Originally Posted by
Face81
Being a native of Dubai, I cannot help but laugh at your misconceptions and seemingly informed arguments, that you put across as the gospel truth, when in fact pretty much everything you have stated is false, inaccurate and/or unsubstantiated.
Emirates has a real estate arm that operates as a subsidiary firm, under the Emirates Group brand. The manage their own real estate projects, of which there are many and after the recession, they have chosen to partner with several developers across the city to help fund the completion of projects, which they then acquire in sale-lease back schemes. The properties vary in nature and are all situated in prime or desirable areas - believe it or not, these exist outside the "downtown" area you repeatedly refer to. Pilots gets luxury accommodation, separated from cabin crew, who more often than not end up in apartment blocks all over the city - nothing worse than having row after row of staff housing buildings concentrated in one place, especially given the vast numbers we are talking about.
As for Dubai "struggling", I think you need to pick up the papers and check your facts - the economy has turned around and granted it's no where near as buoyant as it used to be, 5% GDP growth is nothing to be laughed at when you think about the 0.5%-1% most western economies are struggling to achieve.
As for your comment about rents being unaffordable, those days are long gone. The recession put an end to that a long time ago and rents are now on par to levels seen back in 2004/2005, so Dubai has not been this affordable for a while.
And the whole issue of Islam being brought into the context of rental tenancies is a complete fallacy - Dubai and the UAE is one of the most tolerant places in the Middle East. Correction, it is the most tolerant place in the Middle East. Like anywhere else in the world, religion has nothing to do with whether or not you are able to secure accommodation. It would be considered illegal.
Don't get me wrong here, Dubai has its flaws and is very far from being a perfect utopia, but I cannot stand by and read things about the city that are simple untrue.
Apologies to the moderators for my rant. Back to the topic at hand. New routes for EK!
I think the word "downtown" refers to the Dubai mall and Burj area. I agree with everything you say whole heartedly.
Just a note on accomodations though, EK is not obliged to provide Luxurious accomodation to its staff or provide the rent allowance to let crew rent in top-end accomodation. As a business they are only obliged to offer decent/comfortable living quarters, which I honestly think they do. Wanting to be a crew member yet live in the heart of things and be a "high-roller" is something you may want, but the company will not provide. Remember, your here to work mainly.