Opinions | City Talk
Rise in petty crime makes expats wary
It is easier to get hit by a car in the UAE than be mugged and your wallet snatched when walking the streets in the night, say long-time residents.
- By Mahmood Saberi
- Published: 00:00 January 28, 2006
Dubai: It is easier to get hit by a car in the UAE than be mugged and your wallet snatched when walking the streets in the night, say long-time residents.
Expatriates always have an anecdote ready about how crime-free the place is and how safe it is compared to their home countries.
But things are changing and an online poll by Gulf News showed that 87 per cent of those who took part feel that petty crime is on the rise in the country.
Reports of a flat being broken into while the tenant was out at work are frequent. And there are others about gangs of conmen, who take gullible businessmen for a ride, making them believe that they can turn blank paper into dollar banknotes.
But a random survey showed that most people still feel that the UAE is a place where they would like to live with their families and see their children grow up.
Mohammad Taha has been living in the UAE for the past one year. When asked whether he has been a victim of crime, the Indian expatriate said: "Thankfully, no." He said crime is not that common because the rules are good here but newspapers show it is on the rise. Yet, it is lower than his home country, he said.
Kai Trompeter said he feels safe in Dubai and is not aware of any crime. "I have many friends who have lived here for a long time and they say they feel safe here," he said.
"For example, in Germany you would not leave your car unlocked or unattended. Even though there are so many people from so many different countries living here, the whole system seem to function well."
Mazahir Haider Alvi has been living in Dubai for the past three years. "I have never heard of any crime here," he said. But then he says it could have not come to his notice because the media has never exposed such things. "The crime ratio is low," he said.
"The population is small and it is easy to enforce laws, unlike Pakistan and India, which are thickly populated."
Zayyat Majdi said: "All sorts of people are coming to the city. I am not saying that they should be stopped from coming here, but there should be some sort of check."
Edwin Cheong from Singapore said he felt "pretty safe" in the UAE. "But the roads are a bit dangerous." He has made short trips to Dubai on previous occasions, but this time has brought along his family to stay. He said he has read about the increase in crime. "I feel a little disturbed but this happens everywhere. Generally, this place is safer."
Linda Forrest has been in Dubai for less than five months but already feels it is safe enough. "I have read reports of criminal activities here, but have not experienced it first-hand," she said. "The place where I come from (Scotland) also has a low crime rate."
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