What is Dubai missing?

btw, there are tons of internet cafes?...

the understanding that all asians are from the philippines. That's such a wrong presumption - there's, what, 52 very different Asian countries? Leaving aside all the others, even if you take the far eastern ones, theres something like 10-12 countries at least. Yet many people believe they are all Philipinos, and if someone thinks himself or herself very smart, they will know China, Indonesia etc., but they dont care that a Vietnamese for e.g. is not a Filipino

Sometimes it feels like you want to fill UAE up with so much of your home country, that what is the point of living in a different country? You are living in the Middle East, it is [i'>meant [/i'>to be different. And if you want your UK TV, and your own imported food, are you also prepared to have TV & imported food from all the citizens from the other countries who live here too? I somehow feel that many of the American food chains and British clothing outlets are not here primarily for the expats from those countries, rather their main customers seem to be expats from other continents as well as Emiratis

I really dislike these sorts of threads. They always focus on the negatives and people always pull the same phrases out of the bag re Dubai having no soul etc. I feel really sorry for people who have not discovered Dubai's soul, or don't realise it exists. Sometimes it feels like you want to fill UAE up with so much of your home country, that what is the point of living in a different country? You are living in the Middle East, it is [i'>meant [/i'>to be different. And if you want your UK TV, and your own imported food, are you also prepared to have TV & imported food from all the citizens from the other countries who live here too? Enjoy the experience and differences of living in a Middle East country. EXPLORE and find the culture, find the soul, live outside of your comfort zone. You'll be back in your home country before you know it! Okay Dr Phil :)

I really dislike these sorts of threads. They always focus on the negatives and people always pull the same phrases out of the bag re Dubai having no soul etc. I feel really sorry for people who have not discovered Dubai's soul, or don't realise it exists. Sometimes it feels like you want to fill UAE up with so much of your home country, that what is the point of living in a different country? You are living in the Middle East, it is [i'>meant [/i'>to be different. And if you want your UK TV, and your own imported food, are you also prepared to have TV & imported food from all the citizens from the other countries who live here too? Enjoy the experience and differences of living in a Middle East country. EXPLORE and find the culture, find the soul, live outside of your comfort zone. You'll be back in your home country before you know it!

What is Dubai missing? Evolution!

- British telly - decent customer service - not having to deposit my bag at the counter at big supermarkets cuz they think I might steal something - more competitive telecom companies so we are not hostage to Etisalat or Du (hang on, aren't they the same?)

the understanding that all asians are from the philippines.

More people who are happy and satisfied with what they have **ducks for cover** No progress without desire. The fact that there is a thread up about what is missing shows that people here are not satisfied what this place has to offer. Why should UAE have all the brands and stores you find in the UK, USA, Australia etc? Has nothing to do with progress, IMHO

A cafe or spa where it is not permitted to call the customers "ma'am".

Just wish for 'smarter' people in the service industry not just numpties. But it all goes to the top, which 'smart' person would go for such a small pay? Shame. Yet, some people gets paid a lot for hanging on to personal calls each day. :( ETA: also, better banks. oops, have i started on a touchy topic? <em>edited by shjbelle on 22/05/2012</em>

Trained maintenance people that can actually fix things and are qualified. Throwing twenty untrained staff at a problem could be much better resolved with one trained person. Shop staff that actually know what they are talking about, and if they don't then they should stop talking about it. The disputes I have had in various Apple stockists for example not wanting a computer only wanting a screen "but this one is better mam, it has a computer as well" and the best one in a certain store where my iMac was returned to where they were unaware of file sharing between macs and wanted to copy my HDD contents to an external drive then onto the new mac, hence taking twice as long. Security that are not afraid to stand up to the locals, be that in the water on jet-skis, at the indoor ski slope and on the roads. Security that actually make things SAFE for EVERYONE. I second the place to walk the dogs, a beach would be great even if it is up to an hour out of Dubai I would go there and take the dogs at the weekend, my two desperately want to swim. (if any one knows of one please let me know - I have heard rumors of such an existence). Places of worship for all religions and religious freedom for everyone to practice in their chosen place of worship or at home. I second Ocado, this would be really good. I second door to door mail service, or even a mail service where more than 50% of your mail made it to you. The Empost @Home service for us so far, has not actually been @Home. A ban on pet shops selling cats and dogs, and a Kennel Club for registered breeders and breed importers that can be linked to the UK Kennel Club (I would also say the AKC but it is too far for importing). Dog licensing and basic training requirements for all new dog owners and their dogs (Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme). An efficient centralised microchip database that all vets, dog homes and the municipality have access to and that it is mandatory all registered pets are added onto. Funding for a pet shelter that the municipality will actually communicate with for lost animals rather than the mad panic when your pet gets lost and there is the possibility the municipality have picked it up rather than a nice vet or K9 friends. In the UK when we lost our dog (he was deaf and half blind) the police picked him up and took him to Battersea Dogs Home which was quite amusing as they had him labelled up as seven years old (he was twelve) fortunately we got him back before some poor person adopted him. Maid training and personal development schemes. You can sponsor a maid to come here and get some useful education (for those willing). Over a two year period she can as a minimum do EDCL/IDCL (computer skills) and EFL (English or Arabic, French etc.) part time whilst also employed as your maid, you pay for the courses as part of her sponsorship and where time is available assist her. Then if she wants to get an office job afterwards she has the option or she can continue working as your maid and you can sponsor her for a further two years to do a vocational course (personal trainer, dental nurse, beauty therapist, secretary etc.). More use of alternative energy, we live in one of the sunniest places in the world and I have never seen a solar panel (except the one on my bathroom scales). Every villa at the very least could be using solar for their hot water. More nutritional information on food products in restaurants and to some extent in supermarkets. They want to control obesity here, make it mandatory for all places to show nutritional information and use the traffic light system. Oh but just a few things.

Mustache wax for cool little fancy mustaches (hubby) Hilarious! I thought someone had some ladies facial hair to be removed!!!!!!!! Hmmmmm wax.......hmmmmm

1. proper internet cafes in all malls and areas like JBR ... a tourist or newbie without a laptop hasnt a hope. Its a weird system cos every other city in the world, even poor run down towns in the middle of Africa, India etc all have at least one token internet cafe. They have one in the Burjuman :) maybe just not in new Dubai! Lamcy has one too-plenty round Bur Dubai and Karama

Road and address system that was workable with GPS navigation.

Dryer sheets Bounce? [b'>Choithrams[/b'> Mustache wax [b'>Veet strips? everywhere[/b'> Flinestone vitamins (only those gummys seem to be around) [b'>They used to be around[/b'> A1 steaksauce (where did it go?)[b'>It is all in my cupboard, Choithrams again[/b'> "Miracle Grow" fertilizer for your garden and plants [b'>dunno[/b'> it being illegal to text spam you advertisements on your mobile [b'>dont care[/b'> visa debit cards being able to be used online to make purchases mine work 8 1/2 x 11 frames for north american size prints [b'>Crate & Barrel[/b'> kale for cooking [b'>dunno[/b'> but we are still very happy. By and large this place has it all! :) [b'>HTH ![/b'>

But it that really history and does it give Dubai a soul? My view on this is that UAE need to start giving longer residency visas and rights to the expats that have created this history. A city has a soul through generations and generations living there as a community. Dubai is far too transient. There needs to be a real debate about how Dubai are going to sustain themselves and create a sense of civic community moving forward. Go out of town. Sit, chat, drink with the locals out there. Hear their stories. I hear you... but thats 10% of the history in Dubai! 10%

Dubai has history. They just keep demolishing it to put up new, stupid hotels. Hence, no history, no soul. Look for its history beyond the high-rise buildings and bling. Yeah - just pop down to Deira and the Creek - I love old Dubai! But it that really history and does it give Dubai a soul? My view on this is that UAE need to start giving longer residency visas and rights to the expats that have created this history. A city has a soul through generations and generations living there as a community. Dubai is far too transient. There needs to be a real debate about how Dubai are going to sustain themselves and create a sense of civic community moving forward.

1. proper internet cafes in all malls and areas like JBR ... a tourist or newbie without a laptop hasnt a hope. Its a weird system cos every other city in the world, even poor run down towns in the middle of Africa, India etc all have at least one token internet cafe. They have one in the Burjuman :) maybe just not in new Dubai!

Dubai has history. They just keep demolishing it to put up new, stupid hotels. Hence, no history, no soul. Look for its history beyond the high-rise buildings and bling. Yeah - just pop down to Deira and the Creek - I love old Dubai!

1. proper internet cafes in all malls and areas like JBR ... a tourist or newbie without a laptop hasnt a hope. Its a weird system cos every other city in the world, even poor run down towns in the middle of Africa, India etc all have at least one token internet cafe. 2. ACE hardware, or small hardware stores, in residential areas so we dont have to drive to Al Quoz for every little thing

Ocado... *sigh*. One of the things I most love about going back to England over the summer is not having to spend so much time in supermarkets. The Ocado man brings all the bulk items and I can buy bread, meat, fruit/veg quickly and locally. I miss the Ocado man so much... (For those not familiar with Ocado, it is online shopping from Waitrose - you can order everything at any time of night and day and book a one hour delivery slot. Just so convenient).

More people who are happy and satisfied with what they have **ducks for cover** No progress without desire.

More people who are happy and satisfied with what they have **ducks for cover**

On/ off switch for the heat.

agree.... no history No history? Yeah no history? Really - !!! Come down Bur Dubai way then if you want some history

John lewis Cheap mortgages!!

Dubai has history. They just keep demolishing it to put up new, stupid hotels. Hence, no history, no soul.

agree.... no history No history? Yeah no history? Really - !!!

I second everything you've just said Buggerlugs...but also add M&S food...and not the frozen stuff we can get here but the Chilled, fresh sections! Oh and footpaths for the winter months when we can actually go outside and walk to places. Ohhhhh i forgot M&S food, that would be lovely, I so miss getting fresh, prepared meals (unfrozen)