Humm, empty depressing restaurant in New York or fabulous night in Dubai with a prince? This is a hard choice...
This, just in from our do-gooder galpal, who is taking a break from saving the world getting some R&R in Dubai:
“The glitzy Gulf state of Dubai that for the last decade has touted itself as a place where the Middle East meets the wild West is in trouble – but only if you were one of the expat FBFs who headed east to pan the sands for a ‘get rich quick’ deal. Throngs of abandoned BMWs line the airport as embarrassed, broke bankers fleeing unemployment and expired visas skip town leaving the keys on the dashboard.
I-banking money is not going to cut it here. To survive, you have to ‘befriend’ (aka: approach him with a firm handshake and dressed for a grand jury trial, this velvet rope doesn’t accept spandex mini skirts) a local Emirati or better yet a Sheikh (reminiscent of but far superior to the ‘princes’ that abound George Washington campus). With approximately 2,000+ royal family members in each Emirate (9 altogether) there is plenty of luxury still to go around. What FBFs consider impressive – bottles of Dom with cheesy sparklers - will never be able to compare to the kind of world their Arab counterparts can offer to their ‘lady-friends’.
Whispering Arabic poems as the sun sets behind the dunes, private play dates with baby tigers and flashing their black, diamond studded Amex card can woo the most highly educated woman into a life of being ‘second’ wife in this traditional society. Smart girls seeking highly intelligent conversation regarding the price of crude, Gaza or the latest GulfStream model can find their place in this world. No need for an American man who’s still piecing together his ‘trying to be Mr. Big’ outfit: you know the type – the one with the LV wallet and dorky, striped J. Crew button down. As far as I’m concerned – roll up the magic carpet and throw it in the trunk of my gold plated Bentley limo - I’m in!
To all you FBFs that came here trying to make it big, fast, Ma’a Al Salama (goodbye in Arabic) ‘cause your Bank of America debit card is not the right toy for this sandbox.”
Sincerely,
Do-gooder in Dubai
Thanks for taking a break from all the glam to write us. This confirms the three universal truths that the DABA Girls hold dear:
There’s no angst like teenage angst;
There’s no sex like forbidden fruit sex; and
There’s no money like oil money.
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I don’t know about the rest of you gals, but whispering Arabic poems as the sun sets behind the dunes with these arab guys? I am also not sure I am up for private play dates with baby tigers and guys with Kafeas flashing their black, diamond studded Amex cards. I need more to woo me into a life of being ‘second’ wife in this traditional society. I want diamonds, shopping sprees in London and Paris and regular trips back to the USA. Also, I worry that once I am taken to bed, will I still be treated well, or will I be put out on the street as too loose for their Islamic society? I don’t want to be praying 5x a day at the Koran. Yes I like the latest GulfStream jets, and living around thoroughbread horses, but can I really expect to do that in the desert for the next 40 years? It takes more convincing for me to go there.
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You can’t be serious with this post?
Wow, someone has some serious delusions about life in the Gulf. There is an infinitessimally small percentage of people who live here and possess that wealth and I mean we’re talking in the hundreds…with the rest of the local GCC-native population living a comfortable middle to upper-middle class existence. I can assure you, the wives of these Sheiks have undoubtedly been pre-arranged at birth since people with wealth like this are tied to very traditional families who have strong notions of family honour and ensuring the “right” people are included in the family. These people are royalty for crying out loud and someone like a “DABA Girl” would not be welcome anywhere near these families in any official capacity.
And you don’t even want to consider being a mistress of one of these dudes. Once you step foot in their country, it’s all over for you and you better have some good political ties back home to extract you out of what could be a very nasty situation.
I just don’t see the appeal of places like this. Having spent some time in that part of the world about 2-3 years ago, it just seemed like everyone was anxious to get on the next flight out of there to Egypt, Thailand, Europe, or US/Canada. Even in UAE, with its lax rules on alcohol, they are essentially living in a police state with over-zealous authorities ready to pounce on their next victims. They are essentially Saudi Arabia at the core all wrapped up in this gaudy, flashy, Gasby-esque facade. Imagine being sent to Dubai on business and on a stop-over in London, you have a poppy-seed bagle whereby some of the seeds get lodged inside the cuff of your suit pants. Now imagine being detained at customs and being sentenced to a mandatory 4 years in jail for trying to import an illegal substance (poppy-seeds)! True story.
There is very little concept/appreciation of human rights over there. The police are not an organization to be trusted in any way. Heaven-forbid you resemble anyone from the Phillipines, India/Pak/Bangla, or Black…the hassles and stupid bullsh*t you’d have to deal with is unreal.
While attempts are being made at bringing a more open and fair society to some of the Gulf countries (Kuwait and Qatar are some examples), they are still eons away from what we experience here in the west.
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what is it that dubai do-gooder does that makes her a do-gooder?
and links like these: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2009/03/dayintech_0324
might make you remember that oil isn’t so great, especially when the american people have created a society dependent upon it who are only now realizing that it is not an endless resource and the people who make money from oil do so at the expense (not just financially but environmentally) of everyone else and not only that, allow environmental tragedies like this to occur. this blog seems to be a lot about money and what money can procure you. for those who have the means, think twice about where and how you spend your money as it makes a big difference. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. Look it up.And who gives a shit about AMEXes encrusted with diamonds? I sure don’t. It’s surprising that with all the money you people seem to have, you don’t use that money to buy you anything of more than financial value. Buy yourself some character, some depth, some integrity, some humility. If superficiality were for sale, you guys would be making a killing right now and I’m sure you’re working to parlay all this into a book deal and/or tv show as your FBFs can no longer provide the expensive lifestyles to which you feel you’re entitled.
and when i’m with a man, i’m no one’s second anything, thankyouverymuch. you guys should call this what this is - high class prostitution. young pretty women taking what they can get from rich men who will offer it. unfortunately the fact that you see this life of superficial luxury something to emulate makes you even less classy than hookers waiting on the street - you think that glamour and money glosses over the fact that you are basically prostituting yourself in order to get closer to rich men, how very sad and pathetic. instead of depending on men, why not use your brain cells and figure out how to contribute to the world and god forbid- work hard so you can give yourself the luxuries you feel you deserve.
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@ Jeanette Lee: whatever happened to love? I really truly want to understand - you want diamonds, intl shopping sprees- the man who is providing all this for you - what are you giving him in return? would you stay with someone you truly loved if he could not give you diamonds and intl shopping sprees?
and p.s. the Koran/Qur’an is a sacred text of Islam - not a place you go to pray.
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Me too
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I’m with Jeanette on this one. It would take alot more convincing than baby tigers and diamond Amex cards to endure the desert heat in “grandy jury trial attire” nonetheless in the company of these Arab men in their white tunics and turbans.
Call me ethnocentric but I doubt the American FBFs would prefer/glamorize a 13 yr old virgin over a certified DABA. -
I wanted to say I agree with Jeanette,and I wouldn’t like to share my lover,he is only for me.
And about the place to live is better Spain, ¡after recession naturally! -
damn this was an epic post! keep it up
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i saw this post and all i could think of was the movie ‘not without my daughter’ and um the british woman who just got arrested in dubai and imprisoned for drinking tea with a man not her husband…hmmm
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Why not have the petrodollars without the restrictions of a traditional society. Houston, Calgary and Edmonton all live from oil and its derivatives. Total is in Paris, Chevron in SF, Repsol in Madrid/Buenos Aires and Shell in The Hague/London. And if you are more adventurous there is Fort McMurray, a 21st century boom town. Even, Petrobras, PDVSA and Pemex in that third West (Latin America) you seem to admire so much, are ran by huge studs.
Engineers and MDs, unlike lawyers, are non rent-seeking professions and our time has come again.
Does Louboutin make steel toed boots?
Cordial Saludo.
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C’mon. All the posts on this blog are written in the same style–from the original “DABA girls” to their “international friends” to the “repo man” collecting the boats–they’re all made up by the same bimbo(s) sitting in NYC. This stuff is creative writing. Don’t buy into it. The authors are laughing at you because you believe this crap.
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Disagree, Lana. I am new to this site, and I find it great! I want to experience life before I get married, and mabye even with a Sheik from the Middle East. Of course, I will not compromise my integrety. If he wants to marry me, fine, but even if he doesn’t I will have a good time and he will shower me with gifts I can remember him by. What is so wrong about that? When I DO get married, my husband will know that I took him over a Sheik that gave me priceless gifts.
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Ladies, a few of us know of what we speak in these matters. If this is a “real” or even “pseudo real” plan for anyone here, think then think again.
In most societies in the Gulf, a woman (let alone a foreign, non-Muslim woman) has NO legal rights. No matter what their “constitutions” may say, in reality, men have all the power. You do not want to even THINK about trying this.
If you seek adventure and want a tryst with an “exotic, middle eastern prince” find one in Europe or the US. The laws are far more on your side, and you’re likely to come out of the experience with your skin still attached to your hide.
I spent much of my childhood (State Dept brat) in Islamic countries. This idea is not even amusing to someone who has lived in there–and I had diplomatic immunity.
I normally get a good chuckle out of DABA, but this idea is too far out of the safety zone to contemplate. Even though I suspect most of the “articles” here are written with tongue firmly in cheek, I’d hate to think anyone would take this one out for a test drive.
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I will be carful if I go for a sheik. There are lots of middle eastern guys who stare at me in New York. How much different can it be over there, except there the men have $millions of dollars!!!!!!
If I am going to give myself to a sheik, it will not be for nothing. I will get lavish gifts and diamonds and have a lifetime of stories to tell my children.
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hey hey there’s only 7 emirates in the UAE not 9…..
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you folks took a nice post intended for entertainment and turned it into some sort of political/religious debate. I hate the way folks over-simplify real life and society in middle eastern cities like dubai.. too much fox news..
visit cities like dubai/doha/manama/beirut then judge..
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Have you seen this blog:
http://single-in-dubai.blogspot.com/
It’s written by two girls in Dubai and it’s pretty hilarious. They get censored on and off pretty frequently so it’s not always up to date, but go through some of the archive stuff. Daba life is fun and all, but after reading some of these posts, you’ll never ever wanna date in Dubai, that’s for sure!
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