Over the 2014 Christmas holiday something magical happened, Etihad Airways had a glitch fare from the States to Abu Dhabi for $230 roundtrip!  People all over the United States texted, tweeted, and called everyone they knew sharing the deal which resulted in a mass exodus of Americans headed to the United Arab Emirates. Arriving in the Abu Dhabi International Airport, many guests opted to take the complimentary hour long Etihad luxury shuttle to Dubai where they were greeted with towering modern skyscrapers, a vast highway filled with every luxury automobile imaginable and twinkling lights that filled the city. Naturally It was a array of visual stimulation, as Dubai is instantly entrancing. From the hotels to the restaurants and  of course the shopping, Dubai is a luxurious modern Oasis in the middle of the desert.   It’s hard not to fall in love. But behind the amazing service and awe striking architecture, there’s a darker side to Dubai that’s not on any brochure.

Among other documentaries about Dubai’s not so glamorous uprising, BBC’s Ben Anderson spent months in Dubai trying to infiltrate the community of expatriate workers who are putting them up.

“What he found when he finally got in was that the jewel of the Arab world is almost entirely built upon imported slave labor” says Vice News. 

With promises of a better way of life, higher wages and endless opportunities, expats from places like Bangladesh and India are lured to Dubai. However, after paying high priced illegal Visa fees and then stripped of their passports, workers are then forced to work 12 hour days with very little pay 6 days a week. Their living quarters are inhumane and they’re stuck on the dark side of the new world’s most fabulous city.

There is no doubt that Dubai is definitely a must see destination,, but their methods of attracting and retaining workers must change. Have you been to Dubai? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

– HOC Staff Writer