Country Life In The City

Following the recent financial crisis in Dubai large numbers of migrant workers face, mostly in the construction industry, face redundancy and the problem of how to support their families back home.

Many workers had their flights to Dubai paid for by their employers, who subsequently confiscated their passports. A large number of workers moved to Dubai to help their families escape poverty in  places such as Bangladesh and it is these workers who are likely to bear the brunt of Dubai’s current financial difficulties. Migrant workers built Dubai and now clean the streets and keep most of its institutions running. It is hard to imagine what would happen if the labour force was no longer there.

Dubai World is one of the largest government owned companies facing debt problems and this is causing anxiety to workers fearing they are to be sent home. Unpaid salaries are another big problem in the region as Dubai residency is dependent on either having a job or a bank account.  If you don’t have either, yo can be sent home.

Workers are often reluctant to speak openly about the problems to the media as those caught can be accused of tarnishing the image of Dubai and get thrown out of the country.

Dubai hasn’t let the question of whether Dubai World will be able to pay back its debt repayment, due on 14th December, get in the way of celebrating United Arab Emirates National Day. Flags were flying and the traditional black dresses of the women were embroidered with national colours.