What is the general opinion of locals in the United Arab Emirates? Are they considered to be nice, friendly, and helpful or arrogant and rude?
Ignore the answers by Caucasian people, as they don’t face any racism or Indians who currently work in Dubai, as they fear deportation or hefty fines or imprisonment.
I have worked a few years in Dubai in construction and have regularly seen Emiratis, and near residences, and I couldn’t recall even one positive incident.
- Emirati adults never make eye contact with Indians or Filipinos or Bangladeshis. It’s like we are not even standing there or some dirt. Even if they accidentally see, there won’t be any emotion.
- Even if you carry two handful of groceries and walking with struggle, when an Emirati comes on the way, he will continue walking, an if you collide, god forbid.
- Even if you are 50 year old, and work as a manager, an Emirati kid can kick you, spit on you, throw ice-cream on you, and you can’t do anything about it. What will you do, tell the parents ? The dont care ! Call people around for support ? no one comes forward.. Call police ? no response. You have to suck it up and move on.
- Government offices : They are always angry, and ready to shout on you for slightest mistakes. Although many government officers are like this, no one is as condescending as Emiratis.
- They always cut queues, even when there are 10 other in line, already. If it is in car, they will always cut you.
- If you are a driver of an emirati- you are nothing more than a slave. There is never a fixed sleep time. Sometimes he will wake you up at 2:00 in morning for some ride, sometime even 3:00 AM. In all cases, you have to awake and on your toes right from morning.
There is many,and I have faced these despite being a well-educated Engineer. The domestic maids and construction workers have it 10 times worse. Why you may ask ? They know very well you come from poor countries unlike UK or Germany or USA, so you will suck it up, and don’t expect respect.. They know you can’t do anything to them, the police, the courts, the government offices- they give zero Fs about you. They know they can deport you in a drop of a hat, or imprison you without much reason. They know their government is rich and they don’t have to work a day in their life to live like a royal.
