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My Experience Living And Working In The UAE - Travel - Nairaland

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My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 9:55pm On Dec 08, 2019
So I've been in the UAE for all of two years and boy has it been venturesome and hygge?

I've always wanted to write about my struggles in this seducing desert city but just never found the time.

'UAE' is a proper noun but I can't help myself, cry its always 'the UAE' to me.

I'll be taking y'all through steps on how i got here, how I got a means of livelihood, the stress and joy that comes with the job and all that.

Stay tuned.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Cocao(f): 10:00pm On Dec 08, 2019
Okay I am on this one!!

4 Likes 2 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Tonnexy: 10:01pm On Dec 08, 2019
Ok

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by BIDOO(m): 10:01pm On Dec 08, 2019
This Will Be Interesting

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Nickisindigo(m): 10:05pm On Dec 08, 2019
I need to learn from this

10 Likes 1 Share

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by emeijeh(m): 10:14pm On Dec 08, 2019
At least you are not in a Shithole.
Congrats

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 10:53pm On Dec 08, 2019
The Dubai visa is one of the easiest to get.
You may have plans to come work in the UAE, that plan comes to fruition, but not once would you find yourself attending any embassy for some interview.
**you gonna find that i keep using Dubai and UAE interchangeably. Its just a force of habit, so kindly overlook. Dubai visa is UAE visa**

There are different types of visa for accessing the UAE. The stay period varies, ranging from 96 hours transit, to 30days, to 2years. For a prospective working expatriate, the most common visa options are the 90 days visit visa, and the 2years resident. Yeah you read right. In Dubai, if you're not a local i.e, a UAE national, and you 'legitly' live and work here, you're referred to as an expatriate, unlike in other European countries where most africans are called migrant workers.

You might wonder how its possible to live in Dubai illegally considering how strict and expensive the system can be but I tell you there are many persons here especially my African brothers who are here illegally. Such ones are in for some possible jail time, immigration ban, and definitely (more likely than not) monetary fines which is no small amount as its charged per overstay on a daily, once the system is able to flush you out.

These ones on extensive overstay who cant afford the penalties hardly ever see the beauty of Dubai cos you're just there - you can't be employed, you fret at the sight of the police, you cant ask to be deported cos they'll rather throw you in jail, even the commonest of jobs is not available- all you do is spend, no income and even your paddies go dey dodge you, cos over here, its every man for himself

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by 2horsePOWER(m): 12:11am On Dec 09, 2019
Conductor o WA oo! angry

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Nobody: 12:17am On Dec 09, 2019
Please support your posts with pictures. Thank you cheesy

28 Likes 2 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by trueking: 1:02am On Dec 09, 2019
A friend of mine is in Dubai, I know he has overstayed his visa, he was working and he told me his employer has his passport, we used to chat on WhatsApp, all of a sudden nothing from the guy again, even the line sef s not going through anymore, I hope all is well with him. I know he was staying with some Ibo guys like that.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by dayleke: 1:08am On Dec 09, 2019
Inside Life.....

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by falcon01: 1:17am On Dec 09, 2019
Dubai

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 1:29am On Dec 09, 2019
Activist001:
Please support your posts with pictures. Thank you cheesy
Will do.
Later things

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 1:33am On Dec 09, 2019
trueking:
A friend of mine is in Dubai, I know he has overstayed his visa, he was working and he told me his employer has his passport, we used to chat on WhatsApp, all of a sudden nothing from the guy again, even the line sef s not going through anymore, I hope all is well with him. I know he was staying with some Ibo guys like that.

I hope all is well with him too.
Withholding an employee's passport is kinda a norm here. It's used to check excesses such as an employee absconding.
The cost of a work visa is borne by the employer, sometimes people become homesick/dissatisfied and wanna leave, this becomes a loss to the company.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 2:00am On Dec 09, 2019
The working days in the UAE are Sunday to Thursday. I'm sure this makes sense to y'all. This is a strict Muslim state where the government is influenced by religion. Friday and Saturday are weekends and church is Friday.

The UAE recognises just about two Christian groups: catholic and orthodox. They have assigned particular areas to churches. I have a feeling the government even built the cathedrals but I'm not sure. Of course you get other Nigerian churches like Christ embassy and winners but these ones dont have their own buildings but meet in rented halls and quietly/codedly so- no banners, no posters, no jingles, all quiet.
So on this day, sometime last year, I'd gone for service like every other Friday, and outside my own hall, I met this Nigerian guy who'd come to worship in the nearby catholic church and we got talking.

Well long story short, dude was working in a carwash and earning 2k dirhams, approximately 200k Naira. When his contract ended, his company refused to renew contract/visa. Since then he's not been able to land another job and has been on a 5months overstay. To get by, he cleans rented apartments for peanuts, for people who do not remember to ask for emirates ID. His biggest regret was not saving enough while working and wished he sent less money home. Dude wasn't looking good at all, he looked all parched and thirsty like someone who was in a desert other the 'sesky' Dubai. Right there, i thanked God for helping me find stability in this place and wished him well.

Fast forward to sometime ds year, i ran into same nigga again. This time levels don change o. Dude was looking all fresh and sleek as he alighted from a ford explorer. The passenger beside him was a white lady. I must have stared at him with mouth agape cos he just smiled, signalled that i give him a minute and then went with the lady into the church. He came out a couple of minutes later and gave me gist.

He and white lady were now living together, he's now on a resident visa, he's been trying to take her to naija to meet his family but he no no se naija visa no be beans, they've decided to get married here and meet his family later. He now knows he's serving a living God. American visa toh sure cheesy. Lol I later learnt from someone that that day he spoke to me was the first time he was leaving the lady's side since they met. All the while he's been her bodyguard- taking great care to protect his interest b4 all these gold digging naija brethrens would snatch his God-given treasure. Where were they when he was all broke, jobless and homeless??

Lol...I'm sure by now d nigga is married and on a journey to claiming the blue passport.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by budaatum: 2:20am On Dec 09, 2019
I'm posting these to get your opinion.

In a Burger King, a Filipino girl tells me it is "terrifying" for her to wander the malls in Dubai because Filipino maids or nannies always sneak away from the family they are with and beg her for help. "They say – 'Please, I am being held prisoner, they don't let me call home, they make me work every waking hour seven days a week.' At first I would say – my God, I will tell the consulate, where are you staying? But they never know their address, and the consulate isn't interested. I avoid them now. I keep thinking about a woman who told me she hadn't eaten any fruit in four years. They think I have power because I can walk around on my own, but I'm powerless."

It is an open secret that once you hire a maid, you have absolute power over her. You take her passport – everyone does; you decide when to pay her, and when – if ever – she can take a break; and you decide who she talks to. She speaks no Arabic. She cannot escape.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Nobody: 2:26am On Dec 09, 2019
Champagnemami:
So I've been in the UAE for all of two years and boy has it been venturesome and hygge?

I've always wanted to write about my struggles in this seducing desert city but just never found the time.

'UAE' is a proper noun but I can't help myself, cry its always 'the UAE' to me.

I'll be taking y'all through steps on how i got here, how I got a means of livelihood, the stress and joy that comes with the job and all that.

Stay tuned.
Hey! Champagnemani
Pls reply my email, would love to get some first-hand info from you. Thanks.

2 Likes 3 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by budaatum: 2:31am On Dec 09, 2019

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 2:36am On Dec 09, 2019
budaatum:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMh-vlQwrmU

Hmmmm
sorry Can't bring myself to watch that video embarassed

What's your point/question?

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Akious2k2(m): 2:40am On Dec 09, 2019
Correct
Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by budaatum: 3:11am On Dec 09, 2019
Champagnemami:


Hmmmm
sorry Can't bring myself to watch that video embarassed

What's your point/question?
How true is it?

1 Like 1 Share

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by CAPSLOCKED: 3:11am On Dec 09, 2019
AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT EATING ARAB MAN'S POOP OR DRINKING ARAB CAMEL'S URINE.... OR DOING ANYTHING FILTHY, I THINK YOU MAY STILL HAVE YOUR SENSES TOGETHER.

83 Likes 3 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by trueking: 3:19am On Dec 09, 2019
Champagnemami:


I hope all is well with him too.
Withholding an employee's passport is kinda a norm here. It's used to check excesses such as an employee absconding.
The cost of a work visa is borne by the employer, sometimes people become homesick/dissatisfied and wanna leave, this becomes a loss to the company.
@ the bolded, he also said it's the normal thing, there, why I am concerned is because he's one who is usually on social media, both Facebook and Instagram, but since October 29th there's been no update whatsoever from him, the last time we spoke, he said he got another job and needed his passport from his current employer. He has overstayed his visa for like a year.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 3:22am On Dec 09, 2019
budaatum:

How true is it?

I couldn't really give a definite response cos even tho I've never seen such, how many places have I really been to?

True, accommodation is expensive but the least type is a bedspace which is equivalent to the hostel up and down bunks in Nigeria uni hostels.

Residences are monitored by the UAE civil defense, and where decency and decorum are not maintained, occupants/landlords are fined. I doubt anyone would wanna expose themselves to such, packing up people like sardines in such small space

Besides more often than not, employers of cheap labor make provision for accommodation minimum if which is a bedspace so y would anyone wanna sleep like that??

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Champagnemami(f): 3:23am On Dec 09, 2019
trueking:

@ the bolded, he also said it's the normal thing, there, why I am concerned is because he's one who is usually on social media, both Facebook and Instagram, but since October 29th there's been no update whatsoever from him, the last time we spoke, he said he got another job and needed his passport from his current employer. He has overstayed his visa for like a year.

Was he working with an overstayed visa??

3 Likes 2 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by trueking: 4:17am On Dec 09, 2019
Champagnemami:


Was he working with an overstayed visa??
He had 90 days visa and got a job a two weeks after arrival, he did not tell me more so I just assumed the visa was expired, and instead of saving he was busy sending money to his bank account in Nigeria. If I don't hear from him soon, I'll try and contact the agent that got him the visa.

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by cassidy1996(m): 5:51am On Dec 09, 2019
hmmm............. e nor easy for there at all, before you go commit everything unto GOD.

4 Likes 2 Shares

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Factgist: 6:49am On Dec 09, 2019
sad
Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by AstroG: 6:53am On Dec 09, 2019
Hmmm
Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by Nobody: 8:43am On Dec 09, 2019
Is it that easy to marry a white woman? They must really love black men.

5 Likes

Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by ednut1(m): 9:35am On Dec 09, 2019
Nnaabros:
Is it that easy to marry a white woman? They must really love black men.
in uae to see white woman to marry go hard. In europe ans america its easy. White Women love those can give them attention and treat dem like queens. A black man who needs passport or wants to feel fly easily does that

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Re: My Experience Living And Working In The UAE by born2begreat(m): 9:41am On Dec 09, 2019
It’s not easy there in Dubai if you are not a hustler who can do dirty jobs like Construction, Road sweepers etc don’t go there. White collar job is not that easy there except for those who has Ph.D, Masters and in related to jobs they have there. I have a friend, he’s no longer a friend but a blood because we’ve been friends for more than 23yrs without a break. He went to Dubai this year January and with most of our chats, voice notes and talks sometimes on phone it’s not been easy. He was first working in a construction company as a labour when he first got there those ones used to owe them and the work is crazy hard. Now he works for their government LAWMA i.e road sweeper and earn just 75k monthly though they gave them an accommodation like the guy said(hostel type). The different now is they’ve done his 2yrs resident permit and his passport is with his employer. The type of information he can share with me he can’t share it with other people he would just tell you that he’s not discouraging you from coming but pray and you have to be strong. He just got his permit like 2 months ago which means he won’t be home anytime soon until next year August or September once the permit is 1 year.

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