From: ****@*******.***
To: witness@ex-oriente-lux.org
Subject: Dubai sex scene
Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2005
Goodday,
I'm reading your website with (a lot) of interest. A pity I 'discovered' it only now. I just would like to share some 'experiences' with you. I've lived in Dubai, U.A.E. for more than 10 years and saw the sex industry developing there. First there was only some hidden prostitution with mostly Arab (from N-Africa and e.g. India) for mostly Arab and Indian customers. From around 1995 more and more girls from the so-called 'stan' countries showed up. Untill a certain moment they were even walking openly on the street. Really unbelievable for a moslim country where you here 5 times a day the mullah's calling for prayer from their towers and Islam is everything and everywhere in society.
Now, 2005, Chinese girls are walking, dozens at the same time, at 3 am trying to sell themselves for as little as US$ 30. There are numerous nightclubs and pubs where you can pick up a girl from e.g. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Russia, etc. Prostitution is presently a very established and profitable business segment of Dubai's society. It's actually unthinkable without it! Its generally an accepted idea that hookers are THE attraction of Dubai and very good for business in general. Arabs from neighbouring countries will choose now the emirate of Dubai above all others for doing their (other) business! My personal estimation (shared by others) is that there are at least 10.000 sex-workers in Dubai alone. Since I've been in many of these bars numerous times, I also spoke a lot with all kinds of these girls and can write a book of the stories I've heard from them. I was even invited on their parties and birthday's and sometimes 'consulted' for advise on all kind of subjects. Some of the stories were very bad and tragic, some not so sad. At least to me, since I must say that I still dont understand many of these girls their motivation (to stay). Apart from the economic reasons of course, no work - no bread.
Please take into consideration that most girls I spoke are not forced in the sense of threats with violence and kept against their free will, although I heard about first handedly. Most of them are more or less voluntary still there. I say 'more or less' because almost all of them came there on a 'contract'. Usually they had to pay 6 to 8 thousand dollars when they arrived. Most of them were 'free' in about 2 to 4 months. Than they stayed and work independantly, without 'boss'. Even if they are sometimes treated very bad. Rape, beatings, robbed, illegal stay, etc. They very very seldomly go to the police for all those reasons already mentioned on your website.
I know for a fact that many policeman have one of these girls as their 'girlfriend' and sometimes even protect them. The simple fact is that if they go back to their country they have no or very little income compared to what they can earn in the UAE. And don't forget the 'glamour' of the 'good' life in Dubai.
If you're origin is from a low-class social family and never tasted a good steak in your life and now can eat them almost everyday, what would one choose?
It's a shame I dont find a NGO for the U.A.E. in your list. Is there such a thing there actually? I know that Dubai police admits prostitution is a severe problem in Dubai, but I dont believe they are too serious in trying to finish it. Why?
One example. There is a famous huge discotheque in Dubai (name:Cyclone) where untill short, police was handling the busy traffic as a result of all the last-minute-business dealings at closing time (3 am). If it was not so sad, it was almost really funny! So, nobody go's to or tells the police anything if not absolutely necesarry.
I can tell you a lot more, but not now. If you are interested in more of the Dubai sex-scene or have specific questions, you can reach me on my address: ****@*******.***
Greetings, ********
PS: Yes, I was a 'john', sometimes. And now actually I have a relationship, 3 years already, with an ex-sexworker met in Dubai. That explains partly my interest.
source: Ex Oriente Lux