Dubai Migration

Dubai is in a fast growth stage like America was 100 years ago. With this comes hard working conditions but also great opportunity. The workers who are in Dubai are there by choice and universally are there in search of a better life and the Dubai dream. The conditions also are almost always better than what they escape in their own country.

It is interesting that any criticism in this area would come from Americans because it is the US who has tightened immigration policy so tight that almost no workers can enter the country, particularly unskilled workers or those from poor nations. Would we have these workers simply stay in their own nation and not seek a better life for their families?

Here’s my opinion: If we are not willing to let them into the US, it is not our place to criticize Dubai or anyplace else who allows them to come and work. This is Dubai’s issue to deal with. There are at least five billion people on planet earth who would give nearly anything for the opportunity to pursue the American dream in the US. Go ahead and sponsor a Visa for one of them. Otherwise, the Dubai dream is what they will pursue. Ultimately this is good for Dubai, for the world and for the workers and their home nations. Some of the poor and unskilled workers have already begun success with entrepreneurial ventures in Dubai and are providing better lives for their families. Can workers lives be improved? Sure. But its not our business unless we want to be the one to improve them.

From what I know about the leaders of Dubai they seem to be amazing visionaries who are doing a lot of good.

Again, I am not some kind of advocate or attorney on these things so I am probably not the best person to ask. I do think that there are so many misconceptions that it is worth me doing my best to answer.

Dubai has a legal tax free status for many corporations and individuals. The IRS has no problem with this and it is not illegal in any way. The US is well aware of and supportive of the UAE and its interactions with American companies, including tax treatment.
What would be illegal is an American not reporting his income in Dubai (or anywhere else) to the IRS. Americans must report all worldwide income to the IRS in America. This law is no different than if someone is in Minnesota, California or England. The difference is that in Dubai they do not receive double taxation from the UAE government.

Dubai has no income taxes and in many special districts such as the Dubai International Financial Center, no corporate taxes.

No, the heat wont affect Dubai’s success in any negative way in my opinion. There are many financial centers in areas with bad weather (including London) - warm places like Tunis and Cairo have been important in the world for many centuries.

Having said that I think it is very nice as an outsider to be respectful to people in a historically conservative area. I would suggest wearing cloths that might be appropriate in the American mid-west and south: sleeves and legs covered. Certain government buildings, religious sites and museums have dress codes as do fine restaurants. If one wishes to dress like a 1980s clubber one can do so, I suggest conservative dress.

In the movie “Gangs of New York” we saw that the US had a riot with 3000 deaths and our own military ships fire upon the streets of New York City. We had our bumps in the road as well and I’d say New York City turned out just fine. They even have the second best baseball team.