The BBC’s documentary Inside Dubai: Playground of the Rich has portrayed a brash view of life in modern Dubai.
The glitzy show follows some of the city’s wealthiest residents, influencers and bloggers as they glide through the “man-made oasis” snapping selfies, partying and living the high life dressed in Dolce & Gabbana.
But the series references another BBC documentary from the 1990s that catches the emirate at a very different time and pace. It was a world when life revolved around Dubai Creek and Pancho Villa’s was the coolest club in town.
The 1995 Club Expat charts the fortunes of several British residents, from the “newcomers” to the “self-made man”, who have made a home in the city. It largely portrays a privileged, and white, perspective of the 20,000 British in Dubai who “dream of becoming rich quick”.
“People would say the problem with Dubai is there’s no culture here. That’s totally untrue. Tom Jones is coming,” muses one.
But the 1995 documentary also contains hard truths, even then, for anyone who comes to live in the emirate – and it shows the streets are not paved with gold.
Four young British women wonder why single men are paid more money than them, while the cost of rent has already forced one to another emirate. “The price of rents are colossal,” says one. “The amount of money you have to pay for accommodation.”
The cost of living comes across repeatedly. “People work hard and they play hard. But in Dubai, compared to some other places in the Middle East, it is very easy to spend your money,” says another.
Another British resident said the cost of living has “tripled” in her time there and workers have to share accommodation because of the rising rents.
Club Expat also profiles the earlier generations that came to work in Dubai, such as Bill Duff, an adviser to the late Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, and the last of the generation who served in the outposts of the British Empire during its twilight and then moved to Dubai.
“We came over in 1969,” says “The Old Colonial”. “It was lovely because we’d been in East Africa for years. It was very friendly … It is still friendly but it is much more cliquey because it is so big and you can’t know everybody. We’ll go to a party now and find we won’t know a soul. In the old days you’d know everybody.”
By the 1990s, only a handful from this cohort remained. But she stresses that while the lifestyle is better than back home, the days of big salaries are over and newcomers need to temper the dreams of getting rich quick.
“A lot of people come for one tour and I think the idea of them making a lot of money has gone now because with the course of events things have got much more expensive,” she says.
“A lot find after they’ve been here a bit and go back to the ordinary, normal life in the UK, it can be a bit difficult to come down to.”
This sentiments are shared by “The Newcomers”, a down-to-earth couple who dream of returning to Britain one day but are surprised by the luxuries of life in Dubai.
“A lot of people have said it is difficult to go home,” they say. “We lived a fairly straightforward, simple life back at home and we intend on doing the same here. But there is so much going on that you get sucked into it, really.”
Club Expat then, for all its faults, portrays the opportunities but also the huge challenges of life in the city. Whether Inside Dubai will do the same remains to be seen.
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Jawab Iteiqal
Director: Mohamed Sammy
Starring: Mohamed Ramadan, Ayad Nasaar, Mohamed Adel and Sabry Fawaz
2 stars
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule
Thursday December 27
Men's quarter-finals
Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm
Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm
Women's exhibition
Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm
Friday December 28
5th place play-off 3pm
Men's semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm
Saturday December 29
3rd place play-off 5pm
Men's final 7pm
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EXPATS
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T20 World Cup Qualifier A, Muscat
Friday, February 18: 10am - Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm - Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am - Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm - UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am - Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm - Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm – semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm – final
UAE squad: Ahmed Raza (captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Khor Faridah – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Mahmouda, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: AS Jezan, George Buckell, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7.30pm: Khor Laffam – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m
Winner: Dolman, Antonio Fresu, Bhupath Seemar
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
LEADERBOARD
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