I can’t imagine how unbearable it would have been.
Many had warned me that Dubai may not match up to my expectations, that working here is not going to be as the PR machines claim. Having spent one month here, am glad to say that it has matched and exceeded my expectations. Maybe I was realistic, or maybe this place is not bad after all.
That being said, I also understand what they originally meant. Of the many cogs that run the system, the most visible one is the enormous amount of construction that happens 24/7. And the life of an average construction worker is, to put it mildly, appalling. The general working conditions are horrible, and when you consider the unbearable heat of summer, sometimes you wonder why they even bother to come here to work. But of course, the answer is obvious… money.
It is this exploitative environment that is rubbed off on other fields, other industries, and that in turn leads to people having awful experiences. If you are lucky, your story would be different.
Arne asked me if I have any regrets so far. Fortunately, my answer came fast - No!
(You might have guessed this was written a month back, the heat is pretty bearable these days, mid-30’s, and still coming down… Good!).
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