More UAE labor and racism stories…
First batch of workers deported for “violent” protest. A total of 185 (out of 8000 protesters) will be eventually deported. Notice that the article doesn’t describe the “violence” that the workers were engaged in. This is the only article I could find with some detail of that and this is another article with more background on the story. 18 years without a pay raise…wow! (keep in mind the cost of living in Dubai has almost tripled just within the last 5 years or so). I expect that most of the 185 were not even engaged in the violence, they may have just helped organized the protest.
No-Indian door policy at Dubai bar. I don’t know if I believe management’s story.
25% pay increase in UAE university-for nationals only. Again, this is nothing out of the norm in the UAE so it is reported very casually.
3mr (3 means A!) said,
March 15, 2007 @ 3:29 pm
we will see more and more..
just wait
Sam said,
March 18, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of it. And no ‘management’ in its right mind would describe the ‘violence’ that any worker was angaged in; that’ll just undermine their whole plot to smoothly mass deport them.
inpursuitofjustice said,
March 18, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
3mr and Sam,
Yes, there’s probably much more to come, especially that the government is mostly on management’s side so far.
sillybahrainigirl said,
March 21, 2007 @ 9:22 pm
The way some of these workers are treated is a true disgrace to the region. Human rights anyone?
Proud to b UAE2 said,
March 23, 2007 @ 12:57 am
EVENTUALLY U WILL BE DEPORTED FROM THIS COUNTRY SOON “INSHALLAh”
WHAT THE HELL DO U THINK OF UR SELF TO COME AND TALK ABOUT OUR COUNTRY..BY THE WAY WE DONT NEED CRAP LIKE U HERE IF U DNT LIKE IT JUST GO BACK TO UR COUNTRY!! AND THEN WELL SEE HOW MUCH UR COUNTRY WILL DO FOR U MORE THAN WE DID 4 U HERE!!!
AS MUCH AS OUR COUNTRY PROVIDED EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND EVEN MORE THAN WHAT U NEED ..U PEOPLE NEVER SAY THE WROD “THANX” U ALWAYS COMPLAIN!!
Jack said,
August 1, 2007 @ 8:50 pm
@Proud to b UAE2: Just wait till the oil runs out and let’s have the same discussion again. Just because you are an ignorant uneducated Towelhead, it doesn’t mean you have to put your unwashed ass-of-a-mouth in every intellectual conversation. Let’s see now, Asians have an excellent education system which produces ex pacts who can work anywhere in the world. Europe has cutting edge technologies and apart from oil what do you have ?? Just a country filled with racist camel jockeys. Oh yes You have Al Quida. Yes let’s wait a bit and see.
inpursuitofjustice said,
August 1, 2007 @ 9:34 pm
Jack, I find the term Towelhead to be very racist and offensive. Also, if you ever visited the UAE you will realize that it has nothing to do with Al Qaeda, thankfully.
Unfortunately, racism is alive and well in the UAE, just like in many other places around the world, but we can’t counter hate and ignorance with the same.
najeeb the dog said,
August 2, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
proud to be UAE2 is right that the country provided excellent opportunities for people from poorer countries.
But some nationals are known to be racist too. Jack is unaware that there are now educated and sophiscated Emaratis. prodtobeUAE2 is an exception.
Jack said,
August 4, 2007 @ 11:43 am
Ok I think I was too fired up and used two terms I shouldn’t have. I take them back. I am an asian living in Germany and I have been to Abu Dhabi 5-6 times ( I have friends living there) and many more times in transit. Even at the airport it’s amazing how Asians ( with dark skin) are discriminated. Each time I’ve flown through Abu Dhabi (and Dubai too ) the immigration personal would pick on the dark skinned Asians. I do have a European passport but they would still have questions like ” where is your other passport” or “why are you visiting Germany”. I must admit Dubai airport was way worse than Abu Dhabi.
Outside the airport, I have friends (both german and asians) living in Abu Dhabi and it’s common knowledge how asian workers are abused and treated like dirt. There are certain groups of migrant workers who give the rest a bad name but in general it’s amazing who the Emaratis think that they are better than the immigrants. You try to do that in Germany and you’ll end up with a ton of lawsuits. I suppose if some immigrant opened his mouth or protested then he would immediately be locked up and then deported. ( or executed because of some very imaginative offense).
The best experience I’ve had was at a bank where after waiting in line for more than half an hour the bank clerk didn’t want to serve me. His own words was “Come back tomorrow, I wont serve you today”. Since it was urgent and it was no use arguing ( begging would be a better ), I went to another queue. But the above mentioned bank clerk was nice enough to tell the other clerk not to process my transaction. Just because I was dark skinned. Five minutes my friend (a German who looks like one) managed to get transaction done without any issue and the clerk was nice enough to say “have nice day,Sir”.
Considering how deep racism has integrated to the middle east it’s such a good thing that Adolf Hitler was not born in the middle east. just imagine what would’ve happened had there been a nut like him over there.
salak said,
September 12, 2007 @ 5:27 am
not sure if this a dead post or not - but notwithsanding the racist towelhead comment (dude if you’re asian you should have better sense to say something like that) I agree with the comment. I went to Dubai once and couldn’t beleive how arrogant and racist the locals are - it’s the frikin Asians that work and are your intellectual and physical manpower. All they ask if for basic human rights - apparently you can build a ski hill in the middle of the dessert but can’t give them air conditioned bus transports. I’m Canadian and grew up in a small country town with no other minorities and NEVER felt the racism like I did in Dubai…it’s like pre-civil rights America.
I’m all for new sources of energy so the gulf countries go bankrupt and resort back to their tribal ways WITHOUT any money so they can leave the rest of the world out of their mess.
siddique said,
November 11, 2007 @ 2:40 pm
I don’t think it’s just people in the UAE. Arab’s in general have become extremely racist towards people from poorer countries. I am South Asian: my countrymen who work hard in Dubai (and the rest of the Middle East) are subjected to extreme prejudice. I used to believe in this Muslim brotherhood crap - not anymore. I currently live in the US and find it to be much more of equitable society than Dubai or any part of the Middle East. And to Proud to b UAE2, I refuse to pray at any Masjid with an Arab imam (an unfortunate prejudice on my part) because almost all Arabs I have met are like you.
Z T Minhas said,
November 12, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Proud to b UAE2, the asians are not there because they love you, they are there because your KING (monarchies are against ISLAM) said they can be there. They do the work that lazy butts like you are too lazy and stupid to do. Tell me, do you know how to make you own bed? Do you know how to fix your own sink? Do you know how to wipe food from the floor? The asians should have a works stoppage all across Dubai, and then see what happens to your country. Will you be willing to do pick up where they left off? You racist. You people are FAR FROM ISLAM…
O People,
Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.
O People,
Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest, Arabic: Riba); therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequity.
Allah has Judged that there shall be no usury and that all interest due to Abbas Ibn Abd al Muttalib (the Prophet’s uncle) shall henceforth be waived.
Beware of Satan for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big sins, so beware of following him in small sins.
Fear Allah concerning women ! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have right over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner. [1]
O People,
Listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to.
All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor a black has any superiority over a white - except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim, which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not therefore, do injustice to yourselves.
Remember one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.
O People,
No prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well therefore, O people, and understand words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah, and if you follow these you will never go astray. All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listened to me directly.
Be my witness, O Allah, that I have conveyed your message to your people.
Z T Minhas said,
November 12, 2007 @ 8:20 am
has it hit anyone in the head that UAE’ans are just as asian as the japanese?
Z T Minhas said,
November 12, 2007 @ 11:06 am
siddique, it is haram to respond with one form of haram (look at that Proud to b UAE2 haramzadah) with another, your racism. ittaqullaha!
siddique said,
November 17, 2007 @ 8:10 am
T Minhas:
I know it’s wrong to have this type of feeling. Unfortunately, I cannot forgive or forget how they treat my people (many family members included). I am just more honest than most people in acknowledging my prejudices.
Even at the Masjids in the US, the Arabs have a superiority complex. I avoid them like the plague. Well, I hope I can dispense with this negative feeling someday.
Salaam.
Hassan said,
December 8, 2007 @ 5:24 am
I am a Pakistani National who has spent time in Kuwait, beleive me there is no more sickening deed than one of racism ( to consider other Human beings inferior ) . Just as i have strong faith in islam and its belief, i am sorry to say i have also come to believe that there is not a nation as racist as GCC Arabs on the face of this earth at present especially the GCC arabs include white arabs as well. You have to remind yourself that before anything we are all Human beings, but what can u say if they dont have racist laws they wont face up the challenge from other nations of honesty and hardwork. One last comment how can a arab muslim expect to be of the slightest faith when he is racist at the same time.
righful said,
February 18, 2008 @ 11:43 pm
You idiotic Arabs lets get facts right here
1) Who built this country - Not arabs but asians
2) Who are building the country - Not arabs but asians ok and now westerners
We leave you now and you have nothing NADA,you guys are so hopeless and dumb all you know is just talk nonsense.Not to long my friends this is not a democratic country but dictatorship,people are not respected or appreciated in regards to talent but color.and slavery is dominant.
I lived and studied in europe funny thing is the whites especially your fav british treat ya like shiites,you guys are called sheesh kebab over there :)) and guess what you guys need a passport to visit these countries but in dubai you love to lick white ass that shows how incompetent and respectful you guys are.
So before you say leave this country make sure you have a crash course on
HOW TO SWEEP DUBAI STREETS, and this time your instrcutor wouldnt be a white but a normal black asia as you call them : you dumb fools
inpursuitofjustice said,
February 25, 2008 @ 7:24 am
45 workers sentenced to 6 months in jail for inciting violent protest:
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Police_and_The_Courts/10192352.html
I agree that violence is not the answer in this case, but I think even if there was no violence involved, the workers would have still been jailed for inciting a strike.
Mel the indifferent said,
March 3, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
Many of us here agree that the Emiratis (Khaleejis in general) tend to be xenophobic and racist in disposition but most of the people here don’t understand the mindset of these people.
I have lived in the UAE for 13 years and wish to share my analysis of the Emirati mind, so here goes:
Unlike most regions in the world, the UAE’s economic development accelerated at uber levels due to Oil. Most other countries had to build up their industries and institutions from scratch, but not so with the UAE. While most nations built up institutions and systems shaped by local realities to sustain long term prosperity, this was not the case with the UAE. They simply used their enormous wealth to import highly educated workers from abroad to copy certain western systems. They also used this wealth to import slave labour from South Asia. Whites do the thinking, Asians the building and Emiratis control everything with cash. One can see clearly the emergence of a proto caste system here.
Since the country was quite literally built up by foreigners, the Emiratis have no concept of civic sense or responsibility whatsoever. Most Emiratis would be shocked if told that the roads of Canada were dug by (White) Italians in the 60s (Now said Italians dominate this industry). But it is precisely because of this (foreigners doing all the work in the UAE) that the Emirati does not have any notion of civic sense. When the nationals of a particular nation join together to collectively build up their country, civic sense and proper healthy patriotism naturally evolve in their minds. I ask you to name one road or building that an Emirati has constructed? Emiratis are too used to getting what they want and when they want it. This is the reason for their impatience and that arrogant sense of entitlement that one so typically encounters in their attitudes.
The Emiratis have gotten wealthy too quickly without going through the proper motions of nation building like the West and Asia have gone through. Because they were deprived of this opportunity (due to their immense wealth) their thinking has not evolved to the level of the 21st century. The average emirati today is simply an 18th century beduoin who has been transported 200 years into the future and taught how to use a cell phone.
Once you understand what I’ve said, you will no longer feel anger, but simply pity for these people.
satish kumar verma said,
March 31, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Very nice person and I am fully impressed with Mr Ashwani Gogia and He is great person I want to some basic solution what I can not got somewhere so I pray to god that its my goodluck they meet me some where and taughth me manything about personsl exprience and ducomentry what they got to enviremant but I am sorry to write this type of persons are not properly paid and valued
Satish kumar
9212447527
Meerkat said,
April 13, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
Mel the Indifferent, How eloquently and succinctly put.
Also, Jack, my mouth is still hanging open at the rude way you were treated at the bank. A clerk can so rudely refuse to serve you AND TELL YOU SO because that’s how they feel, and it’s accepted by their bosses? OUTRAGEOUS. I don’t know how I would have reacted. That’s just crazy. They have a license to be racist in Dubai. Great.
So, I’m guessing they don’t even allow blacks (African, American or otherwise) into the country at all. Here I was all excited about this great, burgeoning new society that would hopefully have the potential of being a fresh new start for someone looking for a change, a haven for the more open minded, perhaps, but from what I’m hearing it’s going to be one of the nastiest places on earth.
You can keep it.
khalid said,
May 12, 2008 @ 1:22 am
We the emaraties are becoming more independent and will soon get rid of you expatriats who only get trouble and the better we treat you the worse you pay us back. I believe if we treated you like other gulf states or like your own home countries in asia non of this will happen. A riot like this in your home country will provoke the police to fire indiscriminantly in india or pakistan or whereever. The UAE goverment and the people of the UAE have the absolute right to deport any non national and has the absolute right to increase wages to nationals only as it is a national issue. If you dont like it simply dont come here.
khalid said,
May 12, 2008 @ 1:27 am
The really sad things about asian expatriats is that they insult locals, arabs and the goverment of the UAE when they come and work here and the companies who mistreat them are owned by their own asian countrymen. It is well known the UAE nationals treats their employees well in their owned companies and thats not a crap that i am making up infact Asian embasisies are trying to curb and limit asian company recruitments and said that the vast majority of labour complains come from asian owned companies
khalid said,
May 12, 2008 @ 1:29 am
Why are u supporting a violent protest anyway that could have get one of their colleages or an officer killed ? ? ? ? ? No one is above the law
And as a muslim and a UAE national i truely love to deal with fellow asian brothers then with the scumbags westerners.
The UAE is the best state in all of asia who is treating forign workforce, but the forign workforce get used and abused by their own goverments.
Abby said,
May 18, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Dont worry george bush is comming to take your oil soon. You are so Pathetic you dont even have an army to protect your self. The most racist places on the planet are the GCC countries. Aparthied, racism, Abuse and rape of Phillipine women. Dont worry what goes around comes around and your day is comming very very soon. Oh I live in the UK and the Arabs are just as racist here they think they are so good but they dont have the guts to speak because they are out numbered and will get a beating. He he
Watch out Watch out george Bush is about
Abby said,
May 18, 2008 @ 11:30 pm
I have many freinds who have been to the UEA and all have said that if you are from Asia you going to be treated pretty bad, sub-human infact. If you are white rich/poor whether you are a scum bag living in the UK they dont care , as long as you are white thats all what matters , you can be HIV or suffering from Sexual transmitted disease, it dont matter you are white. You could be a real down and out druggy it dont matter as long as you are white. You could be the most insultive person to the islamic religion it dont matter as long as your white. You could have the least qualifications it dont matter you are white.
The moral of the UEA story is if youre white your alright, but if your black we gonna send them back.
This is the new UAE model.
Another 15-20 years oil supply left according to ARMCO after that eat sand, and not even a grenade to throw whilst the countries you slag of have now reached the nuclear age Long range/short range,,cruise you name it the pakistanis have got it from raw materials to huge massive agriculture to dams and rivers.
Also I forgot to mention the women in the UEA are equally obnoxiouly rude if not worse.
Yalla Yalla, Yalla Yalla, Yalla Yalla, YAlla Yalla, Yalla
No wonder they are on the verge of being battered by Geoerge Bush & co. The day you dont lick up to the Americas , thats the day the curtains will close for you guys overnight just like saddam.
You are intoxicated and uneducated just give you a bit of white and thats all what matters
MOE said,
May 19, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
How sad. Don’t you stupid people get it, Nationalism is pathetic and is the weapon used by the west to acquire control of the Middle East and Asia. Emiratis if you worship white people and have no respect for Asians, i suggest you come to London or the USA and wear you national dress and then proceed to travel around the cities, see what your white heros really think of you. Your country has wealth well done, but could your country defeat Israel? NO. Remember also Allah test people with wealth and many wealthy nations have had their wealth ripped away. Nationalistic Pakistanis and Indians, you guys are also bad and just as prone to racism. Most pakis are very judgmental of other people and are racist to darker skinned people. Indians have the caste system and that the most discriminatory system on earth. The Ummah should be 1billion strong, but nationalism means that people are in love with pathetic nations at the mercy of the worlds big boys.
Abby said,
June 5, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
I dont have problem with anybody ,racsim is filth, the ummah should be one. But Unfortunately the arabs are intoxicated by white westerners, how dare they call and treat others badly when the same arses they are licking are bombing the hell out of them and spreading uranium fall out radiation through the bombs, as we all know the wind blows and carries affected sand. Go and look in Kuwaiti hospitals and see the amount of babies being born severly disfigured as a result. But thats OK! they are white! and we must bow to them . As far as Im concerned these guys cant even fight Isreal collectively. But yet the countries they slag off have the ability to defend themselves. Im sorry to say but seems what happened in Iraq is comming to the rest of the middle east rack & ruin.
Mohammad Nabeel said,
June 28, 2008 @ 3:15 pm
Assalamu Alaikum,
Guyz, i am a Pakistani national and i have lived in the UAE for 20 years.. and i am 23 years old… what you people are criticising is all over the world. You can go to any country… and tell me if people dont treat you as a foreigner or imply the act of racism. I do believe and love Pakistan, but somewhere in me i live like an Emarati. I love UAE… it gave me a lot… brought me up… educated me… Islamically and worldly.
I agree to what Khalid has said wbout the people being treated badly, workers are treated badly where the owners of the companies are foreigners.
If any of you worked in a government department in the UAE, you would know the difference. So dont say that UAE does that and arabs do this, its everywhere.
Even a student studying in Stanford or Harvard.. WILL criticise it… its a natural fact… u are never happy with what you get or have…we must learn to live happily and thank Allah that He gave us a chance and gave UAE a chance to make us better people.
I have met UAE nationals… who have been excellent ” FRIENDS ” and also my father working and being in a government office has experienced and seen that UAE nationals are very nice people.. i dont care what any1 says…
I love the UAE.. i know its sad i wont be able to live there forever… but wherever i am … UAE will always be in my heart ! …
May Allah be with you all and bless you,
Ma’a Assalaam,
Nabeel.
Anonymous said,
July 2, 2008 @ 2:45 am
At least here in the west they are making racism and rights for everyone equal. You my be lucky you have been blessed but theres no way I have ever been treated the way they treat people. They are intoxicated by white westerners. Try to apply for a job from the UK to the UAE unless youre female white you have very little chance. Im trying not to hate them but I cant say anything good about them either they are very racsit people, and Kuwait is even worse.