Great article. I would push back on one aspect though, which is that everyone is there voluntarily. While that might be true for the majority of expats, it isn't necessarily true for Dubai's blue-collar migrant workers who come from India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc since the kafila system prevents them from exercising free choice in labor and from leaving easily. The social exclusion + lack of mobility for this class of workers is a much bigger hurdle than the article implies IMO in making Dubai anything more than a temporary expat playground.
Did not know. I thought the blue collar chose to come to Dubai for the job opportunities that may sometimes be better than their home country. Could you elaborate on the system and the “cannot leave easily”?
Great article. I would push back on one aspect though, which is that everyone is there voluntarily. While that might be true for the majority of expats, it isn't necessarily true for Dubai's blue-collar migrant workers who come from India, Pakistan, Philippines, etc since the kafila system prevents them from exercising free choice in labor and from leaving easily. The social exclusion + lack of mobility for this class of workers is a much bigger hurdle than the article implies IMO in making Dubai anything more than a temporary expat playground.
Did not know. I thought the blue collar chose to come to Dubai for the job opportunities that may sometimes be better than their home country. Could you elaborate on the system and the “cannot leave easily”?