Apr 08 2009
The Dark Side of Dubai
Few places in the world manage to visually represent the current failure of global neo-liberal capitalism as starkly as the Gulf Emirate of Dubai. This glittering cosmopolitan metropolis, known as the liberal mecca of the Muslim world, is home to countless air-conditioned shopping malls and an imported work-force that comprises over 90% of the population. Up until a year ago Dubai, one of seven states in the United Arab Emirates, was the epitome of corporate globalization – companies like Halliburton flocked to the tax-free haven to set up headquarters, educated young expats enjoyed an easy lifestyle, glass-walled high-rises sprouted almost overnight. But today, with thousands of foreign workers laid off and escaping debt prison, work sites are abandoned and the project of hyper-expansion is on hold. The crashing market has not only brought Dubai to its knees in a matter of months, it has also exposed the dark underbelly of how this Arabic Disneyland was built – on the backs of modern-day slaves, according to a new expose by journalist Johann Hari of the Independent in London.
Sonali: Dubai is incidentally my birthplace. My parents, like thousands of young Indians searching for a better life, migrated there decades ago. I’ve been back many times since I left for the US nearly 18 years ago, most recently this January. Each time I returned, there were grander malls, more futuristic buildings, and worse traffic. But now, the malls lie empty and old friends complain bitterly about unemployment.
GUEST: Johann Hari, writer for the Independent of UK
Read Johann Hari’s article about Dubai here: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html
9 Responses to “The Dark Side of Dubai”
Bravo for this story.
I worked in Saudi Arabia.
And things were even worse.
The English/British often v. poorly educated but in marvellous (non)jobs almost always collaborated/encouraged/supported the extreme racism of the Saudis against in particular the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The vicious, brutal, repugnant, malevolent, evil ideology of racism practised most fervently by both the English and the Arabs in the Middle East against the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh is consequential. No wonder there is such an anti-England sentiment in the collective psyches of the people most discriminated against. Filipinos/Filipinas were treated very exploitatively as were all non-Europeans. In practice the Arabs were to put it crudely v. pro-West and pro-White and actively ant-East and anti-White. The neverdowells of Britain often beeline it there knowing that race is the qualification that counts.
The fascism of the British and the Arabs must be confronted as it poses an existential threat to the poor workers trapped in many parts of the Middle East where horrendous attitudes/beliefs/outlooks prevail.
DUBAI IS FAKE CITY BLOOMING ON FAKE BUSINES THE ONLY GUYS WORKING OUT THERE ARE THE WORKERS AND GOD FORBID BUT EVENTUALLY ALL THE EXPATS WORKERS WILL GO BACK TO THEIR HOME LAND AND THEN DUBAI CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO CLEAN THEIR SHIT AGAIN
I knew Dubai was going to be a bust a decade ago! I tried to tell people, but no one would listen to me. This is nothing more than a Rich Sheik’s playground and now the Rich Sheik is running out of money. A lot of Private Investors from America dumped billions into this Promise Land … Loans … they called them, and now the Sheik can’t make good on his loans. Big Surprise! It is said that a lot of people had to die to make this place a reality and that the ground upon which it is built is soaked with blood, mostly Westerner’s I’d imagine. Many people went to this place to work and were never heard from again, but America is just brushing our missing workers under the rug rather than become one of them! I would not go to this place if you paid me $100.000.000! It is an Evil place! One good tsunami and the whole place will fall into the Ocean.
ever heard the that old song about the man who built his house upon the sand? I rest my case!
http://thisisdubai.ae/
Well obviously whoever commented on Dubai proves his lack of knowledge about this city. I am not from dubai but have been working here for almost 6 years now. It has been treating me very well, people complain that all the workers come from India-pakistan etc.. that is because the population of the original uae’s are LESS than the population of the non-uaes. If someone needed to work, they always came to dubai because they knew they will find good money in their working jobs and will be treated well, so dont wonder why most come to dubai! Yes maybe the financial crisis has affected dubai but it is not the only city being affected! Every country has been affected by it and it is insane!
Wonderful Dubai!
That is a city-country-emirate! Sort of a Middle Eastern Hong Kong…
Would love to visit it next year.
Spectacular views!
what a wonderful city!
we love this place
I am living in Dubai for 13 years, What Dubai was in 1997 is stark differece. The locals have become extremely greedy and with them the expat who work for them. The law here changes like chameleon every day. Dubai is draining the money out of every expat to make up for its loss. New buildings they have built are empty, the price of property down to 50%, media and news are the biggest lires in Dubai.
What goes up must come down….
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