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1 May 2024, 02:43 AM | #1 |
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Dubai Sky Mansions...get them while they're hot...
Well I guess they're always going to be hot....it's Dubai.
https://newatlas.com/architecture/si...ina/#gallery:1
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1 May 2024, 03:25 AM | #2 |
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Dubai Sky Mansions...get them while they're hot...
The wife and I frequently transit Dubai as we enjoy flying Emirates. Our last visit incurred a 30 hour layover, with accommodations provided by the airline.
We did not enjoy our short visit and safe to say will never set foot outside the airport or provided accommodations again. Beautiful city, superficially and that’s about it. Other than that, the hospitality was non existent. We never felt welcome wherever we went. We got scammed by a Chauffeur service masquerading as a taxi our first night. All this in stark contrast to our experience in Doha, Qatar which was significantly more pleasant all around. And yes. It’s hot and humid. |
1 May 2024, 05:44 AM | #3 |
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Not surprised.
As a side note, Wife and i love watching the comedy show TV series Dubai Bling. It is amazing what unlimited access to anything and self-centered personalities do. Also helps gain a better understanding of their 'society values' in a comedic way.
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1 May 2024, 07:11 AM | #4 | |
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It’s Muscat and Doha when we’re in the region. |
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1 May 2024, 10:54 AM | #5 | |
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2 May 2024, 07:04 PM | #6 |
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A city built using oil money, using slave labour? No thank you very much.
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2 May 2024, 07:11 PM | #7 |
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That tower looks likes it’s about to blast off. I guess good design/architecture is subjective
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2 May 2024, 07:49 PM | #8 | |
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Dubai was built on foreign investment, not oil. It’s been a while since Dubai was a player in the oil export business. The UAE’s oil exports are from Abu Dhabi. A completely different ruling family. Dubai doesn’t share in that income. |
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2 May 2024, 09:02 PM | #9 |
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May seem like a fabulous place to live, but I've seen enough movies to know you don't want to be in a building like that when Superheroes start fighting.
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2 May 2024, 09:49 PM | #10 | |
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If that's not modern slavery, I'm not sure what is. |
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2 May 2024, 11:10 PM | #11 |
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Heard it was akin to indentured servitude, with the added fatal bonus of Passport confiscation at the get-go. History shows many places within the Middle East were built by very very VERY cheap labor, so it could be considered by some to simply be part of their Middle Eastern culture (religion?).
Kinda like if you lived among generation after generation of cannibals, then cannibalism would seem normal to your society.
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3 May 2024, 02:02 AM | #12 | |
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I worked in the middle east half my life. I never once saw working conditions as brutal as west africa where actual slavery still exists. |
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3 May 2024, 05:16 AM | #13 |
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IBTL with the direction this thread is headed….
I’ll probably sound like the dumb American here but as someone completely naive to travel to the Middle East as a whole, and the UAE by extension can someone explain the draw of visiting the region? Other than some very nice shopping centers what all is there to do/see that makes this a place people want to travel to outside of work/business meetings?
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3 May 2024, 07:10 AM | #14 |
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Great question Steve, and in recent years the area (in general) has greatly stepped up adding 'attractions' to draw tourists (and seeking businesses). Some of their ventures are quite interesting and far too extensive / diverse to post here.
We live in interesting times.
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3 May 2024, 08:59 AM | #15 | |
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It’s a very western friendly area. Visa on arrival. All the name brand hotels. And an economy focused on enticing foreigners to leave their cash in Dubai. If you are into it, there’s dune bashing, scuba diving (better an hours drive east to Fujairah), camping, glamping, F1, and a lot of cultural activities. |
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3 May 2024, 12:08 PM | #16 | |
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You’d think as a guy from Nevada I’d understand the draw of wanting to go to a desert in the middle of nowhere just because it has some nice hotels and shopping LOL.
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3 May 2024, 04:57 PM | #17 | |
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All of the listed activities can be found in Europe and much, much more. Ok, replace dune bashing with mountains, lakes, real beaches, more F1, more sport than you can actually watch, and even more cultural activities, I'd say Dubai is rather lacking in the things to do category. Apart from spend exorbitant amounts of money on thing can be easily be found locally. In essence, Dubai is just a soulless, rich man’s playground which offers little other than an expensive setting, in a morally questionable environment. |
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3 May 2024, 07:37 PM | #18 | |
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3 May 2024, 08:45 PM | #19 |
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With all the salt they pump back into the water I can’t imagine there is good diving near Dubai. I’d rather dive in Scotland.
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3 May 2024, 11:32 PM | #20 |
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Clearly the region is polarizing among some members of the forum, for that reason let's be respectful.
In particular, just because one "can" doesn't mean one "should" attack another. It's complicated - I grant you that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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3 May 2024, 11:59 PM | #21 |
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Great wisdom, and agree with Paul.
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__________________ “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!'” -- Hunter S. Thompson Sent from my Etch A Sketch using String Theory. |
4 May 2024, 12:04 AM | #22 | |
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Some people are more direct than others, but please don't confuse this as a personal attack or being disrespectful, it's merely voicing one's opinion. |
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4 May 2024, 12:22 AM | #23 |
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IBTL, just curious were this thread is going
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4 May 2024, 12:52 AM | #24 |
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So many places I want to see other than Dubai. IBTL
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4 May 2024, 01:42 AM | #25 |
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The gulf is bad due to oil production and construction. Fujairah (eastern shore of UAE) has good diving. For tech diving there are some great deep wrecks
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6 May 2024, 05:44 PM | #26 |
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I understand the allure of Dubai. Despite the intense heat, it can offer a lifestyle of comfort and luxury, especially in its safe environment. It's rare to find a place where I can confidently stroll with a watch worth $500k or even $1m without any concerns for safety.
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7 May 2024, 12:52 AM | #27 |
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Excellent point about safety PJV, and we know Singapore is an excellent choice as well.
Plus Singapore has Krispy Kreme donuts :)
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7 May 2024, 01:13 AM | #28 |
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You can lead them to water…
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