22nd of September, 2022

By now, you’ve probably heard all the rave reviews about Dubai – the famous city in the United Arab Emirates that is one of the world’s greatest tourist attraction known for its over the top architectural marvels. Dubai is known for the Burj Khalifa – the tallest building in the world at a staggering 830 meters in height. The rich citizens of Dubai are famous for their luxurious lifestyles, but is Dubai all that it is hyped up to be? Here is a very controversial review of the city of Dubai.

Is Dubai only an Instagram lie? I’ll explain why I think so. You’ve probably seen those artificial islands that were constructed in Dubai, right?. They are so beautiful, aren’t they? The Palm Islands, for example, which produce such a spectacular overhead view, what do they have there? Basically, condominiums and, at the end of the Palm, there’s a hotel. And as hard as it to believe, the majority of properties in Dubai are abandoned because most people cannot afford to pay for the luxury lifestyle.

The cost of living in Dubai is very high. The United Arab Emirates do not produce anything that they consume because it’s a desert and can’t be planted. Aside from the fishing industry, almost everything is imported. And that’s why the prices of consumer items are so high in the country. Many people can’t afford the lifestyle, and are forced to move. In the United Arab Emirates, the Sharia law dictates that if you can’t pay your financial debts, you will be jailed. Consequently, people facing financial problems in Dubai regularly abandon everything they own and flee the country for fear of being imprisoned. That’s why you will find so many abandoned properties in Dubai. You will also find abandoned luxury cars covered in desert sand at the airport.

The reality behind those beautiful Instagram photos is very different from the impression they often create. Let’s consider the Palm Islands, for example. Do you think these islands were constructed from sand from the desert? No! Unfortunately, the sand was removed from the bottom of the oceans, brought by enormous ships and poured on top of each other to create these artificial islands.

Now let’s talk about the biodiversity of the area – what a struggle! These islands were constructed where there originally were immense natural coral barriers. Unfortunately, all this biodiversity was destroyed to construct the Palm Islands that give the opportunity to take great photos.

These few examples are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other things behind all the glamorous photos and videos you see on Instagram and Tictok advertising the tour of your dreams.

Source: Carol Capel