Arrested in Abu Dhabi for exposing a disabled park thief?

[Isochronous]

The on-board experience in say QR J is fantastic, but then you have to remember it is a service completely operated and provided by foreigners. No Qatari or Emirati cabin staff will be seen.

<redacted>

 

[dajop]

Makes you wonder. Deportation for posting a photo of a law breaker (assuming it's against the law for an able bodied person to park in not one, but two disabled car spaces). Sometimes I wonder about middle eastern priorities.

Somehow I don't think the problem was posting the picture, as is being made out, but it was the "nasty words" that accompanied the picture (that was her offence). Who knows what sort of language was used in the post (was it blasphemous or not?), but anybody who lives in a place such as Abu Dhabi should know better. We're not talking about a random, ignorant tourist. Unless she's totally disconnected from any interaction with other expats, when you live somewhere you soon get to know what's Ok and what's not.

Always had the impression there was more to this.

Yes. I do wonder what the other side of the story was/is, and what the back-story is.

 

[JohnK]

Transit is fine, as long as you don't leave the airport nothing bad will happen to you. Enjoy the fancy lounges for a couple of hours and move on to the next destination

With my luck? No!

I have medication with me I do not want to explain. There's a possibility of delay which may mean hotel. I don't want to be bound by their rules.

I don't see the attraction in the place that you see.

 

[trixydoza]

<redacted>

In defence of the UAE, there are a lot of places where expressing views such as this would land you in hot water. And quite rightly so.

 

[drron]

We visited Dubai a few years ago and nothing inspires us to return.
I also have no intention of paying money to the corrupt regimes and their total oblivion to Human Rights.I am not talking about things commonly reported in our papers but their treatment of foreign workers-
Human rights and health disparities for migrant workers in the UAE | Health and Human Rights Journal

More Than 900 Workers Have Already Died Building Qatar’s World Cup Infrastructure | Smart News | Smithsonian

I will also not support Indonesian firms again not because of what happens to a few Aussies but something rarely reported here-
West Papua: Forgotten War, Unwanted People | Cultural Survival

 

[Ausbt]

In defence of the UAE, there are a lot of places where expressing views such as this would land you in hot water. And quite rightly so.

There are other places in the world where it is dangerous to express the view that "a physically able driver ought not park their vehicle in a manner that takes up two disabled parking spaces"? I'm imagining North Korea, what other places might there be? Or are you referring to the t-shirt "Flap Abbott"? The latter expressed in FortressAustralia could certainly see ASIO at your door, or I suppose you could wake up with a horses-head in your bed and an offer-you-couldn't-refuse.

 

[MelUser]

Hang on - different countries have different laws. When we are in a different country we must follow their laws - end of story.

You transgress the law, you pay either financially or with your liberty.

If you ask me she got off quite lightly - 2 days in detention followed by deportation. Some people spend months in detention before they are deported.

 

[JohnK]

There's been no more reports in the media about 5 members of one family killed
in a car crash in Abu Dhabi. Suspected the driver of the other vehicle who caused
the crash has connections. Shocking how the so called elite get away with this.

Corruption reigns supreme worldwide.

I remember reading that story but heard nothing further. Hope the daughter perseveres trying to find justice.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Hang on - different countries have different laws. When we are in a different country we must follow their laws - end of story.

You transgress the law, you pay either financially or with your liberty.

If you ask me she got off quite lightly - 2 days in detention followed by deportation. Some people spend months in detention before they are deported.

Different countries have different laws - that is one issue.
Whether a country respects the rule of law is another issue entirely.
The rule of law does not really apply properly in the UAE.
Laws are selectively and often unjustly enforced according to the interests and whims of influential Emiratis.
For example, local drivers consistently drive far in excess of the speed limits because they simply do not pay speeding fines.
Whereas speeding fines incurred in rental cars are automatically charged to your credit card.
Westerners are occasional victims of the unjust aspects of the legal system. These incidents are usually widely reported.
This publicity tends to limit the consequences in a lot of cases.
However the real victims are the foreign workers, from Pakistan, India, the Phillipines and even poorer Arab nations such as Yemen.
They are treated very badly and have few if any legal protections. Abuses of these foreign workers are rarely reported.

 

[drron]

There you go esseeeayeenn even you can agree with a redneck.
See post 45.

 

[RooFlyer]

There are other places in the world where it is dangerous to express the view that "a physically able driver ought not park their vehicle in a manner that takes up two disabled parking spaces"? I'm imagining North Korea, what other places might there be? Or are you referring to the t-shirt "Flap Abbott"? The latter expressed in FortressAustralia could certainly see ASIO at your door, or I suppose you could wake up with a horses-head in your bed and an offer-you-couldn't-refuse.

I didn't see the actual Facebook post - did anyone here? How do we know that's what was said? Maybe she wrote something a bit more pointed - and her choice of t shirts indicates how subtly and charmingly she expresses herself! I'm not aware of any ASIO visits re the T-shirt you referred to , which was promoted by The Age - can you refer us to any, since its in the category of 'could certainly'?

Different countries have different laws - that is one issue.
Whether a country respects the rule of law is another issue entirely.
The rule of law does not really apply properly in the UAE.
<snip>
However the real victims are the foreign workers, from Pakistan, India, the Phillipines and even poorer Arab nations such as Yemen.
They are treated very badly and have few if any legal protections. Abuses of these foreign workers are rarely reported.

The rule of law does apply in the UAE - and that 'rule' might be that they make it up as they go along! You go there, you accept their conditions, or absence of conditions, full stop. Same goes with countries like Indonesia, Zimbabwe and yes, even the good 'ol USA.

I totally agree with you re foreign workers in the Emirates. I'm surprised that anyone with a conscience like this even visits there.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

As I've said previously, I really enjoyed our UAE driving holiday, however whilst we're all in the bash-an-Emirati mood there is one thing I thought was very noticeable, whilst I was there.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi to a slightly lesser extent, are world renowned for magnificent (albeit often gaudy and/or impractical) buildings and civil undertakings. These buildings and such are built entirely by foreigners and I believe it'd be fair to suggest there are not too many Emirati who actually work rather than sponge of the labours of others, but coming from a construction background, I did notice a heck of a lot of relatively new (and expensive) work falling apart or just plain stalled and/or stopped.

They just seemed to me to be so focussed on build, build, build that the ongoing maintenance has been forgotten. It seemed everywhere I looked, I saw someones current, or future, headache. The building works undertaken has been so rapid and so mind-bogglingly enormous in scale, it just seemed to strike me that no one was or had, considered the ongoing upkeep. I really hope they've invested their multi quadzillions into something other than buildings at home, because the world is moving on from its dependence on oil and there is an old saying that goes something like, "what's old, is new again"........I wonder if, as the money runs out and all those expats that are propping up the UAE are heading out as quickly as you can sneeze, those overweight, well to do Emirati might just end up as Bedouin's once more with crumbling desert ruins all around them!

 

[SeatBackForward]

As I've said previously, I really enjoyed our UAE driving holiday, however whilst we're all in the bash-an-Emirati mood there is one thing I thought was very noticeable, whilst I was there.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi to a slightly lesser extent, are world renowned for magnificent (albeit often gaudy and/or impractical) buildings and civil undertakings. These buildings and such are built entirely by foreigners and I believe it'd be fair to suggest there are not too many Emirati who actually work rather than sponge of the labours of others, but coming from a construction background, I did notice a heck of a lot of relatively new (and expensive) work falling apart or just plain stalled and/or stopped.

They just seemed to me to be so focussed on build, build, build that the ongoing maintenance has been forgotten. It seemed everywhere I looked, I saw someones current, or future, headache. The building works undertaken has been so rapid and so mind-bogglingly enormous in scale, it just seemed to strike me that no one was or had, considered the ongoing upkeep. I really hope they've invested their multi quadzillions into something other than buildings at home, because the world is moving on from its dependence on oil and there is an old saying that goes something like, "what's old, is new again"........I wonder if, as the money runs out and all those expats that are propping up the UAE are heading out as quickly as you can sneeze, those overweight, well to do Emirati might just end up as Bedouin's once more with crumbling desert ruins all around them!

You mean to say it isn't just one big theme park? I was glad when my ride ended, time to get off I thought.

 

[kpc]

I have just booked to go to a conference in Auh in Dec...the real reason is that I wanted to try EY's new A380 albeit I'll be in J ...I will be on my best behaviour

 

[Deleted member 29185]

the real reason is that I wanted to try EY's new A380

The simulator in Dubai Mall?

You'll love it.......quite a surreal place, but I'd recommend to anyone, to hire a car and see the place for real. It does have a lot going for it.

Another quirky UAE trait was with the motorways (freeways?). It has been mentioned previously about speeding in UAE......it happens and happens a lot. The first day I drove there, I sort of fell into typical UAE style and let the foot rest harder on the accelerator than I'd normally do so here in OZ (yes OK, I was speeding quite a bit ). The weirdest thing was even though I was regularly sauntering along at 120-130km/h, others would pass me like I was standing still, yet speed signs would flash up 130Km/h but 100m further on would say 110km/h! WTF???? This was frequent, not just occasionally.

Finally someone let me in on the secret. To the best of my understanding, the 130 signs indicate what the speed cameras are set at. The 110 signs indicate the speed limit!!!! OK, so you are only allowed to go 110, but we promise not to book you until you go past 130! How bizarre, how bizarre! But apparently, this is only on the underused but hugely massive motorways around Dubai and Abu Dhabi.......most other roads (which are monitored far closer) are 100 or less with the cameras set to just a few kms/h over............at least I think, but it does seem to be a closely guarded national secret as to what the actuality is. Needless to say, after day one, I only did the posted speed (the fines were not huge, but the cameras are numerous, meaning a big bill if unlucky). I was also lucky enough to not get "happy snapped" on the first day!

 

[OzEire]

Transit is fine, as long as you don't leave the airport nothing bad will happen to you. Enjoy the fancy lounges for a couple of hours and move on to the next destination

Apologies for an OT reply to an OT post.

Emirati law would apply in the transit area, but clearly the police take a relaxed and permissive approach to how they apply it - which might be bad for business.

The more complex situation regards your legal rights in the aircraft. What law applies on the apron in MEL or SYD before the door closes? What about in the air crossing many different countries enroute, and if something occurs in the air the police at the destination (or diversion) port deal with it.

And that's not even considering over ocean, international and air laws, or rights of the carrier and their country of origin.

I love to travel. I act in a way to avoid getting into such difficulties. There is a time and a place to express certain views, no matter how noble the sentiment.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

The rule of law does apply in the UAE - and that 'rule' might be that they make it up as they go along! You go there, you accept their conditions, or absence of conditions, full stop. Same goes with countries like Indonesia, Zimbabwe and yes, even the good 'ol USA.

No, the phrase "rule of law" explicitly means consistent laws, consistently applied to everyone without fear or favour, with regard to natural justice and procedural fairness. Not making it up as they go along.

 

[RooFlyer]

No, the phrase "rule of law" explicitly means consistent laws, consistently applied to everyone without fear or favour, with regard to natural justice and procedural fairness. Not making it up as they go along.

OK, go tell that to the Emiratis! . Which reminds me:

'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'

'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.'

Lewis Carroll - Through the Looking Glass

In the Emirates, I reckon I know who is 'Master'. Take it or leave it (or never visit it).

 

[Jacques Vert]

even though I was regularly sauntering along at 120-130km/h, others would pass me like I was standing still

Sounds like Italy!

 

[Mal]

I'm still to see what she wrote on Facebook, and what audience she chose. She failed to obey the local laws (we're just getting media snippets that sell papers). Local laws are local laws. Obey, or don't go there.