Again, part 2 of the Rantings from Abu Dhabi series.
***Rant starts here***
Ok gents, so it's the holiday of Eid here which marks the end of Ramadan (month long islamic thing when muslims have to fast), and I got a few days off. So, I decided to make my way down to Dubai and check out the city.
At Dubai Mall now, which I think is supposed to be the biggest mall in the world (not positive though). Have to say it's really nice. Reminds me of Ceasar's in vegas.
Anywho, I thought I would take this opportunity to send you guys another update for a Friday, but this time, sharing some of my more general impressions on the UAE and the people and society here..
Will continue to send more low brow commentary on the quality/hotness of women here etc. (and any luck or lack thereof I have - mostly the latter) from time to time.
My preliminary observations and thoughts are as follows:
1) Filipinos run the joint.
Let me say that Filipinos have successfully executed a reverse take-over of the UAE, at least Abu Dhabi and Dubai anyways. Bravo to them.
See as a bit of background, the people native to the UAE called the Emiratees, don't really work (seriously). And, they certainly don't perform 'regular' jobs. Neh enh.
The UAE is actually literally now less than 15% composed of the Emiratees people who are native to this country so they amount to a very small minority fraction of the population. That said, they control all the wealth. This tiny little country has 10% of the world's oil and 6% of its gas. So, these folks are all rich. They're born rich. There will be no 'Arab Spring' (uprising) here. Nooo way. I read somewhere that described that "Emiratees are born retired" and it's true. They all drive fancy cars and live like ballers.
So, obviously someone's gotta do the work. Hence, the Filipinos, who speak english and are willing to move to wherever to make a life for themselves. And, unlike in Hong Kong where they're all just nannies and maids, they literally perform every type of 'non labour' function here. Every service type job in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is performed by filipinos (and some indians). That includes all waiting, waitressing, bar tending, retail store staff, hotel staff, security guards etc. Everything. There are literally a tonne of Filipinos here. And, unlike in HK where it's just women, here there are women, men, their children etc. I see bfs/gfs, families, etc. just living their lives (Note they will never be granted citizenship. No foreigner can).
The malls in Abu Dhabi on the weekends look like Little Manillas as they're full of Filipinos who are off work and walking around. And, they don't walk around kinda all looking downtrodden and displaced like I remember them looking in Hong Kong. They literally walk around like they own the joint.
I guess if you're surrounded by your own, and you're able to make a life for yourself, then you just feel comfortable and at home and at ease.
2) Emirates Really run the joint.
They really do, and as they should, it's their country. But, they really act like it. I think it's a factor of them having become a tiny minority in their own country, that they have to exert their status to feel like they're maintaining control. Although they don't work regular jobs, Emirates hold all the govt. jobs which are the top jobs out here as all the major companies are state owned (mostly funds that invest the billions of dollars that these guys literally pump out of the ground each and every single day).
They literally walk around like they own the joint. They're first class and everyone else is second class (or worse).
You hear tonnes of stories about expats who got screwed when they got into a tussle with a local. E.g., You hear the story about the senior U.S. executive that gave some 15 year old Emirate teenage kid the finger and gets tossed into jail. That's one thing that concerns me a bit. If it ever comes down to any situations where it's between an Emirate and an expat, the expat will always lose.. Laws or no laws.
I actually read stuff to that effect before I got here but it's really true. The social hierarchy is an intrinsic and fundamental aspect of this society.
I gotta funny story on that (already).
When I was in the airport in Chicago waiting to get on my direct flight to Abu Dhabi, a group of Emirates women (fully burka'd out) sat down around me. A couple of them were hot (I swear you can tell), and I thought hmmmm, this is interesting. Then, one turns to me and was like "Excuse me sir?" (Speaking politely) I was like "Yes?". And, she just sat there and stared at me. Then she said again "Excuse me?" (Equally politely)
I was like "yes...". She just continued staring. I THINK she was smiling.
I finally clued in. The lady wanted me to get up so her friend or sister could sit down.
I was like whoa that's kinda weird. There were other seats around but not all perfectly together.
That was before I even arrived here! That said, I get treated well. Can't complain. However, the first time that its a GUY that says to me "Excuse me Sir"...I'm out.
THAT said, I now find burkas on some of these women here really hot :) You can literally tell the ones who are hot (not kidding). They literally walk hot. I've talked about it with the british/aussi guys in my office and they also think burkas are hot on some women.
3) The indians/pakistanis/sri lankans/bangladeshis, really don't run the joint.
If there are a tonne of Filipinos here, there are a bazzillion south asian dudes here (think they're like 40-50%of the population) doing all the real work toiling, building and cleaning this city. All the construction and labour jobs are done by an army of south asian labourers brought here to grind it out. It's kinda sad, but these guys are obviously here by some sorta choice. They literally live in things called "Labour Camps" (Not kidding. Seriously, that's what the sign says), and they work outside in the suffering sun. And, I mean the suffering sun. There are literally days you can't stand outside for 3 mins.(and I love the heat). They're all here by themselves too. No wives, gf's, kids, just them. Millions of them. I went for dinner last night and because it was a holiday you see masses of these guys all walking together along the beach enjoying their day off. Gangs of single guys. If you ask me, it's a recipe for discontent and disaster but so far, there doesn't seem to be an issue about labour unrest.
(Ok, now for something lighter)
4) Guys here hold hands (young dudes).
You know, I read about the fact that in the middle east guys are just more physical with each other, e.g., you may see old dudes walking arm in arm (think its kinda cute), guys kiss each other as a greeting etc. However it's really strange when you see two dudes in their 20/30s (dressed western style even!) walking hand in hand (fingers locked even). It's just weird. Just strolling happy like that..
:oP
Will report more, when I got more.
D
