The ONE Country you SHOULD NOT move to

The UAE (most notably Dubai since it's the country's largest city/second largest Emirate).

They introduced a Digital Nomad visa sometime during the pandemic and given what and how Digital Nomads typically work I find it to be a joke. I wouldn't be surprised if the tourism authority from the country paid for this Forbes article based on what they wrote on wifi alone.

Pros:

  • Fast internet*
  • VERY safe country even for women
  • A progressing country and is easily the most progressive country in the region economically, politically, and to a certain extent socially (that's really not saying much lol). This comes with perks like exciting events like hosting the World Fair recently in Dubai.
  • Multicultural and very diverse, and so you get a lot of benefits like amazing food and a decent amount of things to do.

Cons:

  • * while the internet is fast, it's also expensive. Phone plans in particular are ridiculously expensive FOR WHAT YOU GET. A lot of residents claim it's not a big deal. But for the same amount a pre-paid plan from the Emirati telecommunications companies I can get unlimited data, text, and calls from AT&T or any of the telecoms here in America.
  • The only reliable video calling service is basically just Zoom. FaceTime? Blocked. Discord? A mess. Voice chats are VERY unreliable and it's 100% the telecoms fucking things up because in other countries even when I had shit wifi Discord worked fine. VoIP's are illegal and therefore you have to rely on Zoom--which conveniently was whitelisted when the pandemic hit LMAO and that goes to my next point--or one of the state-provided ones (the telecoms are essentially state-owned and by extension their proprietary apps).
    • I highly rely on FaceTime and Discord to be connected and it's an absolute joke that
  • Lack of transparency in the judicial system, lack of consistency overall in policies. It's ridiculous that a block on Zoom or Hangouts was conveniently lifted during the pandemic, or how FaceTime "magically" started working during the World Expo. It's a superficial-ass country with superficial ass laws and policies. If you browse through r/Dubai it's not uncommon to see posts of yet another case of someone's passport being taken, late salaries, or modern-day slave wages (especially if you're a "cheap" nationality by Emirates standards). Despite "technically" having solid labor laws.
    • For example, the UAE Ministry of Environment or whatever it's called explicitly outlaws owning exotic animals but meanwhile you have rich folks in the country flaunting their private zoos freely.
  • Lack of free speech, free press, widespread censorship and if it's not state-enforced it's self-censorship because people know they could get in trouble for saying the "wrong thing." It wasn't long ago that the UAE government banned any public support for Qatar for example. Just silly laws and policies at the whims of the ruling class.
    • Mind I remind any Emiratis or UAE residents reading this that the country's constitution EXPLICITLY mentions the right for free speech. And yet you can sued or even worse deported for tweeting or writing any slight against the country, it's royal families or politics in the country. What a fucking joke.
    • Again, Emiratis and residents like to claim this is the local "culture" and is about "respect" and obeying local laws, but there's nothing remotely respectful about violating your own constitution first of all. It's a joke and will remain a joke until the country can guarantee free press and free speech reasonably. Or they like to claim that if we dont like it then we shouldn't go there. Fine. I won't. So stop advertising your shitty digital nomad visa or about how amazing the country is. It fucking isn't.
  • Lastly, the weather is just not it. It's nice for like half to maybe a quarter of the year. Summers are unbearable in the country. For the high cost of living there I'd rather just move to Florida or California.
/r/digitalnomad Thread