Reading time – 5 minutes
I’ve been spending time in Dubai, as in weeks or months at a time, since around 2017. I finally moved to Dubai full-time in February 2021. This means that I’ve lived here for almost four years if you don’t count the many months I was visiting Dubai before then.
I remember how excited I was during my first visit to Dubai. I wrote about it all in this blog article here. I had never seen a city like it before. Oh, I had visited amazing cities before, Hong Kong and Shanghai being my all-time favorites (not that I would necessarily live in those cities, but they are my favorite cities).
But I had never seen a city quite like Dubai. A city with:
- No homeless people. Even wealthy cities like Hong Kong have some homeless people you’ll see occasionally. I’ve said many times that every time I go visit the USA I’m almost immediately accosted by homeless people as soon as I step out into the airport, and I’m speaking literally. London is similar.
- No old or run-down buildings. Every building in Dubai is new and fresh.
- No protests or civil unrest, ever. That crap is now the norm all over the Collapsing Western world, but in Dubai, nothing.
- No wokeism or any other extreme-left ideologies. I’m not exactly a big fan of the right either, but at least the right doesn’t shove their shit into my face like the left does in places like London, Australia, or California. None of that in Dubai, anywhere.
- No taxes, or at least they didn’t have any in 2017. Since then they added 5% sales tax and a 9% corporate tax if you make over a certain amount of money and own a business here, but that’s the lowest corporate tax in the world and there are no other taxes. So no payroll taxes, income taxes, capital gains taxes, property taxes, and so on.
- No crime. Dubai has a near 0% crime rate. After living in Dubai for almost four years I regularly leave my apartment unlocked when I leave for brief trips and I’m not worried about it at all. Of course, I always lock up when I go to any other country in the world, but in Dubai, you don’t need to. It’s like suburban America in the 1980s when I was a kid.
As soon as I mention the positives of Dubai, people who know nothing about Dubai, have never been to Dubai, and think they know all about Dubai because they watched two YouTube videos about it, will swoop in and state negatives about Dubai, which are almost always factually inaccurate.
They’ll say things about “poop trucks.” Well, I’ve lived in Dubai for four years and driven all over the city hundreds of times and I’ve never seen them.
They’ll say things about how authoritarian it is, how people get thrown in prison for saying “fuck” or something stupid like that. Incorrect, it was authoritarian more than ten years ago. If you look at the scary articles you’re reading, they always give examples of things that happened back in 2012 or so when Dubai was authoritarian. It’s not anymore.
When I’m in the USA, Mexico, UK, and places like that, I hear police sirens all the time, almost non-stop. In Dubai, I seldom hear them. When my wife and I went back to the USA to visit, we were pulled over by cops within 48 hours. In Dubai, after four years of living here, I’ve never seen a police car anywhere on the roads unless I’m driving by a police station.
They’ll talk about women doing “port-a-potty” stuff here. Nope. 99% of women who come to Dubai for sexual reasons (and, to state for the record, they shouldn’t do that because that’s illegal here) never, ever have to do anything gross or weird.
They’ll say that things like premarital sex is illegal (nope, not since November 2020), or that living with your girlfriend if you’re not married to her is illegal (nope, not since November 2020), or that alcohol is illegal (nope, that’s never been the case for non-citizens, and now for citizens it’s legal since March of 2022), and so forth and so on.
They’ll talk about how expensive it is. Incorrect. It’s WAY cheaper to live here in Dubai than it is to live in London, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Seoul, San Francisco, Miami, Boston, Sydney, Chicago, Montreal, and… need I go on?
Also, if you live in Sharjah which is just 20 minutes away from Dubai it’s even cheaper. That’s probably why Sharjah is the seventh-fastest-growing city in the world.
They’ll sometimes mumble something about Sharia law and then freak out. Um, women walk around here with their boobs and butts hanging out all the time and no one gives them any shit about it. Banks here loan people gazillions of dollars (dirhams, actually) and charge shitloads of interest just like anywhere in the civilized world. People get fucked-up drunk at literally hundreds of bars and clubs all over the city seven nights a week, rivaling anything you see in Vegas, Miami, or Ibiza. Does any of that sound like Sharia law?
Even I thought some of this inaccurate, outdated, stupid shit when I moved here and I’m shocked at how wrong I was about all of it.
Statement of fact: Dubai is one of the few best places to live in the entire world. Period.
Is Dubai perfect? No. No place is perfect. There are things about Dubai I don’t like.
It’s really damn hot here from June to September. The air quality is also bad during those same months. No problem, I just live in Paraguay during those months instead.
There’s a lot of paperwork and bureaucracy in Dubai that is super irritating. But… is that not a problem in most Western and/or first-world countries too? (Have you ever bought a house in the USA?)
The traffic is pretty bad in Dubai, and I’ll be honest, it’s getting worse since everyone in the world wants to move here. No problem, I don’t own a car. I use a personal driver, taxis, and Uber which are literally 2-3 minutes away anywhere in the entire Dubai region, even in the suburbs, at any time of day or night. So I let them deal with that crap while I relax or work in the back seat.
Some people say dating is hard in Dubai and they’re right. Not relevant to me, I solved all of my dating problems many years ago (but that’s a topic for my other blog).
So yeah, there are disadvantages to living in Dubai just like there are disadvantages to living anywhere. I just make sure that I alleviate the few things I don’t like about Dubai with a few simple lifestyle changes, and boom, problem solved.
Is Dubai for everyone? No.
If you hate living in a city, don’t live in Dubai. (Though you could live in other places in the UAE like Fujairah or Ras Al-Khaimah. They’re not cities, they’re beautiful, and there are no taxes there just like Dubai. Look into it.)
If you hate the desert, don’t live in Dubai.
If you hate living in a place where white people are the minority because you have a thing about that, don’t live in Dubai.
If you hate living in a place where the women look like Instagram models (some people actually don’t like that), don’t live in Dubai.
If you worship democracy for some weird reason (look at what democracy as done to the West, my friend), don’t live in Dubai.
If you prefer to be around people who are lazy and aren’t really going anywhere (some people actually like that), don’t live in Dubai.
I’ve been here for almost four years and I love Dubai. I plan on living here for the rest of my life. (Unless they raise my taxes, in which case I’ll be outta here in under three months due to my five flags lifestyle, but I don’t plan on that happening.) It really is one of the best places in the world, and with the Collapse of the West at our doorstep (and no, Trump won’t fix it or prevent it) it’s one of the best places to be.
Leave your comment below, but be sure to follow the Five Simple Rules.
Jack Outside the Box
Posted at 05:35 pm, 19th November 2024A few simple questions about the United Arab Emirates:
Note: I’m only asking about the law and what the police will arrest you for.. I have no interest in cultural customs.
1. Is there Free Speech? Can you say “Fuck this garbage government!” or express your opinion on literally any subject that your heart desires? Can you insult the political leaders or anyone you want? Are there any opinions or ideologies that are illegal? Can you be a Communist? A Nazi?
2. Is there freedom of religion and separation of church and state? Can you be an atheist? Are you allowed to express your atheism as publicly as you please? Can you say “FUCK THAT MOHAMMED PEDOPHILE” or “FUCK ISLAM!,” or FUCK YOUR GARBAGE QURAN!” without getting arrested?
3. What is this country’s form of government, if not a democracy?
4. How much sexual freedom does the country have in contrast to the United States? Is there more or less? Can you have open relationships? Casual sex? One night stands? Friends with benefits? Organize swingers parties or group sex events in hotels? What will it take for them to arrest you?
5. What is the age of consent over there?
6. Is there gender equality? Do women have the same sexual freedoms that men do? Can women have a threesome with two men at the same time? Can they be legally gang banged? Can a woman have six male lovers on her rotation? Is there ANYTHING a man can do with his dick that a woman can’t do with her pussy IN THE LEGAL SENSE? Can women work and make their own money?
Jack Outside the Box
Posted at 05:42 pm, 19th November 2024I almost forgot:
7. Can a man legally cheat on a girlfriend or wife? Can a woman legally cheat on a boyfriend or husband? If not, what are the legal penalties?
8. Birth control! Legal or illegal?
9. Abortion. Legal or illegal?
10. Homosexuality (especially girl on girl action during threesomes): Legal or illegal?
Caleb Jones
Posted at 07:54 pm, 19th November 2024Like most Americans, views about Dubai are all outdated about about 15-20 years.
More than in the USA, yes. The only thing you can’t say is negative shit about the government (but why would you say that if you moved here?). Other than that, you can say anything you want, unlike places like YouTube or Twitter where you’ll get banned.
Yes, yes, and yes. Total religious freedom in Dubai. There are Christian churches and Jewish synagogues here. And yep, you can be a total athest and no one gives a shit.
Constitutional Monarchy though there are several monarchs who keep each other in check instead of just one absolute ruler.
Yes to all of the above (especially since November of 2021 which this stuff was officially legalized/decriminalized) and that stuff does happen here.
If they are non-Muslim Westerners, yes, everything.
I don’t know what the precise laws are, but you won’t be able to find any cases of non-Muslim Westerners getting in trouble for any of this (unless perhaps they do something super crazy/stupid, like bang hookers in public or something).
Totally legal, easy to get, and widely encouraged.
Illegal. Women just go back to their home countries to get that done and then come back to Dubai.
Legal. I’ve met several openly gay men here.
As I said, your views are way, way out of date.
SabrinaK
Posted at 04:11 am, 20th November 2024Jack – you really should at least try traveling outside of America and it will quickly dispel your black and white close-mindedness.
Jack Outside the Box
Posted at 05:22 am, 20th November 2024For fuck sake, this must be the sixth or seventh time in a row you’ve urged me to get on a plane and travel to your part of the world! Sabrina, my dear, if you’re horny, just tell your husband you’re going on a business trip, and YOU get on a plane and come to ME! No, I won’t pay for your plane ticket. I won’t even pay for your hotel. But, I promise, after we’re done doing our thing, you will definitely think it was worth the money! But you’re the one who will have to spend some money, not me. If you want to save face while you’re here, I’ll buy you a happy meal! 🙂
Or, alternatively, you can get more acquainted with the concept of asking questions. Asking questions represent the height of open mindedness. Why do you think I asked Caleb these questions? They were questions, not accusations.
David
Posted at 05:35 am, 20th November 2024I’ve thought about moving to Dubai, because I’m a digital nomad running an online business, and I make about $200,000 per year, meaning I would save a lot on taxes compared to Australia, although I’m a bit worried about dating if it’s bad, because I’d like to have the opportunity to date beautiful women, at least until I’m into my 40’s. Not sure why dating in Dubai is bad? Maybe there is an imbalance of men to women? I think Eastern Europe is better for dating.
Jack Outside the Box
Posted at 09:56 am, 20th November 2024Then it’s LESS THAN in the USA, not more. Here in the USA, you can say as much negative shit about the government as you want.
Immigrants who come to America for the purpose of becoming patriotic Americans come here for some amazing liberties. One of those liberties is Free Speech. Eventually, those immigrants become American citizens, and start engaging in politics. When that happens, they have every right to criticize the government in order to make it better.
So, to answer your question – Why would they move to the country and then say negative shit about the government? Maybe to make it better. As Thomas Jefferson stated, the inalienable right to criticize one’s government is precisely the BEGINNING of Free Speech and of a free society!
Ummm………would you banning me from this blog be a denial of my human right to Free Speech? Of course not! It would be an exercise of your private property rights. Same thing if you are the owner of YouTube or Twitter. The difference between being banned from social media vs. getting arrested and stuffed in a cage for the “crime” of criticizing the government in Dubai is a rather breathtaking difference!
I’ll take getting banned in America from a place that I have zero right to be on, but only a privilege to be on, over getting arrested by the Dubai police, thus violating my human right to Free Speech, for saying that the monarchs are a bunch of faggots! But maybe that’s just me!
And then:
If the government makes a LEGAL DISTINCTION between Muslims and non-Muslims, then there is no separation of church and state, and freedom of religion is decidedly limited.
.
Same thing.
Also, I noticed you didn’t answer the age of consent question. It’s fine if you don’t know and don’t care. The only reason I even asked it was because I know that Muslims are sympathetic to pedophilia because their prophet Mohammed (may pig vomit be upon him) was one. So I was just curious how much of that garbage influences the age of consent laws of Muslim countries., but whatever.
Either way, I’m staying here in the good old US of A until the military puts me into a FEMA concentration camp, in which case, I’ll organize a resistance movement, and maybe even get laid with brand new women in the process. Ha! Wish me luck!
Caleb Jones
Posted at 11:25 am, 20th November 2024No, there are plenty of women here. The dating is a little more difficult because it’s a very SMV culture, similar to Los Angeles. Dating isn’t impossible; I know plenty of guys who have made it work. It just takes more effort.
Those women will often make you wait 3 or 4 dates before you have sex, so I’m not sure if it’s “better” than Dubai. (They won’t make you wait in Dubai.)
Caleb Jones
Posted at 11:33 am, 20th November 2024But there’s a ton of other things you can’t say. What happened to Americans who said COVID-19 came from a lab? Or people who say negative things about black people or jews? I could list another 1,000 things you can’t say in America but can in Dubai.
You’re just cherry picking ONE little thing, and that one thing expats here don’t even care about. And yes, I’m talking about the USA GOVERNMENT, not just Twitter or Youtube.
What difference does that make to you as a non-Muslim living in Dubai who has complete religious freedom? None.
Again, you’re nitpicking just for the sake of nitpicking.
I forgot about that. There is no age of consent because premarital sex was illegal up to just 4 years ago. At some point in the next few years they will probably enact some kind of age of consent law and make it 14 or 15 or something.
At the same time, there are numerous very strict laws against pedophilia and child molestation in the UAE; you’re in BIG trouble if you do that shit.
Yeah, you’re fucked just like most Americans who want to go down with the ship. Have fun with that.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 11:43 am, 20th November 2024Where would you suggest for someone who doesn’t like warm climate?
Both Dubai and Paraguay are way too hot for me for example. Georgia is fine but not in the summer for me. In fact even like central europe is not fine for me in the summer.
I know that the answer is rotating home / trfacta or just leaving for summers but do you have an idea where to have permanent summer home? Seems to me all the places with colder summers are expensive / collapsing.
SabrinaK
Posted at 01:48 pm, 20th November 2024Jack – god please don’t come where I am, though even if you ever do very unlikely we will even cross paths. I also only have sex with my husband and have zero desire to fuck other people. I can buy you a happy meal for charity however.
Go to anywhere outside of America so you can stop being so close-minded about anywhere outside of your collapsing country. But you do you. You like being poor and angry.
Caleb – did you buy real estate in Dubai for residency visa? Are you still an American citizen?
Tom Wright
Posted at 08:44 am, 21st November 2024David – Fellow Aussie here; My friend, if you’re concerned about dating and want to optimise your taxes and live in a nice place etc, please hear me my words, getting the Paraguay residency and basing up in Asuncion – and then spending periods of the year in Argentina and Brazil (or Colombia, but I think Argentine women are 10x hotter than Colombianas).
I got my Paraguay TR a few months ago – My initial plan was to base up in Mexico (Mexico is epic) and use Paraguay as the tax base – but after a 2 week trip to Asuncion, I can see why Caleb loves it.
I am not the worst looking guy in the world, but Asuncion is the only place I have ever been where I have been hit on by (attractive) girls, during the day, in coffee shops etc (they get the waiter to give you their number or instagram on napkins for example).
Food is incredible, you can live like an absolute king for $3000 AUD per month.
Buenos Aires is only about 1.5 hour flight away too, and IMO Argentine women are the most attractive in the world (I like tall skinny italian looking girls..). Dating in BA is pretty easy too for us Australian guys, as there aren’t many of us there.
Anyway, my recommendation!
Caleb Jones
Posted at 08:50 am, 21st November 2024As I’ve said before, the vast, vast majority of the human race lives in hot climates (for whatever reason). Most colder countries I’m aware of all all places you shouldn’t live (Russia, Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, New Zealand, etc). So your options are extremely limited. The only place I can think of is southern Argentina.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 08:52 am, 21st November 2024No, did it via corporation ownership. Buying real estate here would be a violation of Five Flags rules.
At the moment, yes. In about two more years I won’t be.
AlphaOmega
Posted at 02:27 pm, 21st November 2024Ah, of course, the solution can be higher altitudes, such as Mexico City or Chille.
Caleb Jones
Posted at 09:42 am, 22nd November 2024Good point.
Bucky
Posted at 02:21 am, 9th December 2024Caleb, I appreciate your blog. Sounds like your neighbors are nice and you don’t have to worry about things like being stalked, assaulted, robbed, swatted, fired under BS allegations, and/or having someone attempt to crack your skull in half under the pretense they think you’re a homeless, mentally ill person. Americans are nuts. Just last week I got involved in two road rage incidents…. on the same day. Too many people lack impulse control and feel entitled to play Russian roulette with your life and/or property.
I’m not sure what I’ll be doing in the future. It’ll probably take 4-5 months for me to make a full recovery. I wrestle with issues like psychotic depression, which takes about a good 6 months to make a full recovery. The anhedonia in particular makes it difficult to take joy in anything and I have to be medicated just to keep my symptoms under control, and said meds come with their own complications.
I’m looking forward to more blog posts. You’re a great author!