[tony001]

G'day to all.
I am living in the UK at the moment,I've beeen here 7 years and have had enough of it.It's Nanny state culture and PC rhetoric drive me mad,as well as the lack of lifestyle outside of work,which is partly driven by the weather or lack of it,the high taxes,poor medical standards,as well as being extortionately over-priced and so on.

I have a choice between HKG and Dubai as well(due to the nature of my work).I need to choose which one.
I have been to HKG numerous times and absolutely love it.
My reserch from people mainly yields answers such as pollution,pollution and more of it.

I have never been to Dubai and will be making a visit as well,however I am being told of the second class citizen culture,one has no rights,safety etc.

Looking for some tips,pro's and con's of either.
Thank you,and see you around the great outdoors.

[ontheroad]

a couple of pros and cons :

dubai: internet censure : no peer to peer, skype is illegal etc.

dubai: nicer beaches, nicer weather. better quality of life.

hong kong : pollution

hong kong : outrageously expensive real-estate

people are probably much less superficial/money orientated in HK (if that's possible)

[HKChigger]

If you feel lack of outside lifestyle in the UK I may worry about HK. You will be working more hours and have less free time. Sure you can go hiking, island hopping, exploring, temples, bars etc here. But, that's if you ever leave the office.

Dubai seems cool, but I think HK is better.

[Lammarite]

ontheroad- have you ever lived in Dubai and, if so, when?

[ontheroad]

Originally Posted by Lammarite

ontheroad- have you ever lived in Dubai and, if so, when?

No I have not, but two of my best friends live there and I visit them when I can. We often compare notes on what their life is like there compared to mine here. Their life is like Club Med all year round, and the only down side they see to it is how superficial and spoilt their friends from Dubai are. That, and the internet thingie.

[freeier]

hong kong : outrageously expensive real-estate >>> from last i heard, it seems to be just as bad or worst in dubai...

never research on that though....

[Lammarite]

I guess it depends on what you want out of the place but i know a lot of people who are going there now are ending up very disappointed.
My sister still lives and works there and was given a survey on savings amongst expats and was quite shocked to discover that most people were leaving Dubai in debt or with little or no savings. The survey is unpublished so i can't produce it as proof unfortunately but when my wife and I left 5 years ago it certainly looked like it was goi9ng that way.
2 years ago there was an almost across the board rent increase of between 40% and 60% which wasn't supported by the government and pay increases were made optional- funnily enough most companies didn't offer a 40% to 60% increase.
There is no job security and if you want to change company because you aren't getting paid enough (or sometimes at all) or just plain aren't happy you can't just change and work for another company. When I did it I was offered a choice of my 2 years gratuity or a release letter- I took the release letter because I wanted to work for the other company but it could have been the end to my stay in Dubai, simply because I had not been paid for 2 months.
Hong Kong has plenty of nice beaches within a similar distance to Dubai. If you go to the close beaches along Dubai waterfront you will be ogled and harrassed or have to join one of the hotel clubs to use it. If you venture out to Jebel Ali beach or go over to Fujairah it means a long drive. Granted, once you are there they are very nice.
Pollution is bad if you live in Mid-levels or built up areas, the same with real estate prices- the same applies to Dubai. If you live slightly further out rent is cheaper, more so in Hong Kong than Dubai.
There is no public transport in Dubai to speak of and taxis are expensive, doubled with the fact that distances are further. Eating and drinking is more expensive than here, as are flights in and out of the country. Hong Kong is Hong Kong, it does not try and hide the fact that it is a money driven city and the pace of life is fast.

[ontheroad]

Originally Posted by freeier

hong kong : outrageously expensive real-estate >>> from last i heard, it seems to be just as bad or worst in dubai...

never research on that though....

For the same price I'm paying for a small appartment in Hong Kong my friends have huge houses with pools in Dubai!

[Lammarite]

Then you're either paying too much for what you have or your friends have been living in that place for quite a while.
There are many happy people in Dubai, I don't disagree and your friends are evidently some of them. Good on them and long may it continue.

[freeier]

Description
1 bedroom apartment located in The Old Town Phase 4, Sheikh Zayed Road with 1 bathrooms, central air-conditioning, ceramic flooring, garage-covered car park, and 1 ensuite bedroom(s).

Additional Information
The Old Town - Yansoon 4
Brand new apartment - Total area: 725 Sq.ft - Ready now - (DO)
Location
Old Town, Downtown Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

>> cost of 30k usd for 1 year rental, essentially around 240k hkd and hence 20k hkd per month.

not much difference from HK i'd say