Friday: Dubai

8:00 AM

Breakfast at restaurant buffet

8:30 AM

Meet in lobby and over to church. David Nielson gave devotional on bus about creation and gratitude. Everything in Dubai speaks oil money. The wealth of the city is shown in the roads, buildings, and lack of trash! Which is very different from India.

Guide from Sri Lanka showed us the second largest mall in Dubai with a ski slope reaching 8500 meters high. We passed the sail-shaped building. Other prominent sites shown as well.

The British left Dubai in 1971. Over two million people live there, and 82 percent come from other countries. There is no income tax! 100 percent Islam, but they respect other religions as well. Tradition dictates that sons stay at home with one son inheriting the home eventually. The daughters leave to live with their husbands.

30 cm rain a year. Most of their water is recycled from desalination.

The Dubai ward had 30 members attending today . We doubled their attendance. Talks were given on:

*Helping and receiving help from others. By small things the Lord confounds the wise. focus on the simple things. Serving others is one of the ways we can execute “small things.” (101 happy person project)

*Peace in the home. Referenced Conference talk by Elder Scott. Deep inside of us we need a place to recharge and get ready for challenges. Home is the place for this needed refuge. Service in the home brings peace and blesses the ones closest to you.

*How scriptures help families and ourselves teach about covenants, faith, and loving one another.

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After having dinner at the Bats’s home, here are our top 10 takeaways about being an ex-pat in Dubai:

#10: If you live in Dubai, make sure you get a south-east Asia housemaid. they will cook amazing food, keep the house tidy, and help take care of the kids. 95 % of residents in Dubai are ex-pats. Thanks Bates family for hosting us for lunch!

#9: Dubai is a melting pot of different cultures. Compensation-wise, it is better to have a company sponsor you vs. trying to find a job. Teachers are in high demand here.  Expose your kids to many cultures.

#8: Your spouse is key for making it a successful experience in an ex-pat position. Make sure they have clear expectations going into a foreign assignment.

#7: No income tax in Dubai. The pay package can be very generous Negotiate well. Car, house, maid, education, vacation can all be included. Infrastructure and standard of living is very high.

#6: Don’t get into debt or let a check bounce or they will throw you in prison. You have few rights in Dubai.

#5: Dubai is an Islam country and there are certain rules you have to follow: no kissing in public, no holding hands in public, shorts longer than the knees.

#4: Dubai has the tallest building in the world. The skyline from the top of the building looks like a Lego set with miniature buildings and streets. Also, the shopping at the Dubai mall is amazing. . . You can buy anything from Red Mango frozen yogurt to camels and Turbans.

#3: School is very expensive. Tuition is $26,000 a year.

#2: There are three classes of people in Dubai:

-The Emerati Untouchables. Dan Bates said that in his time living in Dubai he has only spoken once to a local.

-Middle Class Ex-pats. Wealthy es-pats on assignment.

– Servants of the upper classes. They come from other countries and become wealthy.

#1: Be prepared to sleep in the same hotel bed wih your roommate. The Emerati are not super eager to accommodate any requests for separate beds unless you have Scott Harris’ negotiation skills or Jeremy Redd’s Hilton rewards points.

-Kirsten Mcgreggor