[Svengelsk]

Alright guys i need some info from you that live there now.

I have got an offer from a Sports team in Dubai to come and play there for 10 months. I dont want to say who they are and what sport right now cause its still quite early in the process.

Anyway, im a 27 year old Swedish/British guy (none muslim) that will be moving there alone. And of course i have 1000 questions. PLease dont tell me to search the forum for answers cause i have and there is a million different ones.

Lets start with housing. The plan is that they will pay for me to stay in a hotel the whole 10 months with free food. I havnt been told which one. So my question is if there is alot of dodgy ones out there. And if there is certain areas i should not be living in?

I mean, im 27 and want to be able to enjoy my time there and meet other Expats/tourists in my free time. Not a good idea if they put me in a hotel 1h away from the centre.

Driving - They will either pay for a car or a personal driver. Ive heard that they are never on time and i think it would be a pain in the ass relying on someone else the whole time. But then you also have the risk of driving in that mad traffic alone. Ive read that its risky and if you have an accident they can really **** you up if its the wrong guy. So not really sure what to do there. I guess it depends where you live.

Then we have the girlfriend/partner problem. They have this for me really stupid law with not being allowed to share a bed with someone if not married. I understand that i have to respect that but come on.. Anyway, what if i have someone from home ( a female) coming to visit me at my hotel. What is the risk getting into trouble? I guess its the same thing if i should get lucky and meet a girl in Dubai. Of course you want some private time! 10 months without any action! Impossible. How do all the non married tourist couples that go there get along with this? You say that hotels accept tourists sharing, but how could it be for me staying for 10 months. Can hardly call me a tourist then..

Nightlife - I have understood there is quite a few nice places to go! But then you have the Alchohol law... If i want to go out and have a few beers or go to a party with friends? Can i do that without being nervous some copper comes and gives me a hard time? Is this alchohol license a must have? And is it difficult for me to get one?

What would you say if you compare life in Dubai to London or any other major city in Western Europe. Is it limited for us? Is it that strict as the law says it should be. Because i really cant be bothered going there for 10 months and feel like a prisoner. I want to enjoy life. Doesnt matter how much money they are offering...

I hope someone can help me with some honest answers here and i apreciate all the info you guys can give me

Sorry for the bad english. Ive lived in Scandinavia for many years now!

Take care!

 

[Confiture]

Lets start with housing. The plan is that they will pay for me to stay in a hotel the whole 10 months with free food. I havnt been told which one. So my question is if there is alot of dodgy ones out there. And if there is certain areas i should not be living in?
I mean, im 27 and want to be able to enjoy my time there and meet other Expats/tourists in my free time. Not a good idea if they put me in a hotel 1h away from the centre.

There are good and bad, but Marina / Jumeirah Beach Residence would "mostly" be a good place if you're young annd single

Driving - They will either pay for a car or a personal driver. Ive heard that they are never on time and i think it would be a pain in the ass relying on someone else the whole time. But then you also have the risk of driving in that mad traffic alone. Ive read that its risky and if you have an accident they can really **** you up if its the wrong guy. So not really sure what to do there. I guess it depends where you live.

Personal preference I guess but the thought of having someone at my call, for free, 24/7 sound pretty good to me...

The driving standards here are poor but if you drive defensively, you should be ok.

Then we have the girlfriend/partner problem. They have this for me really stupid law with not being allowed to share a bed with someone if not married. I understand that i have to respect that but come on.. Anyway, what if i have someone from home ( a female) coming to visit me at my hotel. What is the risk getting into trouble? I guess its the same thing if i should get lucky and meet a girl in Dubai. Of course you want some private time! 10 months without any action! Impossible. How do all the non married tourist couples that go there get along with this? You say that hotels accept tourists sharing, but how could it be for me staying for 10 months. Can hardly call me a tourist then..

Yes it's illegal, many people do it though. I've yet to meet a single unmarried colleague who's been celibate in Dubai

Nightlife - I have understood there is quite a few nice places to go! But then you have the Alchohol law... If i want to go out and have a few beers or go to a party with friends? Can i do that without being nervous some copper comes and gives me a hard time? Is this alchohol license a must have? And is it difficult for me to get one?

You'll need a letter of no objection from your employer and salary certificate plus tenancy contract to get a license. It's no big deal

What would you say if you compare life in Dubai to London or any other major city in Western Europe. Is it limited for us? Is it that strict as the law says it should be. Because i really cant be bothered going there for 10 months and feel like a prisoner. I want to enjoy life. Doesnt matter how much money they are offering...

Personally I would say the nightlife here is as good as (if not better than) anywhere else. Just pick the places and be respectful once you leave the club / bar / hotel.

I hope someone can help me with some honest answers here and i apreciate all the info you guys can give me

Dubai is not Saudi Arabia, keep a few things about respecting the local laws in mind and you'll have a great time here.

Sorry for the bad english. Ive lived in Scandinavia for many years now!

Take care!

.

 

[basc]

Hotel - as long as they put you in a hotel that is an area close to Shaikh Zayed Road from the Marina area up to the Financial Centre, then you'll always be a max 20 min taxi ride away from wherever you want to go out.

Car - you can survive without one, but life is a lot lot better with one. As regards driving, some people make it out to be worse than it is - there are a lot of speed racers and you are right, if you get in an accident then he who speaks Arabic is king, and it's not his fault.

Alcohol - there is lots of it, lots of bars, lots of clubs. You need a license to buy alcohol to have in your home, and maybe you need it to consume alcohol in bars but a lot of people I know don't have it. You need a residence visa, work contract and house lease details to get the license - it took about 6 weeks for mine to come back.

Single life - sex outside marriage is illegal, co-habitation is illegal. But I've been in hotels (5*) at 4am and seen other guests coming home with girls I am pretty sure had a price tag attached and the hotel just took their ID and didn't bat an eyelid.


This place has lots of rules and regulations that are all quietly ignored so as to keep the expat population happy, and provide entertainment for the Arabs that want to let loose. I haven't noticed that it is any more restrictive than any city in Western Europe.

 

[Tropicana]

I haven't noticed that it is any more restrictive than any city in Western Europe.

While the rest of your post is all right, i would say that if a person comes here thinking Dubai is like any city in Western Europe, he would be wrong and could get in some sticky situations.

On the surface it is, but there are definitely some rules as you mentioned, and the rules do come out from time to time screwing up the person who thought it was ok to ignore them.

Cohabiting is illegal and many people do it regardless, but you just have to ensure you dont get in any situation (loud argument, fight) that would attract attention.

With regards to drinking, my understanding is that this is one area where Dubai is very liberal, but again, you should not drive to neighboring Sharjah with alcohol in your car.

Dont show your finger, even if the other person almost ran you down at a pedestrian crossing.

Dont use swear words, even in a benign sense, as another person may misunderstand it.

Dubai is very different from other Gulf cities but its definitely less liberal than any city in Western Europe

 

[Enzoo]

Alright guys i need some info from you that live there now.

I have got an offer from a Sports team in Dubai to come and play there for 10 months. I dont want to say who they are and what sport right now cause its still quite early in the process.

Anyway, im a 27 year old Swedish/British guy (none muslim) that will be moving there alone. And of course i have 1000 questions. PLease dont tell me to search the forum for answers cause i have and there is a million different ones.

Lets start with housing. The plan is that they will pay for me to stay in a hotel the whole 10 months with free food. I havnt been told which one. So my question is if there is alot of dodgy ones out there. And if there is certain areas i should not be living in?

I mean, im 27 and want to be able to enjoy my time there and meet other Expats/tourists in my free time. Not a good idea if they put me in a hotel 1h away from the centre.

Driving - They will either pay for a car or a personal driver. Ive heard that they are never on time and i think it would be a pain in the ass relying on someone else the whole time. But then you also have the risk of driving in that mad traffic alone. Ive read that its risky and if you have an accident they can really **** you up if its the wrong guy. So not really sure what to do there. I guess it depends where you live.

Then we have the girlfriend/partner problem. They have this for me really stupid law with not being allowed to share a bed with someone if not married. I understand that i have to respect that but come on.. Anyway, what if i have someone from home ( a female) coming to visit me at my hotel. What is the risk getting into trouble? I guess its the same thing if i should get lucky and meet a girl in Dubai. Of course you want some private time! 10 months without any action! Impossible. How do all the non married tourist couples that go there get along with this? You say that hotels accept tourists sharing, but how could it be for me staying for 10 months. Can hardly call me a tourist then..

Nightlife - I have understood there is quite a few nice places to go! But then you have the Alchohol law... If i want to go out and have a few beers or go to a party with friends? Can i do that without being nervous some copper comes and gives me a hard time? Is this alchohol license a must have? And is it difficult for me to get one?

What would you say if you compare life in Dubai to London or any other major city in Western Europe. Is it limited for us? Is it that strict as the law says it should be. Because i really cant be bothered going there for 10 months and feel like a prisoner. I want to enjoy life. Doesnt matter how much money they are offering...

I hope someone can help me with some honest answers here and i apreciate all the info you guys can give me

Sorry for the bad english. Ive lived in Scandinavia for many years now!

Take care!

regarding your querries, i just would say that Dubai has lots to offer and when you will come here and experience it yourself, i can say you can and will find ways to solve all your dilemmas.

 

[Gavtek]

regarding your querries, i just would say that Dubai has lots to offer and when you will come here and experience it yourself, i can say you can and will find ways to solve all your dilemmas.