Opinions | Columnists
Is your life on the up?
First impressions do count and it is those upon arriving in the UAE which will colour our thoughts for years to come. In the main, the first impressions are favourable: good infrastructure, safety and security, governmental concern for the welfare and condition of the residents. Much of this was reflected in our first Gulf News-YouGov Siraj survey undertaken two years ago. However, by comparison, our latest combined survey shows a certain amount of disillusionment creeping into people's lives. While the majority looks favourably upon life in the UAE, some see flies in the ointment ...
- By Nicholas Coates, Associate Editor
- Published: 00:34 April 20, 2008
When we first started polling our readers in collaboration with the YouGov Siraj three years ago, we had no prior indication of either response levels or, obviously, the conclusions that would be determined.
The exercise, undertaken on a monthly basis and published soon after analysis, covered a wide range of subjects, from regional politics to local problems experienced in living and commuting.
Perhaps the biggest responses we got were when our polls surveyed readers of those issues which affected their daily lives more - such things as the cost of living, rent and the availability of housing and so on. It is for this reason that the survey this month has asked similar questions to those asked in our first survey.
Therefore we have been able to draw a comparison on whether, in general, people's attitudes have changed significantly towards their living and working in the UAE.
In summary, there has been a change in perceptions. Three years ago there was a higher proportion of respondents who were optimistic about their future in the UAE.
While that percentage is still higher than the pessimists, there is also a greater number of people with negative thinking than in the past.
As figures will show elsewhere on these pages, there is still a positive and optimistic trend among the majority, but it has to be tempered with an increasing dissatisfaction among residents.
The fact that there are still a majority of people who are happy with their life in the UAE may come as a surprise to the vocal minority who tend to find fault with various aspects of their daily lives.
Yet possibly this negativity is coloured by the difficulties faced daily in commuting to and from work, in finding affordable accommodation and an underlying feeling of job insecurity - all of which are demonstrated in the survey.
It is likely that such issues tend to affect more the middle and lower income bracket families, who find it hard to manage on their limited incomes.
Because of this, as shown in our poll, more have found it necessary to send their families back to their own country, in an attempt to save money and to continue working in the UAE, despite living an enforced "bachelor" life.
It is very evident from the polls that higher income earners, mainly from the west, were and are satisfied with the lives they lead in the UAE, despite a dramatic increase in the percentage of their salary they spend on rent.
Equally, as opportunities have opened up in the past three years to buy property, so the higher income groups have taken advantage of the provision.
Overall, in comparison to three years ago, the pessimists have gained slightly in their outlook on life in the UAE, while the optimists, who outnumber them, can be said to still be enjoying life here.
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