Modified:
04 Aug 2009
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DEBATE: IS DUBAI THE PARADISE IT IS PORTRAYED TO BE?

Posted by: DSong      Karma: 51
Dubai is considered in a lot of countries in the world a place of pure paradise, where everyone is free and you can achieve anything you want. Recently journalists have started to challenge this view with a recent panorama programme and opinion article in the independent highlighting 'The dark side of Dubai' http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html


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IS DUBAI THE PARADISE IT IS PORTRAYED TO BE?

Yes, because...
No, because...

The Economy


The Economy in Dubai is giant, and although many can say it has been heavily effected by the global recession it still remains an extremely rich city. Dubais Gross Domestic Product in 2000 was US$16.4 billion [http://thepalmdubai.com/palm-island-dubai/about-dubai/facts.html]. Foreign companies continue to invest in the city with a culture of expense continuing.

The economy originally stemmed from oil, and cleverly was marketed to foreign investors with the giant carrot of no taxes, and the potential of cheap labour, amongst the nice weather they could enjoy!

Click here to strengthen this point.

Although the Dubai economy is extremely lucrative it is built on false pretenses and slave labour, as well as the huge carrot of no taxes. Companies make a killing in terms of profits in Dubai, and although this is a good thing, it shouldn't be at the expense of peoples lives and on the basis of lies to innocent men and women!

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Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No
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IS DUBAI THE PARADISE IT IS PORTRAYED TO BE?

Yes, because...
No, because...

A Multicultural Society


Dubai does have a diverse and richly populated society[1] only minor and infrequent episodes of ethnic tensions, primarily between expatriates, have been reported in the city.[2] With a rich diverse culture in terms of films, music amongst other pastimes to indulge in.
  1. ^ http://www.migrationinformation.org/dataHub/GCMM/Dubaidatasheet.pdf
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai#Economy

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IS DUBAI THE PARADISE IT IS PORTRAYED TO BE?

Yes, because...
No, because...

Are people trapped?


People are not trapped in Dubai.

Anyone who wishes to come and work in Dubai has the freedom to chose to come. therefore no one is forces to come and work.

Once they sign up to work and arrive in the workplace, The Employer will seize their passport as a guarantee that they cannot leave the country when ever they want. as it happened before employees will take loans that they know they cannot pay back, and leave the country.

In my point of view, i don't think that people are trapped in Dubai. and if they were trapped, its because they didn't have a good plan.

Click here to strengthen this point.

Numerous times in the independent article it is mentioned people say they are trapped in Dubai. With their passports siezed and with no money to get any way home. It first mentions a lady who along with her husband ended up getting into debt, people are unable to declare themselves bankrupt in Dubai and so her husband was imprisoned and she is stuck in Dubai with no money and no where to live[1]

Other parts of the article mention builders who were drawn to Dubai with the promise of a better life, with a great place to live and money which they could only dream of. However the reality is their passports are taken, money is witheld from them for months and their living conditions are third world. The only release some of them can see from the life is suicide[2]
  1. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  2. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

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Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No
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IS DUBAI THE PARADISE IT IS PORTRAYED TO BE?

Yes, because...
No, because...

The Suffer Workers Endure


The workers are promised great things for moving to Dubai to help build and work. Money promised to an interviewee for the independent was £400 a month, good living conditions amongst other promises[1] however in reality wages are witheld, passports taken from employees and average salaries are in fact £120 a month.[2].

The water the workers have is not properly desalinated, and therefore makes them ill, with risks of worse diseases a very high possibility, suicide rates are high due to the lives the workers lead[3]. Living conditions are cramped with authorities reporting one camp having 7,500 labourers sharing 1,248 rooms with poor ventilation.[4]
  1. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  2. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_7986000/7986756.stm
  3. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_7986000/7986756.stm

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Vote on the overall debate: Is Dubai The Paradise It Is Portrayed To Be?

What do you think?  Vote on this debate below.
Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No
1. The Economy
# 1

The Economy in Dubai is giant, and although many can say it has been heavily effected by the global recession it still remains an extremely rich city. Dubais Gross Domestic Product in 2000 was US$16.4 billion [http://thepalmdubai.com/palm-island-dubai/about-dubai/facts.html]. Foreign companies continue to invest in the city with a culture of expense continuing.

The economy originally stemmed from oil, and cleverly was marketed to foreign investors with the giant carrot of no taxes, and the potential of cheap labour, amongst the nice weather they could enjoy!

admin

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10:51, 09 April 09

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# 2

Although the Dubai economy is extremely lucrative it is built on false pretenses and slave labour, as well as the huge carrot of no taxes. Companies make a killing in terms of profits in Dubai, and although this is a good thing, it shouldn't be at the expense of peoples lives and on the basis of lies to innocent men and women!

admin

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10:51, 09 April 09

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Karma Score: 14

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2. A Multicultural Society
# 1

Dubai does have a diverse and richly populated society[1] only minor and infrequent episodes of ethnic tensions, primarily between expatriates, have been reported in the city.[2] With a rich diverse culture in terms of films, music amongst other pastimes to indulge in.
  1. ^ http://www.migrationinformation.org/dataHub/GCMM/Dubaidatasheet.pdf
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai#Economy

admin

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10:54, 09 April 09

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Karma Score: 14

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1. Are people trapped?
# 1

Numerous times in the independent article it is mentioned people say they are trapped in Dubai. With their passports siezed and with no money to get any way home. It first mentions a lady who along with her husband ended up getting into debt, people are unable to declare themselves bankrupt in Dubai and so her husband was imprisoned and she is stuck in Dubai with no money and no where to live[1]

Other parts of the article mention builders who were drawn to Dubai with the promise of a better life, with a great place to live and money which they could only dream of. However the reality is their passports are taken, money is witheld from them for months and their living conditions are third world. The only release some of them can see from the life is suicide[2]
  1. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  2. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

admin

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11:04, 09 April 09

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Karma Score: 14

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# 2

People are not trapped in Dubai.

Anyone who wishes to come and work in Dubai has the freedom to chose to come. therefore no one is forces to come and work.

Once they sign up to work and arrive in the workplace, The Employer will seize their passport as a guarantee that they cannot leave the country when ever they want. as it happened before employees will take loans that they know they cannot pay back, and leave the country.

In my point of view, i don't think that people are trapped in Dubai. and if they were trapped, its because they didn't have a good plan.

AlNumairy

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09:55, 04 August 09

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Karma Score: 4

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2. The Suffer Workers Endure
# 1

The workers are promised great things for moving to Dubai to help build and work. Money promised to an interviewee for the independent was £400 a month, good living conditions amongst other promises[1] however in reality wages are witheld, passports taken from employees and average salaries are in fact £120 a month.[2].

The water the workers have is not properly desalinated, and therefore makes them ill, with risks of worse diseases a very high possibility, suicide rates are high due to the lives the workers lead[3]. Living conditions are cramped with authorities reporting one camp having 7,500 labourers sharing 1,248 rooms with poor ventilation.[4]
  1. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  2. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_7986000/7986756.stm
  3. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_7986000/7986756.stm

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11:16, 09 April 09

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Karma Score: 14

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