Replies

You Wrote: ...law means nothing. All it takes is a "Will of Allah" and you can flush your contract down the toilet...and if some Sheik wants something, its obviously the "Will of Allah"...

I'm not sue how long ago you were working in the UAE; however, legal contracts between global companies are now governed by WTO standards including provisions for contract interpretation and arbitration. Your comments have validity for the pre-WTO period. Locally, UAE Labor Law is finally being enforced. Low-paid subcontinent laborers---a huge part of the population---now strike over late payments and the government has been clamping down on unscrupulous UAE owners.

Your Wrote: Oh, and I love the "largely permits religious freedom" part. The whole time I was there I never saw a church nor could I find a Bible in their book stores.

Bibles are now in bookstores. There are at least four churches in Dubai that I know: the Evangelical Community Church, the International Christian Church, the St Thomas Orthodox Church, the St Mary's Catholic Church, and the Holy Trinity Church (Anglican). They perform weddings and funerals besides regular church services. BTW, Christmas here in Dubai is much bigger than Ramadan. Christmas trees everywhere and all the stores, hotels, restaurants and bars make it a big promotion. Caroling is an important part of the tradition.

You Wrote: ..Should we touch on their democratic form of government, free elections, equal treatment of women?..

Working UAE women are now everywhere--light years ahead of Saudi Arabia. Is there harassment? Yes. But it is improving for both ex-pats and locals. There are elections on the local/municipality level with women candidates.

You Wrote: ...What about just the equal treatment of ex-pats? Once you get past your probationary period you're a virtual slave there and can't leave the country without the permission of your Sheik sponsor..

This used to be the case in the past; now, however, you keep your passport and get in and get out of town whenever you wish. I drive across the border to Oman frequently with no problems. In terms of laborers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, passports are still held to prevent illegal immigration. But even here, we see protests and strikes for unscrupulous employers.

In short, times have changed here. The UAE, in particular, is making progress.

It certainly sounds like things have changed since I was there but I guess I'm one of those old farts who comes from the "Remember Pearl Harbor" school. My uncle was there and when I was young I remember how much he hated the Japanese and he would never forgive them. When I joined the service I thought they had changed. They hadn't. I think it was around 1985 or 1986 and President Reagan was in Tokyo for a G-8 meeting. At that time our economy wasn't so good and Japan was flying high. While our President was still inside the meeting a Japanese Minister, I can't remember which, came out and remarked to the gathered newspaper reporters that American servicemen in Japan were so poor because of inflation that they could only afford to 'stay on base and give each other AIDS.' I sold my only Japanese car the next week and swore I'd never buy another one. The WTC and 911 are my Pearl Harbor. It ain't logical but its the way I will always feel. Someone on here accused me of assigning guilt by association with regards to the U.A.E. I guess they're right. After all, their share of the blood pool for 911 is only about 315 souls.