The tall Burj Dubai stood proud and unaffected by the dooms that fell upon the people walking by it. Reflecting glamour and prestige awed by the middle class and bought by the rich. The model city illustrated poetry and masterpieces of undefined art work, where everything seemed like a movie set. Watching people gamble the rates with buyers and sellers, I stood stunned as million dirham’s were bartered as if exchanging a piece of chocolate. Standing besides only those who wore Versace and Louis Vuittion, I felt small in the outfit I thought was my best buy from an unknown designer.
Walking out of the surreal experience, and standing under the blazing heat, one realizes that the realities of Dubai are different for those working with a bear minimum. Mrinalini K, a marketing manager in a leading publishing house has a management job title, but is paid only enough to survive with her family of three. “My husband and I spend 12 hours working to make sure we don’t lose our jobs to provide the best for our son. I still feel exploited as the extra work provides me with no compensation.” Arlene Thomas, holding Bachelors in Education, migrated to UAE in hope of a better lifestyle. Instead she finds herself with a low paying administrative position, with no job security. “After spending several months, with no positive results, I was running out of money to survive and settled for what ever came through. I churn, at the thought of other people less qualified than my self getting good jobs with superfluous salaries, just because they come in from upper middle class families carrying western degrees.” The same story carried along many others who are only just surviving through hardships of paying high rents, school fees and doubled priced grocery bills.
The announcement of Salik tolls being tagged on every bridge in Dubai, high parking meters on every street, rising gas prices and meter taxis starting their journey from 3dhs, has made commuting a nightmare. People travel in shared rides, buses and by foot because they are unable to afford. Even though the city boasts of being tax-free every individual is victimized indirectly. There has been a severe fall in the no. of immigrants to Dubai, as most are offered better salaries and lifestyles in their hometown. Multinational companies are settling their branches in lesser developed countries as they find the labor relatively cheaper than the ones offered in the Middle East. Benefiting from this many prefer to stay in their homes, where they can enjoy good lifestyles with their families. A salary of 4000/-Dhs was once considered a good package, today; it is looked down upon and can only be consumed to pay for one of the incurred expenses. Kalpana Gaglani has been living in Dubai for the past 30 years. “I have made this my home, and have been a victim to several unreasonable changes. In other foreign cities, most people my age settle in with retirement but my husband and I work extra hard only to pay for all the unforeseen expenses. We have enrolled in several training programs to update our skills in order to retain our jobs and survive.”
Beautiful projects are created in this city; unfortunately it can only be relished by a small population as the stylishly revamped infrastructure has no room for the masses. It is important for one, to be educated in being presentable and polished, there are several job openings, but to beat the competition, one has to come across unique and different. Living in this glamorous city is a dream but only has room for the “Survival of the fittest!”
Nofel Izz
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