This article by Johann Hari is exceptionally well written and it stands out amongst the shoddy reporting that is prevalent amongst Guardian, SMH and other publications.
What he writes is sadly quite true. Laborers usually come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. They are brought here by employment agencies on false hope, paid peanuts while the agencies keep the benefits to themselves. The construction companies turn a blind eye to all of this because they are making a huge profit on the cheap labor. Employers routinely keep your passport with them so you can’t run away. I’ve seen all of this first hand as I’ve had family members, friends working in the construction field. I’ve visited Sonapur, it is Dubai’s slum.
You can get thrown into jail for a bad check, or if you can’t pay off your debts. The Islamic code here prevents you from enjoying a lot of things that are considered basic rights like holding hands, public displays of affection and alcohol. Dissent and talking negative about the country is fined and the newspapers are tightly controlled (you won’t see big articles about people being laid off or deported).
UAE is a country where the citizens are the minority (citizens account for a mere 15% of the total population). This helps them heap enormous benefits on the citizens and in-turn treat expatriates like evil invaders or someone on a lower social rung. They often treat the city as their own private playground, bossing around who they see fit.
Dubai is a city full of sins, and unlike Las Vegas it has done a good job of hiding those sins. Now it is all blowing up in their faces as its troubled too many people.
“The thing you have to understand about Dubai is – nothing is what it seems,” Karen says at last. “Nothing. This isn’t a city, it’s a con-job. They lure you in telling you it’s one thing – a modern kind of place – but beneath the surface it’s a medieval dictatorship.”
I like this country, it’s been home to me for the past 25 years. But still, watching all of this, knowing that all of it can be snatched away from you at any moment is very saddening, terrifying.
