Indecent exposures
Perverts never take responsibility for their own abhorrent behaviour, do they? There's always someone or something else to blame. In this latest case, it's the "devilish scenes" of women in "revealing" clothes that compelled a 24-year-old Bangladeshi salesman to his lewd conduct:
"The Dubai Court of First Instance heard a security guard at a Dubai shopping mall noticed the man touching his private parts. He also noticed that he kept walking behind women and looking at them in a suspicious fashion."
Interestingly, Gulf News also lists five other cases of indecent behaviour, are they all supposed to have taken place this weekend?
- A 23-year-old Filipina was jailed for wearing a revealing dress in public.
- A worker who saw a group of men swimming together was jailed for committing a lewd act in public.
- A drunk was fined Dh1,500 for committing an indecent act at Jumeirah Beach Park claiming he was "seduced by the devil".
- A Saudi who was jailed for unruly behaviour and being drunk protested by stripping off at the police station.
- Two Australians and a UAE national were jailed for indecent behaviour on a public beach.
Appeal to any GN journos out there: these are the kind of stories that bored Dubaians crave details on (especially photos), not just one-liners. This is the only kind of news that spices up our otherwise dreary, traffic-and-construction-plagued lives. Why not consider bringing out a special weekly - or daily - colour supplement of "City Vice" with expanded commentary? The superb rhetoric of Dubai police would be a helpful style guide.
"The Dubai Court of First Instance heard a security guard at a Dubai shopping mall noticed the man touching his private parts. He also noticed that he kept walking behind women and looking at them in a suspicious fashion."
Interestingly, Gulf News also lists five other cases of indecent behaviour, are they all supposed to have taken place this weekend?
- A 23-year-old Filipina was jailed for wearing a revealing dress in public.
- A worker who saw a group of men swimming together was jailed for committing a lewd act in public.
- A drunk was fined Dh1,500 for committing an indecent act at Jumeirah Beach Park claiming he was "seduced by the devil".
- A Saudi who was jailed for unruly behaviour and being drunk protested by stripping off at the police station.
- Two Australians and a UAE national were jailed for indecent behaviour on a public beach.
Appeal to any GN journos out there: these are the kind of stories that bored Dubaians crave details on (especially photos), not just one-liners. This is the only kind of news that spices up our otherwise dreary, traffic-and-construction-plagued lives. Why not consider bringing out a special weekly - or daily - colour supplement of "City Vice" with expanded commentary? The superb rhetoric of Dubai police would be a helpful style guide.
98 Comments:
"A 23-year-old Filipina was jailed for wearing a revealing dress in public."
I dont know if jail is a bit too harsh, but you'd definitely be arrested if you went topless in quite a few non-Muslim cities. Similarly the UAE has its laws.
Then again, it had to be a Filipina scapegoat
While I can sympathize with your views from a Western perspective, let's look at it from a different light: The UAE has so many ethinicities and differing standards of modesty that there has to be a neutral zone. The ladies are not asked to cover themselves completely, but to maintain some modesty, as their are migrant workers who've never actually seen female flesh/revealing clothing. Call them perverts, or frustrated, the results are the same, somewhere along the line, they lose it and end up in jail for any crimes/legal offences...
No filipina scapegoat. All filipinas dress like hookers.
Balsuhi dont pull her abaya there, take her to hotel and do it.
Hey Balushi, where ja buy those x-ray glasses..?
And James Balushi...if only people could be jailed for racial slurs...
Yawn..(to this story)
Private sector gets holiday on Thursday, the THIRD day of the New Year(instead of the first day, which is the tradition), so that it becomes a two day weekend holiday for them! Now THAT is news! Does this mean that from 2006 onwards, the private sector gets "adjusted" holidays for Eid etc which preceed or succeed the normal weekend break to make it altogether a long break, just like the public sector has been always enjoying?
I hope so! Three cheers for the ministry of labour!
Today's newspapers have mentioned that THE PRIVATE SECTOR will have Thursday ( the third day of the Islamic New Year) as a holiday instead of Tuesday ( the first day)
hmmmm a few points
1.I fail to understand how closing the banks and offices especially since Dubai is supposedly a financial and trading hub will benefit. closure on wed, thur, fri here, entire world closed on sat , sun... almost five days lost !!
2. it's clearly a commercial decision but taken with reference to the retail and local sectors Which proves that when the authorities want to , THEY CAN.
3. which again means that they don't really follow the islamic calender if it does'nt suit their purpose.
4. likewise during Eid etc, many times it 'does' seem the decisions are based on commercial rather than religious reasons.
what do you guys think?
Another fine piece of yellow journalism by GN. They are so decriptive everytime. Going by all these incidents...the dubai jails must be full of such perverts. It's gonna increase two fold, chicks are getting bolder and so are their admirers. I'm sure to see a report of a multi-ethinic orgy in GN very soon. LOL!
Balushi, the police oughta hire you. You found out the nationality of a woman clad in an abaya, and you also knew she wasn't wearing anything. Add to that you were gonna strip her in public (animal instincts in public?) ROFLMAO!!!
are they all supposed to have taken place this weekend?
I don't think so. I'm pretty much sure I've read at least a couple of these stories recently, particularly about the multi-racial romp on the beach...
I wish they would start jailing people for lack of manners.
balushi > have you done a course in 'nonsensical musings'? you seem to have a doctorate in same
"she was either a Morrocon or a palestineian from the shape of the body and size of the breasts."
How about telling us what the shape of your body is? :-P Please educate us as to tell the difference between a Morrocan and an Algerian for example.
Off the subject completely, but it seems like the News of the World have made a shocking discovery about Prince William.
Check out the link below before they fix it!
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news4.shtml
opening a sub-topic on this:
An Arab friend has just told me that her 12-year-old niece has just confided that a teenage boy had gotten physical with her at a lounge in a mall.
Xenia*, the niece, has apparently been hanging out with a promiscuous girl from school, who has made it a habit to approach random boys to ‘hang out’ with them.
On one occasion, Ms. Wanton (with Xenia and girls in tow) approached a group of guys, who had then suggested to rent a room at a karaoke-type lounge in the mall. One thing led to another (as they say) and Xenia found herself alone in one of the rooms with one of the guys.
The guy had apparently pushed her on the couch and kissed her, leaving an unmistakable hickey on her neck. She covered it up as best she could with her hair. It was very important do so, especially since her mother will be picking her up in a bit.
A few of the many things that bother me about this is that the girl is still hanging out with Ms. Wanton. She is also still thinking about going out to meet the same guys again, with the reasoning that “maybe I should get to know him.”
Right now, my friend is just at a loss as to how to steer this kid into the right direction. Of course lecturing her will only driver her away but how will you tell her that boy just wants to “get into her pants.” That girl seems to be in this fantasy that it’s going to turn into a fairytale romance.
Can you just imagine a story that begins with “Once a upon a time a prince shoved a princess unto a couch and harassed her…”? How disgusting!
Not to mention that these are kids…barely teenagers…
*names changed
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
if sporadic sd guest thought lecturing that kid would keep her away...the 'five across the eyes' would definitely do the trick!
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
One can't help but postulate what this kind of news means for the potential of globalisation and the Dubai/Arab world. Middle Eastern attitudes to the acceptance of women as equals in commerce will have to improve dramatically, or this group could find themselves strategically confined to a microcosmic economic model where they are 'outsourced' in terms of operational strategy without being 'invited' to act as major players on the world stage.
Dubai is an interesting economic microcosm right now, but for progression to set in, and for the inflated primary markets of the local housing and equity boom to gain the crucial capital it needs to sustain current development, she will have to make some changes that might come as culturally difficult first.
Didn't you hear, Mr. Harrison?
Dubai’s progress is really more skin-deep than some people would like to think. I really wish things were different. I think that the government is trying to make something out of the land and infrastructure and it’s been phenomenal. However, at society or community level, it’s still all a farce.
Regardless of whether one is pro-smacking or not (and personally I have no issues with a quick hand smack on the backside) striking a child across the face is abuse.
I don't know whether the two Anon posters were joking, but either way I don't particularly want someone trying out their methods on an actual child. Hence the deletion.
I was joking.
I'm quite certain anyone who actually beats up their children is already doing it and doesn't need to find advice over the internet on how to do it.
Oh that's cool. I figured the second post was almost certainly a joke.
Again, lots of that pudgy critter’s (Balushi) foul-skunk comments.
The post is concerning the UAE laws. Nationalities should not have any influence in exercising the same. But then it could ‘some times’ be (the law) an arbitrary supposition!!
hey..if girls are allowed to roam around in revealing dresses and considers this as their basic human right..then why not these poor guys be allowed to satisfy their sexual desires in public...how can we deny this basic human right of having sexual pleasure???
any takers???
Such men should eb punished, however women who wear indecent stuff should also be punished, at least through fines.
Most countries in the world will either arrest or fine topless or semi-nude woman. The UAE should be no different
"Such men should eb (sic) punished, however women who wear indecent stuff should also be punished, at least through fines.
Most countries in the world will either arrest or fine topless or semi-nude woman. The UAE should be no different"
You cannot have just one side of the coin, then. One would have to ban all semi-nudity from entertainment mediums too, then, such as on television and in magazines.
Are we not rather past this archaic medieval rhetoric though? Progress in moral thinking has been made to such an extent that the intelligent classes now see the treatment of semi-nudity as profane as subjective religious moralism.
Is a woman wearing less clothing an excuse for male sexual perversion? Hardly. One expresses a fashion statement that can be aesthetically pleasing, the other shows a complete lack of self-control and no sense of education.
Either way, the argument goes to enforce my previous comment:
"Middle Eastern attitudes to the acceptance of women as equals in commerce will have to improve dramatically, or this group could find themselves strategically confined to a microcosmic economic model where they are 'outsourced' in terms of operational strategy without being 'invited' to act as major players on the world stage."
Most of the Far East, Europe, Latin America and the United States
have embraced modern changes in gender thinking - now it's time Subcontinental Asia and the Middle East followed suit if they are really serious about declaing themselves international refromers.
@Daniel M. Harrison
MNC's don't give a fig about Middle eastern values/cross-cultural differences. Yes, like the HSBC ad goes, they do take measures to localise so that they are not ostracised amongst the national players. Case in point - the Orwellian state of Saudi Arabia.
balushi: I'm bored to the teeth with your sex postings. I'm going to start deleting them. I find them tedious, generally verging on offensive, and irritating/distracting to other people here.
SD,
I know its hard, esp when there are other things to do besides getting on the web but dont you think all of us have had enough of.. u know who?
As a reader who doesn't get very much of an objective view in the press, I spend more time reading your blog than the GN local news section. Your blog topics as well as most of the comments always hit home. I could ofcourse ignore the freak's comments altogether but
Isn't it time you shut this perv-kid up once and for all? Good luck and please keep up the great work
Anyone seen the new Silicon Gates residence ads?
"Where Living is a Privilege'
Surely more apt for Abu Ghraib then a luxury residential community?
Balsuhi the troll has to be treated exactly as given here
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/goodbites/Recipe/20041015162834/moreR_html
@Daniel M. Harrison
@(intelligent classes now see the treatment of semi-nudity as profane as subjective religious moralism.)
>I wonder if this should have been followed by exclamation mark. At any rate; intelligent classes is a very broad and generic term. We must never forget the UAE is a patrilineal, endogamous society. Islam is a unified line that holds their social texture. This religion explicitly talks about the way Muslim men and women should ensemble (dressed). In most cases when they don’t adhere to the Islamic dress code or appearance, then it is up to their paternal unit or the family to judge in the matter. However, in the UAE there is no well-defined law regarding the issue.
@Is a woman wearing less clothing an excuse for male sexual perversion? Hardly. One expresses a fashion statement that can be aesthetically pleasing, the other shows a complete lack of self-control and no sense of education.
> This is not quite valid. In many societies - including those in horticultural European and North American, the dress code has been an on-going dilemma for centuries. Also, there are quite a few examples where obesity is mingled with extraordinary dresses, which are far from a relevant fashion statement. Regardless, this is a matter of education background and age.
@("Middle Eastern attitudes to the acceptance of women as equals in commerce will have to improve dramatically,)
>I totally disagree. Middle Eastern women have, as a mater of fact, become a scapegoat for consumerism. During the past 15 years I have never seen her mad-shopping as she does today.
(or this group could find themselves strategically (…)to act as major players on the world stage.")
>Lots of marketing jargon here
@(Most of the Far East, Europe, Latin America and the United States
have embraced modern changes in gender thinking - now it's time Subcontinental Asia and the Middle East followed suit if they are really serious about declaing themselves international refromers.)
>I will be the first to enlist to halt this madness of globalization. You are advocating it at wide mouth. Modern changes based on what?
I would like to see more local polarization in many things including the dress. These polarizations have to come from within. The UAE is small and closed Oil-rich society (far from the realities of the middle-east). The changes are quite limited insides their lives – trust me, you don’t want me to talk about them.
avid sd reader: sadly there is little I can do about it, Blogger software doesn't support blocking individual users.
From now on I am going to take a firmer line and delete most of his smutty stuff. If it was really funny that would be one thing, but it's just pathetic and it wastes people's time and patience (which he is well aware of).
I doubt he'll ever give up, because he hangs around other UAE-related forums starting username after username each time he gets banned. Other than turn of or moderate all comments - which seems unfair on other people here - there is little else I can do.
loooooooooooooooooooLLLL
Seriously? I am impressed that the 23 year old Filipina got arrested , and ofcourse the rest you mentioned.
But when it comes to dress code, I've seen this spreading lately especially with the FILIPINA COMMUNITY in dubai! I never had problems with miniskirts, or what ladies wear in general. It never concerned me, but i've been seeing lately those ",micro-mini skirts". I swear even my pedicurist at N-zone told me about. I've whitnessed around 3 different ladies, and another wearing a hotpants in THE MALL OF THE EMIRATES.
It just disturbs me that SOME don't respect the people of the country they live in. True we gave them the privilidge and freedom to alot of things they feel comfortable with like buying and saling pork freely in Spinneys and Choitram .. Buying alchol and drinking it freely privatly in their homes.. SAFETY .. JOBS..TAXLESS! Its a shame we get this sort of disrespect in return!
I know I am going off topic in my comment, but anyways I was frustrated but Glad to read this post it made my day (08:18pm) night I mean!......=P
james balushi:
I would be surprised if you're over 18. If ever, please get out of your cave and get educated.
fuchsia:
it's funny you highlight the arrest of the filipina, as if it's the most grave offense amongst listed... even more offensive than the Two Australians and a UAE national were jailed for indecent behaviour on a public beach
there are indeed women, who wear really revealing clothes... and i do agree that they are being disrectpectful to the customs of this country.
but if you look at tourist information/related sites about dubai (e.g. dubaitourism.co.ae), you could not find a single sentence warning tourists not to wear sexy clothes. on one tourism site, http://www.datadubai.com/bda.htm, dubai is even promoting belly dancing in which it states: "Dancing with veils has alternately invoked images of genuine modesty as well as erotic images that accentuate the nudity."
now, if you are really concerned about what people are wearing, please address your government to once and for all make an imabiguous guideline as to what people can wear in this place which should be posted on all tourism related sites.
Borrrrrrrring and Predictable!
SD, suggest you start removing the nationalities from your posts...the comments are starting to get too typical...nationality bashing seems to becoming the pastime on these posts...at times you might as well just transfer all the comments to another post and they would still seem relevant!
See the problem with that is:
A 21-year-old man will be jailed for one year then deported after being caught driving under the influence.
A 25-year-old man has been jailed for 30 days after being caught driving under the influence.
Compare:
A 21-year-old Bangladeshi man will be jailed for one year then deported after being caught driving under the influence.
A 25-year-old British man has been jailed for 30 days after being caught driving under the influence.
These are completely made up, but you get the point: nationality is often relevant to issues here.
Agreed. I am not questioning the the injustice of the system, but the parochial nature of responses and comments to your post...but then again if you were to get swayed by the responses you would have lost..:-)
anonymous @21:23:
You are insulting your intelligence as well as ours by saying that tourism sites do not mention about not wearing 'sexy' clothes. I guess you need to be told to be sensitive when dressing in a predominantly muslim country. I guess you consult tourism websites on what to wear when you head to the beach...LOL!
@fuchsia:
You're damn right. I've been in the UAE most of my life and I say without doubt that filipinas are the worst dressed lot. They have absolutely no dress sense, and worst of all they wear their dresses several sizes less.
Hey SD, thanks for the link to the 'superb rhetoric' of Dubai Police. Balushi, if you're ever looking for work...
What is wrong with women wearing sexy clothes ?? women were created to look beautiful and take care of their bodies . I just got back from Sharm el Shiekh which is an amazing place in the the Egyptian Sina there were several women on the beach bathing topless , people there have gotten over this they don't even look ! the more it is in your face the less "lewd acts" you will have not to mention men with the hands in the pockets 24/7 .
cheers and pray that women who have good looks show them !
Anon. @ 22:41
The norms in muslim countries vary tremendously and local culture and values should be taken into consideration.
Sharm al Sheikh is perhaps not the greatest example of people being ok with the imposition of Western values given terrorist attacks directed at tourists.
"the more it is in your face the less "lewd acts" you will have not to mention men with the hands in the pockets 24/7."
A woman's safety is much better in the Emirates than in most Western countries. Contrary to the impression you may get from the press I don't think the rates are higher in Emirates than other countries and men's hands aren't in their pockets 24/7. For the most part women are treated with great respect.
Ok there alot of
Anonymous PPL here.
I am replying to the anonymous, the one who commented on my comment.
I am sure I made it clear that I said "Seriously? I am impressed that the 23 year old Filipina got arrested , and ofcourse the rest you mentioned. " I said I am impressed they are actually taking some action, when it comes to clothes and I said ofcourse of the rest you mentioned as in the other cases.. so please never ASSUMe ask for clarification ,and I would love to clarify!
To begin with , why do I care?
Because I am UAE NATIONAL and a Muslim living in MY COUNTRY who felt disrespectful, I have the right to feel impressed and support when it comes taking actions aganist such matters that not only offends me but offend us as locals of our country!
Besides, I never came across any of the cases that were mentioned except one, this is why I felt strongly about it when I read the post that was posted. GET IT? I don't like talking about things that I have not matters in or didn't whitness myself, and the rest would be just NEWS!
And about the customs and dress codes, please get your facts up straight.
"Codes of behavior and dress in the UAE reflect the country's Islamic traditions and are more conservative than those of the United States. Visitors to the UAE should be respectful of this conservative heritage, especially in the Emirate of Sharjah where rules of decency and public conduct are strictly enforced."
http://www.arabicnews.com/travel/united_arab_emirates.html
I am sure I have another sourace. Besides I am sure they know where they are living in , a Muslim country . They shouldn't be told, if they are living among us they should know that by now. I am not talking about tourist, I am talking about people who live and work here.. Tourists always guided and are always told.. I am majored in PR. and av. my concentration TOURSIM. BELIEVE ME I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. Don't blame it on the government, blame it on the ignorance of the people. THEY BRING THAT UPON THEMSELVES.
I've travelled to almost most of EUROPE, to Australia to the Far east .. AS tourist we always try to abide by there rules. FOR INSTANCE this spring break I went to germany, when we were heading back to dubai .. In the aiport I was asked by the female policemen if she could check under my shaila/ scarf. I DIDN'T GET OFFENDED or didnt ARGUE, because this how the rules and regulations are.. When ur not in your home you should always act like a guest, and respect the land and the people your living in .
You get benefits, don't go abusing them ..
;)
PEACE
Fuchsia are you racist?
because you are saying that you are IMPRESSED that a 23-year old filipina got arrested for dressing incorrectly;
rather than being impressed that a 23-year old woman got arrested for dressing incorrectly;
I fail to see the police arresting any of the prostitutes in any great quantity and I think until they do, any reasonable person, with an IQ above room temperature would deduct that it is OK to dres howver you want to, especially since said prostitutes always dress in "revealing" attire.
"But when it comes to dress code, I've seen this spreading lately especially with the FILIPINA COMMUNITY in dubai! I never had problems with miniskirts, or what ladies wear in general. It never concerned me, but i've been seeing lately those ",micro-mini skirts". I swear even my pedicurist at N-zone told me about. I've whitnessed around 3 different ladies, and another wearing a hotpants in THE MALL OF THE EMIRATES."
Interesting you hilight Filipina's of the above practice, you clearly forget all the sluttly european 16 year olds in mini skirts and 6-inch-stilettos with itty bitty handbags with half finished bottles of vodka hanging out.
Boy do I love to generalise.
I've been in the UAE most of my life and I say without doubt that filipinas are the worst dressed lot.
This coming from an Indian! Wow!
What a stupid generalisation
I fail to see the police arresting any of the prostitutes in any great quantity and I think until they do, any reasonable person, with an IQ above room temperature would deduct that it is OK to dres howver you want to, especially since said prostitutes always dress in "revealing" attire.
Actually, in the case of the ex-Soviet prostitutes, I don't think they do dress in a particularly revealing manner. Their choice of clothes leave a lot to be desired from a taste point of view, but in terms of baring flesh, they generally don't uncover any more than what is deemed normal in almost any city outside of the Middle East.
I agree with Tim.
lots of makeup and lipstick YES. bad taste in clothes YES.. lots of uncovered flesh NO
By the way guys ( you know who you are ), this is not a public forum for discussion per se. It's a personal blog which has become popular. Comment all you like BUT Please do keep your personal, racist, narrow minded views about various peoples and nationalilties to yourselves. Don't spoil it for the rest of us
thank you
and so it goes!
@Fuchsia
@("Codes of behavior and dress in the UAE reflect the country's Islamic traditions and are more conservative than those of the United States. (..) in the Emirate of Sharjah where rules of decency and public conduct are strictly enforced.")
@(if they are living among us they should know that by now.)
>Although this is - as you have mentioned - is directed towards tourists, which you may find similar advisories for most countries regardless of the types of dress codes, however, the issue here is how you would propose a conservative dress for non-Muslim women? Bear in mind the amount of branded ‘revealing’ cloths which the UAE boasts its availability in every Mall there is!
Also, how do you deal with other Middle-Eastern women (Muslims) who are quite non-adherent to conservatism and much more inclined towards fusion fashion (Mall Fashion)?
And if you think some women bring it upon themselves then is it fair to say the French Muslim woman had brought it to herself when she wore a veil in secular France and, therefore, she should leave the country?
If the veil is a religious issue so is the Indian revealing sari!
@(FOR INSTANCE this spring break I went to germany, when we were heading back to dubai .. In the aiport I was asked by the female policemen if she could check under my shaila)
>This is totally different matter. This is about travel security regulation at airports. The conducts condoned has no relevance with the dress code. As matter of fact, I’d get more offended if some airport guard ‘frisked’ me out of share doubts
so women can wear revealing dresses..because..
1-its is their basic right.
2-this is how they dress in their home country.
3-they believe it will enhance their beauty.
4-following local cultural/religious values is not important.
Follwoing the same reasoning a man CAN have his sexual desire fulfilled in public because
1- this is his basic right
2-this is how they do it in their home country(car/shopping mall/streets etc...)
3-they believe it will enhance their mann hood.
4-following local cultural/religious values is not important.
wow..
i am all for the freedom of both sexes!!
Loosers!
To anon@ 11.13
It's spelt 'Losers'
Loosers could imply a whole gamut of differing things... loose muscles, loose elastic etc, etc.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
so women can wear revealing dresses because..
5. Doing so directly affects nobody else, except perhaps to add to an extremely lengthy list of things that somebody may find offensive.
following local cultural/religious values is not important.
If people can get touchy about some damn clothes then drive into deira;
Flagrant and obvious prostitutes soliciting themselves.
How is it any different if women decide to dress trashy in the more upscale 'hoods in Dubai.
Also, i'm pretty sure not paying labourers or paying them very little isn't part of the local culture and religion
What is it with bloggers trying too hard to be rebels?! All you people do is complain.. I have noticed that most of the people publishing their ideas and thoughts are ex-pats, well guess what I’m local, there is an old Arabic saying which goes something like this, stranger be polite, if you are visiting some one’s home you are a guest and therefore you should stick to a certain “normality”. Would you like it if a stranger “not a guest” showed up at your place looking like a slut?! Guys swipe that stupid grin off your faces… all you ex-pats are here for one thing… money.. you live a generous life here so please show some gratitude to this country which would’nt have been what it is today if it were not for the gov officials, sheikhs and “dishdashs” you people diss every day on this blog and many more…
Now the word “dishdashs”…. The first time I saw this word was on this particular blog.. what the hell is that supposed to mean??!! Even though we name Europeans a funny name but we don’t go out and say it in their faces!! Even you Indians.. I mean come on you know that every one makes fun off Indians but we don’t go out in public dissin u people?! There is a certain level of respect.. you people should be ashamed of your selves all you do is nag and complain and adding a bit of that black British humour, well guess what it aint that funny…
Now we come to local customs and traditions, if you don’t like them then go back to where you came from… plain and simple.. if you do not have any respect to the country you inhabit and that has given you a lot.. even more than what locals get then you my friends do not have any self respect…
Now we come to the vision you lot have about locals… I’m so sorry to disappoint your Arabian fantasy but NO we do not all drive flashy Porches and live in palaces with dears and peacocks jumping around.. there are classes in the local society the same classification all other societies have.. when a local reads a post describing him as a rich bearded tanned man driving around J- beach road in a Ferrari he cracks up.. because this just shows how ignorant and narrow minded some of you are.. YES I said “NARROW MINDED”… it hurts being described in such a manner, doesn’t it? All you westerners are known to be liberal and live life with no care to other people’s opinions in an open minded utopia are being called NARROW MINDED by a “dishdash” yes you are because your vision towards locals is verry childish and over rated. Don’t look at the surface of matters go deep, try to understand the local culture and look for the reasons of certain local normalities and customs, then you might understand. Don’t lock your selves up in your look a like lego structured greens villas and judge the local community!!!!!!
WE DON’T NEED PEOPLE WHO LEFT THEIR COUNTRIES TO TELL US HOW TO RUN OURS.
And fuchsia i totally agree to your point, if you are not being racist by mentioning the girl's nationality, they come from a background that dos'nt see any thing wrong with revealing clothes.. we have children and we do not want our daughters seeing it OK to dress like a women she saw in the street.. we have a very wealthy history and culture and we want to stick to it and the influence of such sights is not helping
if any one has anything to say drop me an email if you have any thing to say
that just shws what kinda background u come from... im not gona answer u for what u said because my tounge is cleaner than these street phrases
I guess "narrow minded" describes no one apart from you.
all you ex-pats are here for one thing… money..
Yup, you've got me. I'm here purely for economic reasons, and that's it. I have no desire to understand or partake in the local culture, and should the economic situation change, I'd be out in a heartbeat.
Actually, the weather can be pretty good at times too.
UAE has a wealthy history???
WHAT?? you call 50 years of piracy a wealthy history????
ha ha ha ha
To all the locals and expats (of whatever nationality) reading this:
No matter HOW you dissect and debate this topic, the fact remains that expats will ALWAYS remain a big, BIG part of the workforce in this region, specially UAE. I think all the locals know this, and if they dont, its high time they wake up to the fact. IF this point is well understood, I think the locals vs. expats cold war SHOULD stop, and everyone should carry on with their lives.
As far as bitc*ing BETWEEN expats is concerned, what one should remember that no matter if we are Asian, European or Arab..the bottom line is we are all here as foreigners and technically, NO EXPAT of any nationality has an edge over the other. It may not be so practically, but if we follow this rule, we would all have a better place to live in.
btw obaidalla
Thanks for letting me know you make fun of indians and all.
Good to know that you look down on a whole segment of the population.
(especially the population that built this country).
Oh another thing: This country would not survive if there weren't any expats. Expats built this country so be tankful to the expats.
- DD
i'm sure no one makes fun of locals
Lol...do u know obaidalla, being Indian myself I make fun of them...but I don't get down into the street and fight dirty with racist slurs.
As for expats coming to Dubai for money, well of course they did. For that matter the govt. humored them because they also brought in money...it's a give and take situation where both parties benefit.
I do consent with the point though that if you are living in a particular country, you should abide by theri cultural laws and code of dressing...its called respect and the UAE is a lot more liberal is such matters.
But wealthy histroy and culture...dude...culture is something this city lacks to the core...it invents it as it goes by and we all know it.
i dont look down on any one and by the way u say that the Indians built this country??!! Did they build it for free??!! Then is the Taj Mahal built by the Indian labourers??!! Or by Shah Jahan?! I’m not here to talk about Indians and Arabs and Europeans.. I’m here to shove it in the face of every low expectation illiterate dumb ass ex-pat who is joining this phenomena on dissing the culture and the people of this country.. I said it before and I’ll say it now.. if u don’t like it stop bitching about it and leave… there is no point of publishing your opinions even though you know nothing will change… and knowing that nothing will change you start this ridiculous sarcastic disrespectful trend of mocking the way things are here in the UAE… !!!! I do not want any one to take this personally but don’t u get sick of nagging and nagging.. live with it and stop all this BS about this place which is way much better from where u’all came from or u wouldn’t be here would ya?!
Obaidulla - everyone gets the piss taken out of them in this blog, because that's the way I write it. They also get praise, respect and compassion where due.
Yes - sometimes I refer to locals as "dishdashes" - but not necessarily in a negative sense. She this entry. I get bored of the word "local" or "national" which is not particularly descriptive or evocative. I have also used phrases such as "flock of shalwas" or "abayas" or "palefaces". Mainly for humour and satire.
I realise that not everyone shares the same sense of humour. That's their tough luck. No one is forced to come, it is just one of hundreds of millions of internet sites around.
If you really feel the need to read something that you dislike and find offensive, then there are far worse places than this. I suggest you try Fox News if you want something to gnash your teeth over, or Chick.com if you want to make yourself physically vomit with rage.
btw dubai isnt just jumaira, the greens and the gardens..
Most UAE nationals and expats alike are obsessed with nationalities. I think it IS important to acknowledge where someone is from but only if one keeps in mind that racial background is only a part of a whole human being...
It is an integral part, yes; but so is one's educational level, so is one's family background, one's friends, and one's experiences in their own country AND in any other country they where they reside.
We are who we are--good and bad or more rightly a bit of both--because of our roots as well as the experience we've had.
I think the only cure to diseases of stereotyping and racial discrimination--towards UAE locals and expats of different races--is to try and understand their culture and get to know one of them...with the understanding that you might not agree with everything they have to offer but that you can always "agree to disagree."
I've always loved living here in Dubai because I have come to know all the different cultures that my friends have come from. I've celebrated (with friends) Diwali, a Palestinian wedding, Siz-de-bedah (Iranian occassion-hope the spelling is right!), among other things.
But I've always hated that people of the same race tend to flock and STICK together. Though it is understandable to gravitate to people of your own nation, it also wouldn't hurt to get to know people who are from a different country as you. I mean really get to know where they come from and who they are.
It's just so important to understand AND respect people around you, whatever their skin tone.
@obaidalla1@hotmail said...
This bellicose attitude of yours shows your behemoth ignorance of the generosity that most Arabs are recognized with towards their guests. You are as curmudgeon as a poor social vagabond that I have yet come across.
It seems this is a clan issue where you ‘feel’ that the Power Elite should rule over their lower castes – which in this case is a sedentary mayhem
Every one in this life – as per the Islamic laws, has the right to be any where it wishes as long as there are no laws to be broken.
Your rants about other people’s ‘nags’ as per UAE laws would be looked at as a mere kid’s moan.
balushi... there you go again with your nonsensical remarks..
i'd like some clarification on this remark
" Even you Indians.. I mean come on you know that every one makes fun off Indians but we don’t go out in public dissin u people?! "
1. who is this everyone you refer to?
2. are you included in this 'set' of people?
3. your statement indicates that you dislike them but don't do so in public. is that true?
4. what are the reasons for all this fun poked at indians?
thanks in advance for your response
" I’m here to shove it in the face of every low expectation illiterate dumb ass ex-pat who is joining this phenomena on dissing the culture and the people of this country.. I said it before and I’ll say it now.. if u don’t like it stop bitching about it and leave…"
If we all left, wow....Jumeirah would be wiped out of the map in days. It'd become a cemetery. Sh.Zayed road would become the 2nd Autobahn. Sharjah and Ajman would meet the fate of Atlantis. Rents would crash, as is the livelihood of virtually every real estate agent and worst of all, Ski Dubai will freeze the mall of the Emirates along with itself....The list is endless.
Be afraid...be very afraid....LOL!
@ Anon :15:28 - Leave your Indian jingoism and march with the flag back at home. Everyones made fun of everywhere, get this fact straight. He has every right to dislike or like anyone he chooses.
Dengrous Boy is make potery 4 u;
I am make cry for wy my girlfirend lev me,
cry is make tear in my eye,
am not know 4 wy!
am I the only person who thinks that Balushi is a tosser?
archer> no need to get your knickers in a twist !
no flag waving or jingoism from me . I was just asking for a clarifcation as someone said,' we don't diss you guys in public', but still chose to mention same in this public /semi public forum
@obaidalla1@hotmail
My dear local ...
If anyone is making money out of expats it is you, or, let's be fair, this country. Some of us are here because they HAVE TO be here, and have not other option. Some of us had to leave our countries for one reason or another, most of them not nice and quite a few a life threat to ourselves nd our families.
Think about that when you generalize.
And, no, not all expats are drunken Brits, funny Indians, slutty Russians or Filipinas ... put your race/nationality slur here. Any other racial slur that is a prevailing social measure here shows the double standards of this place.
Why do you scream about dressing and not scream about exploitation? because exploitation makes this place what it is. Why do you scream of dressing and not because of prostituition? Because you know best who the majority of the customers are, and who runs the racket.
So let's be frank and open - this is not a country, it is an experiment. A joyride. Providig joy for some, and sorrow for others.
SD, sorry for hijcking the topic ... but I am sick of double standards and waving "Islamic values" all the time, while the "values" like drinking, prostitution, slavery, and exploitation, are the cornerstones of the country.
Oh, and one more thing - without expats, you guys don't exist. pure and simple. When you pick up your trash, wipe your streets, drive your cabs, work on your construction sites, then you can say what you want. Until then, enjoy the ride.
SD, sorry for hijcking the topic
Please be my guest! It was hijacked ages earlier, and your point is very valid.
Anonymous said... 30 January, 2006 16:51
I Fully agree with anon and partially agree with @obaidalla1@hotmail.
I've been reading this blog for years but never felt like writing anything and rather chose to have fun being inactive. but some blogs are really annoying and directly attack the feelings we have about certain things. these are the feelings we have about locals also. i've some very good local freinds who never hate indians (for most of them have studied in india and compare the education level with europe and america) so for this point i certainly don't agree with this local that locals make fun of indians. may be some locals make fun of some set of indians (india is a huge country u see)
at the same time i agree with obaidalla when he says we must have respect towards the country's values where we live in. we indians know this that's exactly why you find many indians away from most of the scandles that take place in this country. i'm not naming any particular nationality here, but as compared to others, indians like to keep it to themselves rather than showing it off.
while i said we must respect the host country's culture and values, have you ever thought obaidalla1 that how many of UAE nationals studying in india practice this? for that matter any nationality who are there in india either as a tourist or student....ever understand this? come and see for yourself what they do in india. but seldom we show discrimination towards other nationalities in india as often we come across with, over here.
SD, carry on the great job. but we need you to comment on such harsh comments on certain nationalities specially this one.
I think if there is anything to be gleaned from the Gulf News article, relevant to the latter debate in this post, it is this:
Bangaldeshi
Filipina
Saudi
Australian
UAE national
NO ONE NATIONALITY is perfect. We all have our indecent people and our freaks.
hey ppl..plz don not mix issues...we were not discusing racial discrimination here...it was women wearing revealing dresses and man having sexual pleasure in public!!!
and my take was if women consider this as their basic right..i.e. wear whatever they want to!! then men too should have the right to have sexual pleasure in public..why call them perverts???
And ...
As if I did not deserve the jail already ... ;)
Obaidulla, please understand that you guys rule this country, and you let those things happen. You let rents raise, you have labour laws that give no rights to the employees, you run the extortion. Not YOU PERSONALLY, your governemnt is letting that happen and gets rich on it!
On the other side, the same governement is killing itself with propaganda of how it is great to invest, work, and live here, or just be a tourist!
Logical? Haaaardly ...
Well ... I do have quite a few local friends, and know very well that not all of you swim in gold. I also know that a lot of you work hard - because I know people personally and have spent more than one night WORKING for and with them.
But, the AVERAGE expat here, origin and all else regardless, especially if having a higher IQ than a camel, will tell you the same stuff people are complaining about.
No, it is definitely not nice to hear bad things about your country. It is even worse when those things are true. Especially if you have been fed propaganda for your lifetime. I come from a similar country, propaganda wise ... so I know what I am talking about. That is a hard pill to swallow.
And, please, stop with "if you don't like it, leave" stuff. Be afraid of the day when the people who HAVE built this country heed your call, pack up and go. Then you are in deep.
Dear SD,
Please try to think of a new post, soon. This one has gone over the edge.
@we must have respect towards the country's values where we live in
It is quite simple; the 'public' dress code is a matter of taste. If there is a law that hinders such a thing, then plzzzz. make it clear.
I rest my case.
Do you want perverts “who can’t control himself in public” to go after your daughter in shopping malls and kidnap her maybe just because she is a child or teenage. I mean like this kind of perverts will do anything by time, more like wants to try new things. See USA as an example, if you were child or teenage or even a woman, someone eyes is after you, hanger for some flesh, no matter if you were a child, teenage or woman.
Do you want perverts “who can’t control himself in public” to go after your daughter in shopping malls and kidnap her maybe just because she is a child or teenage
And the relevance of this to anything in this entire thread is what, exactly?
It is the goverment that should take the initiave. they should stop being limp. If they want people to dress so then the great Gulf News should say so . In Egypt for example before Ramadan , the goverment newspaper (in english) has a story about Ramadan and tells the expats to refrain from drinking and wearing skitmmpy clothes out of respect. The problem here is that they don't want to upset the expats especially certain nationalaties. what I don't get is how can you have these brothels, sleezy night clubs and not expect to have women wearing rvealing dresses in public . Hypocrisy is to live behind closed doors or high fences have wild parties in the dark and then pretend that you are a good muslim !GET OVER IT this is not a city that has anything to do with Islam
Anonymous said...
Do you want perverts “who can’t control himself in public” to go after your daughter in shopping malls and kidnap her maybe just because she is a child or teenage. I mean like this kind of perverts will do anything by time, more like wants to try new things. See USA as an example, if you were child or teenage or even a woman, someone eyes is after you, hanger for some flesh, no matter if you were a child, teenage or woman.
WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT ??? WAKE UP OR ACTUALLY GROW UP
Lol @ Balushi's last comment. exactly!!!!!!
---secret dubai--- Your free to express yourself and so are others viewing your post, without offending other people especially the local community sense you hold some sort of grudge against us! Is balushi stealing your thunder, because he has waaay better sense of humor than your highness? Sorry to brust your bubble but you have no sense of humor at all!
---samuraisam---
I posted two comments , I Advise you to scroll up and read them once again and again and even again! Never ASSUME or INTEPRET what other says the way your mind wants to see it!!! trying to stretch your muscles and sound smart will not do you any good. you’re the one who SEEMS holding something against Europeans! I never generalized, and I wasn’t being racist. I speak of experience not based on one or two examples and in the end of the comment I said SOME!!!! Secret Dubai posted something and I reacted to what I read. I am not from lalaland, and I mention and bring the nationalities from lalaland.. it is mentioned in the post! And it is up to me to react the way I wish to react to what I read from news. I am impressed , Yes I am because the police are actually taking some action against people whom are disrespectful (this applies for any nationality) Besides, you’re being a plain racist when you mentioned Europeans with your own made labels of them being slutty. Again , I only speak of what I experience. I hold no grudge against any nationality but Israelis, what now you will tell me I am being racist? Yeah in this case I am and it is up to me. I don’t owe you any further justification!
---Anonymous---
You fail to understand that THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES is a MUSLIM country. We have the right to practice our laws and regulations the way we want and the way that best suits us. Clearly you have a problem with that, if your in the UAE go back home if you don’t like it . Women can look pretty and beautiful without getting naked! And you already said it women wear revealing clothes because that’s the way they dress up in their country, they are not in the their country.
--- Trobriander ---
you’ve got a point. Regardless of whatever nationality, if they are living here they should respect the land and the people they live in. We all have our differences, we all find different things respectful or disrespectful depending on whatever values we have. True shopping malls sell all sort of stuff, because people are free to buy what they want to buy, but when it comes to being in the public around local they should try to be more respectful of others. I am not saying we are saints, but again this is our basic rights as locals. Besides Dubai never had problems with any sort of fashion when it comes to mini skirts, and other revealing clothes people are free to dress the way they like but they shouldn’t OVER DO IT!
When it comes to French muslims, it is not the veils that was an issue it is the headscarf they wore. Don’t compare French Muslim women with this case cause it is a total different case. French Muslims, hold the French citizenship. They’ve always practiced wearing the headscarves, and suddenly now this rule is imposed on them, they have the basic rights as nationals holding to the French citizenship to react and protest! So it’s a total different case!
When I gave an example of the airport, I was just backing up the fact that I didn’t get offended because it’s the rules of security of their country and whatever. EVEN tho I’ve been traveling there all of my life, and this is just recent! I cannot compare it with how Australia, or other country because it is simply DIFFERENT this is the way they do it there!
----obaidalla1@hotmail----
Exactly!!! I couldn’t have said it better!! I agree with every single word you said. Bowy now they will start attacking you. Yes we do have a rich history, clearly people who objected with that are PLAIN IGNORENT and no nothing about the country they live in!
“WE DON’T NEED PEOPLE WHO LEFT THEIR COUNTRIES TO TELL US HOW TO RUN OURS.” Two thumbs up!
“I’m here to shove it in the face of every low expectation illiterate dumb ass ex-pat who is joining this phenomena on dissing the culture and the people of this country.. I said it before and I’ll say it now.. if u don’t like it stop bitching about it and leave… there is no point of publishing your opinions even though you know nothing will change…” YEP YEP!! That is exactly what I wanted to say.. You rock.
Boy do I love to generalise.
exactly what I wrote at the bottom of my comment, in case it needs pointing out, I was being quite sarcastic Sherlock Holmes.
Dubai never had problems with any sort of fashion when it comes to mini skirts, and other revealing clothes people are free to dress the way they like but they shouldn’t OVER DO IT!
The problem is that 'over doing' is relative. One would say, "that girl is 'over doing it'", while another might say, "naah, it's ok."
So as what trobriander said:
If there is a law that hinders such a thing, then plzzzz. make it clear.
"Do you want perverts “who can’t control himself in public” to go after your daughter in shopping malls and kidnap her maybe just because she is a child or teenage?
And the relevance of this to anything in this entire thread is what, exactly?"
Secret Dubai, I assume the relevance is that by not prosecuting individuals who expose themselves in public - but in stead by focusing the prosecution on scantily dressed girls - one creates the enironment for this sort of thing.
Aha fair enough - thanks for the clarification.
100th Comment
;)
unfortunately,not one of us is perfect,and Dubai by far is not either.
personally, i'd love to see Dubai survive if ALL expats left, in one go.
you'd all be on your knees.
@Fuchsia, way to go !!! all that in one go !! that is amazing . one question , why can't the goverment make it clear that people shouldn't wear revealing clothes ? Sharjah did it ! you can't by pork there either or are they worried that the expats might leave ???
I don't think you can afford the expats to leave so get off your high horse and take a deep breath. cause who will pay for the construction that is going on , who will buy these falts , the islands , the day to day function of the city will come to a stand still so honestly relax cause the goverment cannot afford it unless they give citizenship to the thousands of expats that have been here for generations All the best and have a great week
I was banned from Dubai last week for a year! Not a tear has been shed and never will! Reason ? I only paid half the 4,800 Dhs fine for Dubai Immigration Dept. Reason for the fine (which I didn't expect)? I had overstayed in 'paradise' by 48 days. Why? DNRD had actually confiscated my passport when I arrived and I couldn't get it back till the travel ban was lifted. Why? Some greedy local in Abu Dhabi had filed a court case against me in 2000 for rent on a flat I had vacated and terminated all essential services for some 16 months earlier. Trial in absentia, for rent I was supposed to have owed when I'd long left the country. Sharia court (Rent Court with one sudanese Judge set up for the Building Owners) ruling -- 42, 000 Dirhams to be paid before Ye can travel. Reluctantly Paid up in Abu Dhabi .....just to get out of it...appeal takes 6 months at least. Lawyers were hopeless. Then when all cleared, DNRD comes in with their insult to injury with a fine (eventhough they had my passport all the time) paid half but they wanted a ban. Am I bothered? Not at all. How many other ex-residents have been conned like this.
They can keep their overcrowded building site of a so-called city which is increasingly void of fabric or culture. The world is full of nicer places to visit, who needs a world malls full of stuff you can get anywhere.
Ok, this looks like a hot topic..
Its as simple as this, UAE is a muslim country, until late 80's, non locals, including Europians and Americans respected our culture and actually showed interest in them (that does not mean they liked it), but I guess those were the generation where ethics and morals shaped how they lived and we respected them and we welcomed them dearly.
Now, the UAE has become a land for the greedy and no Im not only talking about expats..I am talking about the some locals too...for the money and other reasons..they would do anything...
Since they believe by providing the western way of life they will continue to make money..thats what they did..to make them comfortable and feel like they are at home..they provided that..but what happens (and thanks to the weather that Newman likes) women are getting skimpy in our standard for sure but also to many europian standards...and the skimpy women can be arabic by the way.
Yes, people have the right to choose what they want to wear..but when it becomes offensive to that particular culture then its not really...
@Newman..your name indicates your background...and I know skimpy is not part of the deal...and no its not ok..
By the way..studies have shown women who reveal too much are at risk of getting sexually harrassed and abused...and this study is not from an Arab country..its from the states..its only common sense..
So I will not specifiy what nationalities here are becomeing "indecent" and skimpy...cause they are from all sorts of nationalities..
I respect everybody..no matter what your background is...but as someone said..if you are visiting..respect is expected..but cant be forced..and in any case individuals behaviour usually reflects upon their country of origin..
I am so sorry that we have people like Tim Newman living in my country..I can certainly feel his dislike, and I wish he gets a better offer somewhere else so he can no longer suffer with our humble DECENT culture..
I am glad that this site only represent some expats as I have met WONDERFUL people from all over the world in my country (UAE) and they left good prints and memories behind..
PLease be considerate...and we are fortunate to have air conditioners so no need to get undressed...just dress smart...
With that I leave this very very very hot blog...
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