portfolio of projects topping $84bn! How long before Emaar are listed in the Top 50 companies around the world?

The Top 10 Best Performing Companies in Arab Countries (According to Forbes Arabia)

1. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) (Saudi Arabia)
2. Saudi Telecom Company (Saudi Arabia)
3. Al Rajhi Bank (Saudi Arabia)
4. Emaar Properties (UAE)
5. The National Industries Group (Kuwait)
6. Etisalat (UAE)
7. Samba Financial Group (Saudi Arabia)
8. Riyad Bank (Saudi Arabia)
9. SABB (Saudi Arabia)
10. National Bank of Kuwait (Kuwait)

Posted by TheDubaiLife.com on 18/08/06 at 03:04 PM
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A New Dawn In Dubai

18/08/06

As I write this dawn is not too far away in Dubai. It is a new dawn for us here at TheDubaiLife.com too, with this being the first of hopefully many blog entries. Working late is becoming a habit these days and I haven't even spent that long on YouTube today [I forgot it's blocked anyhow].

Burning the midnight oil is common practice in modern commerce and indeed modern day life. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to do all you want to do. Another one of the many things Dubai'ans (not sure if that is how you spell it) have to cope with all part and parcel of 21st Century living reaching for the skies was never going to be easy. They say this is a city that never stops just take a trip down to the Burj Dubai site and you will see why Dubai never sleeps. Alas another hard day of work awaits me so it's time to sign off.

I leave you with a great shot of Dubai at dawn courtesy of Mohsen HZ on Flickr