| Dubai 10:35 - Feb 21 with 2285 views | MattinLondon |
A couple nights ago I was far too lazy to get off my arse and pick up the remote control to turn the telly off. So I ended up staying on said arse and watching a telly show about estate agents (sorry, real estate brokers) in Dubai.
Dubai just looked really shallow and like a massive showroom devoid of emotion. Sure the technological achievements over there, as well as the properties all looked impressive but it looked like the entire city/ state lacked personality. And all looked the same.
Just wondered whether this remote snapshot of it is far too unfair? Would like to hear from anyone who has spent time over there what makes it so great? Obviously there’s the weather but take that away, what makes it so attractive? Thank you. |  | | |  |
| Dubai on 10:44 - Feb 21 with 2198 views | PrideOfTheEast |
Ha, I did similar and watched a bit of the same show.
It's for a certain type of person isn't it, but definitely not for me. I can see attraction around safety, cleanliness (?) but little else. |  | | |
| I’ve been there a couple of times…. on 10:48 - Feb 21 with 2179 views | Bloots |
….purely because my mate has got a flat on The Palm so I get to stay there for free.
The first time I went I didn’t enjoy it. You can’t walk anywhere, the traffic is mad, the booze laws are restrictive and you generally can’t relax in the way you can in other places around the world.
The second time I went in the hope that it was just a poor experience the first time.
It wasn’t, it was just as crap. |  |
| "He's been a really positive influence on my life, I think he's a great man" - TWTD User (May 2025) |
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| Dubai on 11:06 - Feb 21 with 2069 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
Depends if you like your property built by slaves, and hanging around chavs with Turkey teeth… | | | |
| Dubai on 11:14 - Feb 21 with 2027 views | homer_123 |
The best way I can describe it is: Everything that is wrong with the world. |  |
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| Dubai on 11:15 - Feb 21 with 2012 views | Lord_Lucan |
It doesn't appeal to me but I will probably end up going there for a week just to tick it off the list and also because a colleague of mine has just moved over there.
It's definitely not my cup of tea but I'm strangely drawn to have a look. |  |
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| Dubai on 11:17 - Feb 21 with 1992 views | artsbossbeard |
Had a stopover on the way to Oz.
sh!te. Soulless. |  |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| Dubai on 11:19 - Feb 21 with 1965 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Dubai on 11:17 - Feb 21 by artsbossbeard |
Had a stopover on the way to Oz.
sh!te. Soulless. |
I thought it would be right up your Strasse | |
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| I’ve been there a couple of times…. on 11:23 - Feb 21 with 1933 views | NedPlimpton |
| I’ve been there a couple of times…. on 10:48 - Feb 21 by Bloots |
….purely because my mate has got a flat on The Palm so I get to stay there for free.
The first time I went I didn’t enjoy it. You can’t walk anywhere, the traffic is mad, the booze laws are restrictive and you generally can’t relax in the way you can in other places around the world.
The second time I went in the hope that it was just a poor experience the first time.
It wasn’t, it was just as crap. |
Out of curiosity I just did google streetview on the palm. It is definitely not what i expected!!!
It looked like a stereotypical half built Greek beach resort meets a dystopian nightmare, rather than the utopian, luxury living I assumed it to be |  | | |
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| Dubai on 11:23 - Feb 21 with 1910 views | artsbossbeard |
| Dubai on 11:19 - Feb 21 by Lord_Lucan |
I thought it would be right up your Strasse |
No way, Jose! | |
| Please note: prior to hitting the post button, I've double checked for anything that could be construed as "Anti Semitic" and to the best of my knowledge it isn't. Anything deemed to be of a Xenophobic nature is therefore purely accidental or down to your own misconstruing. | | Poll: | Raining in IP8 - shall I get the washing in? |
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| He’s got his own pool…. on 11:34 - Feb 21 with 1795 views | Bloots |
| I’ve been there a couple of times…. on 11:23 - Feb 21 by NedPlimpton |
Out of curiosity I just did google streetview on the palm. It is definitely not what i expected!!!
It looked like a stereotypical half built Greek beach resort meets a dystopian nightmare, rather than the utopian, luxury living I assumed it to be |
….thats the only positive I can say.
His “block” has also got a private beach, but it was closed cos of a jellyfish plague last time I was there.
Hate it. | |
| "He's been a really positive influence on my life, I think he's a great man" - TWTD User (May 2025) |
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| Dubai on 11:50 - Feb 21 with 1698 views | gsoly |
It's not my cup of tea at all but a pal just went for a week with his missus for some sun. I think it appeals to a certain type of person. It's very safe, clean, and he reported that the food was great in their hotel. But it doesn't strike me as a place you can explore. I did a couple of weeks' work in Abu Dhabi a few years back and found it all rather eery. Also North Korean-esque grandiose government buildings seemingly empty. |  | | |
| Dubai on 11:56 - Feb 21 with 1648 views | itfcjoe |
I’m going there for a couple of weeks in May, been there a few times and really suits what I need sometimes…..hot, great food in hotels, great service everywhere, lots of shopping which I enjoy and lots of activities to do
I get that it’s all a bit fake, but you know what you are going to get there so it’s really low risk for having a floor to a holiday.
It’s my 40th and first big holiday with the kids since they were very young as generally are doing city breaks, Madeira with in laws but mostly holiday in the UK as we have a static in Norfolk. |  |
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| Dubai on 11:59 - Feb 21 with 1606 views | bsw72 |
Main benefits are sunshine and tax free lifestyle, especially if you are young, or a young couple and ideally child free.
Once you have 2-3 kids, the costs of putting them through school and healthcare cover often offfset the tax free life.
New Dubai is pretty much soulless, built on commerce, finance and tourism. You can pretty much do whatever you want if you have the money, in one of the malls you can go shopping and then skiiing - it's ridiculous.
There is not much else to it in the modern part of Dubai, although the old town has more to it. Admittedly I haven't lived there but did travel twice a year to Dubai and then up to Saudi to visit the teams / businesses out there.
Other parts of the UAE have a lot more historical areas, but is a longish drive / short flight away. |  | | |
| Dubai on 12:15 - Feb 21 with 1510 views | nrb1985 |
Think I've seen the show in question and with due respect, a programme called Dubai Bling (I think?) is unlikely to show case you much else other than what the narrow title suggests.
I go 3-4 times a year for work for around a week a time and must say I really enjoy it. And for 9 months of the year the weather is pretty great.
Friends that live there have a great lifestyle which generally includes, live in help for their kids, tennis courts and pools within their buildings etc and you obviously pay no tax. School fees are expensive but there are good schools there for $15k a year, which is expensive but not outrageous given you're tax free.
Main downside is, not many places you can walk, summer is ridiculously hot and given the influx of people in the last 5 years, you can sit in traffic for days. And Russians everywhere now for obvious reasons who really can be awful.
I would very happily though do 3-5 years there tax free and come back to Europe. | | | |
| Dubai on 12:25 - Feb 21 with 1455 views | Jimmy86 |
So, I'm going to go against the grain here somewhat and say I went in September 2023 and loved it.. I'd also go back.. was always on my bucket list and didn't disappoint..
1. Able to fly from Stansted, on Emirates, which was a really good airline.
2. Hot weather - 40-43°c during the day, but ridiculously hot at night (36°c, which is roasting during the day in most other places)
3. I went up Burj Khalifa, went to Dubai mall, did a boat trip, did a tour of Burj Al Arab, including the royal suites at the top... also went on a jet ski, which was pretty cool.
Each to their own, but I personally loved it.. I get why people don't, but as I say, I'd definitely go back | | | |
| Dubai on 12:26 - Feb 21 with 1450 views | _clive_baker_ |
Yeah I've been, not a fan at all. Each to their own I guess but its basically Canary Wharf with sun. Its very new and very shiny, and as you say devoid of any character. Its for the sort of people who drive a white Evoque and have a dog in their handbag.
Not my idea of a holiday tbh, I'd much rather be mooching around a quaint market town in Europe or in South America soaking up the culture and good weather. |  | | |
| Dubai on 12:33 - Feb 21 with 1393 views | NedPlimpton |
| Dubai on 11:59 - Feb 21 by bsw72 |
Main benefits are sunshine and tax free lifestyle, especially if you are young, or a young couple and ideally child free.
Once you have 2-3 kids, the costs of putting them through school and healthcare cover often offfset the tax free life.
New Dubai is pretty much soulless, built on commerce, finance and tourism. You can pretty much do whatever you want if you have the money, in one of the malls you can go shopping and then skiiing - it's ridiculous.
There is not much else to it in the modern part of Dubai, although the old town has more to it. Admittedly I haven't lived there but did travel twice a year to Dubai and then up to Saudi to visit the teams / businesses out there.
Other parts of the UAE have a lot more historical areas, but is a longish drive / short flight away. |
You can go shopping then skiing in Castleford mate. It ain't that fancy! | | | |
| Dubai on 12:47 - Feb 21 with 1321 views | Swansea_Blue |
When I used to fly a lot for work I had a few stop overs there. Utterly soulless place from what I can remember. I prefer Abu Dhabi as a Middle Eastern stop over. I wouldn’t want to got to either for a holiday though. |  |
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| Dubai on 12:49 - Feb 21 with 1301 views | Meadowlark |
Last time I was in "Dubai Creek" was 1985. I think it's changed a bit since then. |  | | |
| Dubai on 12:56 - Feb 21 with 1252 views | Herbivore |
Different strokes for different folks and all that, but I can't see any appeal to it whatsoever. It looks genuinely awful. You may as well visit the Trafford Centre and a sunbed and get the same cultural experience for a fraction of the price. |  |
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| Dubai on 12:58 - Feb 21 with 1234 views | usm |
| Dubai on 12:33 - Feb 21 by NedPlimpton |
You can go shopping then skiing in Castleford mate. It ain't that fancy! |
Pah, I raise your Castleford with Milton Keynes, where you can (or at least could) shop, ski and sky dive. |  |
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| Dubai on 13:04 - Feb 21 with 1196 views | Herbivore |
| Dubai on 12:15 - Feb 21 by nrb1985 |
Think I've seen the show in question and with due respect, a programme called Dubai Bling (I think?) is unlikely to show case you much else other than what the narrow title suggests.
I go 3-4 times a year for work for around a week a time and must say I really enjoy it. And for 9 months of the year the weather is pretty great.
Friends that live there have a great lifestyle which generally includes, live in help for their kids, tennis courts and pools within their buildings etc and you obviously pay no tax. School fees are expensive but there are good schools there for $15k a year, which is expensive but not outrageous given you're tax free.
Main downside is, not many places you can walk, summer is ridiculously hot and given the influx of people in the last 5 years, you can sit in traffic for days. And Russians everywhere now for obvious reasons who really can be awful.
I would very happily though do 3-5 years there tax free and come back to Europe. |
That's a very particular view of what constitutes a "great lifestyle". I couldn't give a toss about having live in help and a tennis court personally, and I'd hate not being able to walk anywhere or having easy access to anything remotely cultural. | |
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| Dubai on 13:04 - Feb 21 with 1192 views | tcblue |
It's a fabulous prison for all the worst people | | | |
| Dubai on 13:19 - Feb 21 with 1127 views | Devereuxxx |
I always say, I can tell all I need to know about a person's character based on their opinion of Dubai. |  | | |
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