Dubai - Dying?

Ask anyone who knows me personally and they will tell you I have always been Dubai's Number 1 marketing robot. However, my experiences in the last two years have dramatically reduced my love for the city. I have always talked of Dubai as being a mix between London and Las Vegas, and in the past two years it has begun to tilt towards the latter rather than the former. This city now seems a tourist destination, a temporary stop-gap for expats, and a place robbed of all history, depth and culture. I gave up my Burj apartment, and am probably going to sell my car there. The all knowing Sheik seems to have taken notice of this decline, with new construction to help the long and painful traffic jams, world-wide deals to jump start the financial centers once again, and initiatives to make long term stay more attractive for expats who would then take more interest in establishing deep communal ties.

If you meet any of the people who have been there for more than 8-9 years you will find them crying, their community sense has been ripped apart, their quality of life has reduced drastically. Inflation is now rampant with all commodities hitting the roof making the city as or more expense than London. It also doesn't help that racism and discrimination has grown rather than been reduced, and after spending so many years still their legal status has not been upgraded or changed. Most hope that they can find a way or means to leave, and go to their original countries, or are betting on Dubai changing again in three years or so, once the sudden flux of outsiders settles down. Suddenly, Abu Dhabi and Qatar are looking attractive.

Dubai (and UAE) needs to get its act together and offer something serious to keep those who have been committed to it for the long-term. People transiting in and out on two-three years stints do not feel a need to contribute to society in the long-run. Even the natives of Vegas have learned that long ago. Low taxes can only sustain you for so long.

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