A Chat About Immigration and Crime in Dubai

9/9/12

While being driven through Dubai to the health clinic my Sudanese Human Resource told me some interesting things about immigration.

"Are there good and bad parts to the city?" I asked.

"No, it is all safe," he said.

What makes it safe do you think?

The people here are good people. They don’t want to fight. They don’t want trouble.

If you are a guest worker and get in trouble, are you deported?

Yes.

So I guess it’s not worth it to commit a crime because it is more valuable to have the employment.

Yes.

Do people have guns?

No, no one is allowed to have a gun.

Will you get your (motion to cut your head and hand off) chopped off if you commit a serious crime?

No, not here.

Good.

Do people try to come here illegally to work?

No. They have to have a sponsor to work here, and the sponsor provides you with the visa.

Right, but do people find a way to come here and work illegally?

No, there is no way to get in. You can’t come through the desert, and the seaports are guarded.

Can you get citizenship?

No. This never happens in the Gulf. You can work here if you are sponsored until you are 60.

Then you have to go home?

Yes.