Con City
UK politician George Galloway recently foiled a sting by the News of the World's fake sheikh, Mahzer Mahmood, who tried to implicate him in political corruption and making anti-semitic comments. What partly saved the day for Galloway was his extensive regional knowledge and experience:
"In their appearance, these men did not remotely resemble devout Muslims or Islamists (which is what they later claimed to be). Neither wore a beard."
Writing on the Guardian blog, Galloway noted a Dubai connection with one of his attempted scammers, "Sam Fernando":
"Dubai seems a point of reference for the con artists at the News of the World. It came up in their scams against Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carole Caplin and Sophie Wessex. So what is it about Dubai?"
What is it about Dubai indeed? Most probably its glitzy, multicultural, wheeling-and-dealing crossroads-of-the-Middle East image. It's where the very rich and the very shady do business. It's also seen as having more money than sense. So if you want to masquerade as a dodgy Arab businessman, claiming a Dubai connection and namedropping a few sheikhs is a very easy disguise.
"In their appearance, these men did not remotely resemble devout Muslims or Islamists (which is what they later claimed to be). Neither wore a beard."
Writing on the Guardian blog, Galloway noted a Dubai connection with one of his attempted scammers, "Sam Fernando":
"Dubai seems a point of reference for the con artists at the News of the World. It came up in their scams against Sven-Goran Eriksson, Carole Caplin and Sophie Wessex. So what is it about Dubai?"
What is it about Dubai indeed? Most probably its glitzy, multicultural, wheeling-and-dealing crossroads-of-the-Middle East image. It's where the very rich and the very shady do business. It's also seen as having more money than sense. So if you want to masquerade as a dodgy Arab businessman, claiming a Dubai connection and namedropping a few sheikhs is a very easy disguise.
Labels: crime
23 Comments:
if you thought that is shady - check out "DubaiWood" http://www.dubaiwood.com/
Thats it Ive had it - im moving out!
dubaibuy, that was so fucking hilarious.
Little is known about the hundreds of thousands of fake sheikhs masquerading in dishdashes. Often they truly believe they are the nationals here, which makes their act all the more convincing. I'm talking about those bangladeshis.
1970's - Dubai - The worlds best kept secret
1980's - Dubai - The worlds most desired residence.
1990's - Dubai - The Russians were buying one way tickets.
2000's - Dubai - The land of get rich quick schemes.
2010's - Dubai - The place that once was.
2020's - Dubai - Home to the worlds leftovers.
Time to get out me feels.
@CG
That timeline is so true although there wasn't much of a Dubai in the 1970's; Sharjah was the place to be, that is, until they became all Islamic.
So I'm not allowed to voice my opinion? What I said was very true - Sharjah was the "happening" place before Saudi Arabia bought it out and they became hypocrislamists. Dubai was already the rising star in the UAE and it became more desirable to live there.
I don't understand what you mean by:
"who will make Sharjah the same as dubai"
Sharjah is, and probably will always be, the bedroom state for Dubai's less-than-affluent workforce. Just like Ajman and Umm Al Quwain are becoming the bedroom states for Sharjah's less-than-affluent workforce.
We hate Dubai so much.. We had enough of it... We are LEAVING..
Instead we have one more of your airlines to ferry more of bitching expats to this junkyard...
The phrase 'dont like it, vacate it', seems to fall on deaf ears.
YOU GUYS ARE SO ARROGANT. SHAME ON YOU
Shaper85, you are right about Sharjah being the happening place before they decided to sell themselves out to Saudi Arabia. On Al Wahda street there used to be a really raunchy place called the Bangkok Cellar. It was the 'in' place back in the old days. Between that and the Red Lion in Dubai, there were very few watering holes.
I am leaving Dubai end of April ,too, but for entirely different reason. I really will miss this place and it's people!
Are you guys serious you will leave, too? I think you all should. Seriously, I left America simply because I didn't susbcribe to their ideological and political beliefs. There is more to life than just pecuniary benefits. It's no point living here, hating the system and the people, and continuing to live here. It's "hypocritical" (to use a very often used word).
If Sharjah is "hypocritislamist" then it shouldn't be anyone else's bedroom either. Get up and leave, I assure you will be happier with life. I did, and I dont regret it one bit! Well, sometimes I do, but looking at the larger picture helps! I would hate my hard-earned money to go as taxes to kill my own brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the World!
DubaiBuy!
Dude, I know this guy! Hahaha! He had earlier released a music video as well and one of his friends forwarded it to me to check it out :P
@Al Republican
Oh please, you obviously find it easier to run away from things you don't like. Your attitude is typical of someone who can't take critisicm well. The UAE has so much potential but it is hindered by many of the things that are discussed on this blog. Any free country would allow its residents to criticize the system. If you want change to come from within then you have to accept different viewpoints and choose whether to accept them or not instead of saying:
"Get up and leave, I assure you will be happier with life."
Who hasn't heard some variation of that statement before? And incidentally I have left the UAE for greener pastures, although I did try to tolerate it as much as I could before I got a better offer elsewhere.
Shapers
" Any free country would allow its residents to criticize the system. If you want change to come from within then you have to accept different viewpoints and choose whether to accept them or not "
Views from people like you who stated repeatidly how you hate the UAE are not appreciated.
Al republican...where are you going?
Not everything you hear in life will be something you want to hear. That said, I've never said that I "hated" the UAE so don't automatically assume that people who post a negative view about the UAE hate it. Most people are frustrated with it, but hate is a very strong word.
lazyowl...
"How do you feel if ask “ If you don’t like what we say, why are you here?”"
This is a blog...this blog does not pay me money...does not give me a job opportunity..does not give me a better chance...like the UAE that you continuely view in a negative way.
I just don't understand why it bothers you to say "if you dont like it leave"..I think its because it doesnt solve your "problems" here...
I am living abroad...and God knows how much I admire things in that country and how many things I totally disagree with and hate...although I have the choice to stay here if I choose...I won't based on the fact that there are things I know I can't live. So I leave as soon as I am done with my studies there...
So, if you dont like it leave...as much as you hate that phrase...Its a fair one I think..cause if you are here...my guess is this place has things it can offer that your own country didn't...and although there are things in you country that made you leave there are things you obviously miss ...I guess no place is perfect..
I dont impose my way of life here, I work full hours here in Ramadan, fast while everybody else eats infront of me..try to organize my breaks so it fits my prayer time..stand in the line that is mixed...never I thought I should impose my way of life here..cause this is not my country.
So I wonder what makes you feel entitled to do so in the UAE...
And Shapers...go back and check your previous comments...you changed your personal discription in your blog..but it was different ;)
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hes from muncipality trying to print a magazine for condolences
Newspapers make an ENORMOUS amount of money when sheikhs die from those condolences ads. Do they give all or part of it to charity? They damn well should do.
I imagine any sheikh worth their salt would far prefer a donation be made to a charitable organisation they supported than a pointless, showy-off advert be taken out in a local newspaper.
its just one big laundrette! all the dodgy money from all over is brought to Dobuy for laundry.
Shaper85 and LazyOwl-
I didn't rule you both to leave this place. I simply tried to echo your feelings and SUGGESTED you to act on it. You can call me a loser for not being able to handle the US, but it won't make any difference to me. Like I said, I made a call that I am not willing to pay taxes to a government that will use my hard-earned money to bomb my brothers in the Muslim World, I guess you are not faced with a similar problem as you pay no taxes here, plus the UAE does not go around meddling in other countries' affairs. But, even if it was, I wonder if people who complain about this place ad hominem would have got up and left? America was definitely "greener" vis-a-vis my educational qualifications, but minting money was not a priority for me.
You are free to voice your opinions, but it is hard to feel that many people here rant just for the sake of ranting. There is no substance in such rhetoric. For example, I have a lot of friends who keep telling me how fake the economy is here and how the stock market is one big bubble that has to burst very soon, which I tend to agree with to tell you the truth. But, almost all of them have invested in it! So what are they trying to do? Make hay while the sun shines? It's the Dubai-dilemma: Love to hate it, but can't live without making a few quick bucks.
Hot Lemon and Honey-
I am going back to Pakistan, in sha Allah. Our government is working on a big project for transfer of semi-conductor and integrated circuits fabrication technology to Pakistan. They are setting up manufacturing plants so that we become more independant as a nation and don't have to import such stuff in the future. Exactly what I have always dreamed of doing!
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^ Import IC fabrication units for what exactly? Definitely not for public consumption.
And no, don't tell me it's for the military.
Hehe Archer14-
Some of this is for the military! But, the scope of work is open to a wide range of industries. Some of this has to do with solar powered electricity generation and other industries that can use this technology are embedded microcontrollers, PLC and PLD designs etc. At the moment, a lot of engineering companies in Pakistan that use these components and semi-conductor wafers for their applications are importing such circuitry from the West. The import estimate is around US$50 million for wafers alone!
"Tell Sheikh to lick ma balls"
how civil...
Good luck Al Republicans..very impressive. :)
Just curious to what happened to lazyowls comment follwing mine..
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