Life in Dubai

Based from my super duper reliable source, which I can call "first hand experience", there have been so many times that people have so much high expectations when they go to Dubai. This is because of the hype that media / advertisements show about Dubai. People give false publicity so that this gets others jumping on the band wagon. What everybody does not know is that only a small percentage do get a good life in Dubai.

So what exactly is life in Dubai?

To know this, we first start from the very beginning. How can one go to Dubai? If you come from countries that have exceptions in the visa law of UAE, this is not your cup of tea. You can read-on for your own added knowledge. But if you are from the greater population (like I do), I can provide you with some details on how the process actually happens. And usually, this VISAs are widely used to "con" people in to coming to Dubai. CON in a way that if you don't know exactly how much it really costs, mark-up can go to as much as 4 times the actual cost. And for some going over-seas is the answer to their dreams (which agents take advantage of people who have no money to waste or no money at all). Some would even take loan to cover this expense. Only to find out that it is more than just a walk in the park.

Now we talk about this process.

First, look for an agency that is willing to sponsor your Visit Visa. This usually are travel agencies that has access to visas and ticketing (you should know someone who is in Dubai to be able to help you). The actual cost of a Visit Visa is around AED 200.00, however they sell this for AED 500 - 700. This is the first option since only first degree relatives can sponsor for a Visit Visa. Then the second step is to get a booking for a plane ticket. There are several choices for this. But I would like to narrow it down to either direct flight or not. For direct flight, the obvious selection is the Dubai or Abu Dhabi flagship carrier (Emirates Airlines or Etihad Airlines). For none-direct flight, there are different airlines to choose from. But coming from our country, it is Cathay or Singapore. The ticket price ranges from AED 1800 t0 2400, this already includes a "dummy ticket". The dummy ticket is used so that to show immigration that you will come back to your home country and your purpose to go to Dubai is only to visit aka as a tourist. This modus operandi is widely accepted by everyone. Rather than looking for a recruiter to land a job in Dubai. This way, you omit the risk of being recruited illegally. The opposite of which is that you also put yourself at risk of not getting a job. This defeats the purpose of going to Dubai. But in any case, people still prefer coming under the Visit Visa. This way, it is faster, easier, and less costly. So now let us summarize the expense for the visa and ticket. It is AED 500 to 700 (Visit Visa) plus AED 1800 to 2400 (plane ticket + dummy ticket) = AED 2300 to 3100 or if your from another country, you can just add AED 200 - 300 to your usual cost of one way ticket to Dubai. This additional cost covers the dummy ticket.

The first part has been cleared. When you have all of this, you are set. But not yet, you have to make sure you have a place to stay. The usual practice is that your contact in Dubai will take you in for the mean time or he will make you his roommate. The catch here is the place you will be staying is not free of other occupants. Since the cost of rent in Dubai is exceptionally high, 6 to 8 people share a room. The average cost for bed-space rent is AED 500 - 800. It depends on the how crowded the place is. The more crowded the lesser cost. What I mean of being crowded is like a can of sardines. In a 2 bedroom flat, roughly 18 to 24 people let themselves fit-in. For villa type of houses, it will be tremendously more. The more rooms a place has the more people it can store. Imagine all the inhibitions in the world out in the open. It goes both ways for everyone, too bad if you are obsessive compulsive freak. Because all you have is your bed space. You still have a compressed living room, small table toeat and a kitchen that if someone cooks smokey fish, you will surely feel that it is time to take a bath. Speaking about bath time, since you share with a football team, you have to bare with bath time. As a rule of thumb, the longest you can take is 10 mins. Else you will not hear the end of it.

So you are done with the place to stay (which I can elaborate further but I leave it to your immagination), your next step is to find a job. In order to find one, you have to prepare your Curiculum Vaete, or CV for short. This is your usual resume. In doing so, you have to get a contact number so that potential employers can call you. In Dubai, there are TWO cellular networks. Etisalat and their so called sister company Du. This shows how business are being monopolized, but at least there is still a choice. Etisalat (AED 100) cost more compared to Du (AED 50) which should be renewed yearly for the same price. In order to buy the SIM Pack, you have to present you Passport. This also regulates buying of SIM. In Dubai, you can not afford changing numbers. Not only because it is expensive, but also they don't let you buy more that 2. So whoever you get to interact, they have the mobile numbers memorized by heart. Now you have all the necessary equiptment. In addition, have your certified school documents handy just in case the employer wants to check your credentials. These documents have to be attested by the UAE embassy in your home country (for this process you can contact your local DHL Courier Service).

NOw you are set for job hunting. So good luck in finding a job. Like what they say - "Enshala", if it is Gods will it will happen. But God will not let you go with out a fghting chance, you can look for all the Gulf News and Khaleeej Times (local newspaper) in the world to locate possible job vacancies you can fill. Or you can go online and log-in to Dubizzel, Monstergulf, or Bayt. An alternative is you can pay to have your ad published in the newspaper. This is offering you services to potential employers. You pay AED 8 per line per day. The more lines and day the more expensive. But this way, people will be calling you specifically to the services you can offer. Another way is to pay to submit your CVs to different HR mailing list. This is more expensive but definitely a good investment. The popular choice for this is thanksformyjob. You have to submit your CV online and pay to the bank AED 150. You will get several calls for a job interview. This does not guarantee you for employment but at least this is a start to fulfill Gods will.

So basically, your total expense will be VISA + TICKET + RENT + SIM PACK + CV SUBMITION = APPROX AED 4000.00

This formula will be able to give you a better persentage of landing a job.

Anyway, if you get to land a job, there will be more thing you should know. I will be creating another HUB for this.

Women Arrest Law

An incident took place where a young girl was attacked by a man posing as a plain clothes officer; he asked her 2 come 2 the police station when she & her male friend didn't have a driver's license 2 show. He sent the boy off 2 get his license and asked the girl to accompany him to the police station. Took her instead to an isolated area where the horrendous crime was committed.

The law [which most of us are not aware of] clearly states that between 6 pm and 6 am, a woman has the right to REFUSE to go to the Police Station , even if an arrest warrant has been issued against her. It is a procedural issue that a woman can be arrested between 6pm and 6am, ONLY if she is arrested by a woman officer & taken to an ALL WOMEN police station. And if she is arrested by a male officer, it has to be proven that a woman officer was on duty at the time of arrest.

Please fwd this 2 as many girls you know. Also 2 boys coz this can help them protect their wife, sisters and mother. It is good for us to know our rights.

What is really the life in Dubai? Like all that we hope for, we want to have the best life there is. That is why a lot of Filipinos are looking for job opportunities from other countries. Particularly they prefer to go to Dubai after watching the movie of Aga, John Lloyd and Claudine. This movie definitely set Dubai in the Philippine map. Not knowing that this is the same place where Sarah Balabagan was convicted of murder by self-defense?

These untold stories of Dubai are the basis of this site. A lot of Filipinos wanted to fulfill their dreams not knowing the truth about Dubai. Let me BLOG about it and I hope more will also contribute on providing awareness.

click below link for more:

http://sites.google.com/site/buhaydubai/home