TBB's World Traveler Reports: Dubai or Not Dubai

Not having been there, I can't comment on how good or bad the prices are. What I do know is the locals don't work—literally. The government gives them money from oil revenues. All labor is imported. People struggling to feed their families come from Southeast Asia, Africa, etc. to erect the huge hotels, banks, and resorts which haul in the tourist dollars. These people often live in shanty communities without family support, and without any support from their employers aside from their pay packets. Workmen's comp? If you get injured, you go home. There's plenty more where you came from. Death from an accident? Oops. No multi-million dollar lawsuits here. No minimum wage, no health coverage. Let me say that there ARE ethical employers in Dubai, but unlike the developed world, there is no protection against the unethical ones.

So we have to ask ourselves, at what price is it worth travelling to satisfy our urge for luxury? Should we only go to places where there's little or no poverty? We would be limited to Western Europe and maybe New Zealand, right? Should we avoid places with nasty governments? I don't think so, because if you visit some place like Myanmar, for example, you are helping the economy somewhat, even though they treat their people horribly.

Dubai has some good points: it's friends with the U.S., it's a sort of middleman between the Islamic world and the West, and fast on its way to becoming the New York City of the 21st century. Should we check it out? By visiting, are we perpetuating their vulgar excess and opulence? Are we saying it's ok for people to work in sub-standard conditions so we can have a good time? Or are we just being curious.

Personally, Fifi will not go to Dubai. But I would be interested to hear what the readers think.

View the Globe Trekker DVD on the Emirates for a closer look at Dubai. Also, read more of Fifi LaMode's insightful advice for the jet-setting budget babe here. >>