5 ms·

I'm a Syrian hacker myself, and I can suggest you a better option. Go to Dubai, it is easy to get a visit visa first, if you are in damascus you can go through

by level09 13y ago

I'm a Syrian hacker myself, and I can suggest you a better option. Go to Dubai, it is easy to get a visit visa first, if you are in damascus you can go through Beirut Airport as the path is still safe between the cities (got many friends coming through that route). then you can try to find a job in Dubai (should be easier as the economy is growing and since you speak the language), I myself know many startups and companies and will try to help you as well. if you find a good job in Dubai you might give up the whole idea of moving to Europe as the standard of living is really high and the country is tax-free and amazing. but still you should be able to get a Schengen visit visa easily (especially if you work for a good company).

Blahah 13y ago
This sounds like a good plan - you've got a definite escape route and high probability of getting a comfortable life a the other end.
ck2 13y ago
This of course is assuming the poster isn't female. Do not go to Dubai if you are a woman.
- level09 13y ago
  Not really, if you are a woman that would triple your chances of finding Jobs and great life. The amount of respect and importance women get in Dubai is incomparable to any other country.
  - mkl 13y ago
    Rape victims can be jailed for over a year for "extramarital sex". That is not respect. http://www.ibtimes.com/dubai-safe-female-travelers-norwegian-woman-jailed-over-rape-report-warns-others-1354317 http://www.ibtimes.com/dubai-safe-female-travelers-norwegian...
    - deleted 13y ago
      [deleted]
    - level09 13y ago
      People like to generalize a lot. for someone who lived in Dubai for 5+ years, I find those stories really strange. the city is really different than what you get from Media. the government give a lot of privileges to western residents that's why the local population is nearly 18% of the total population. Dubai has a lot of problems with its social system, but these sex/rape stories are definitely not the major ones, and its totally uncommon to read such stories.
      - pyre 13y ago
        I'd say the biggest problem is the treatment of foreign workers. Maybe foreign workers from "the west" get good treatment, but the ones bussed in from Asia, for example, aren't treated so well.
        level09 13y ago
        I agree, that's one good example of social inequality. though, to be fair, I think the rulers are trying to improve the laws and the culture, for a third-world country UAE can never be compared to any of its neighbours where women can't even drive.
        pyre 13y ago
        > I think the rulers are trying to improve the laws and the culture How? As I understand it the actual UAE citizens are getting 'fat' off of the oil money, so all of the menial labour work goes to poor foreigners that are bussed in from SE Asia. It's going to be difficult to change a culture of people that are used to poor Asians doing all of the 'crap jobs' for them while they just bask in money (so to speak).
      - amerika_blog 13y ago
        > People like to generalize a lot. Especially the mainstream media (MSM)...
  - mithras 13y ago
    This is the polar opposite of everything I ever read on Dubai.
- opminion 13y ago
  Nothing compared to being in a war zone. Many foreign women live on their own in Dubai, working for multinationals, by choice. One thing is to boycott it in principle, which either a man or a woman might want to do, and another is to rule it out as an alternative to Syria.
- yannis 13y ago
  I worked in Dubai and that is not correct. It is not a major issue, but Dubai currently has tightened on visa requirements for Syrians and is next to impossible for Qatar also, which would have been another alternative. I am moving again to Dubai next month for a two year stint. If you know anyone in Dubai that can push for you to get a visa, make it your first choice. At least it will give you time to make your next move.
dheavy 13y ago
I strongly support level09's comment. It's wiser than going to Europe for instance. Safer and with better perspective. Why would you want to go to Europe anyway? Compared to Dubai (especially since you speak the language) it provides harder living conditions and the whole process of getting and staying there is a pain. Also, sad but true: some European societies are plagued with either latent, or even blatant racism.

by level09 13y ago

Blahah 13y ago

This sounds like a good plan - you've got a definite escape route and high probability of getting a comfortable life a the other end.

ck2 13y ago

This of course is assuming the poster isn't female. Do not go to Dubai if you are a woman.

level09 13y ago
Not really, if you are a woman that would triple your chances of finding Jobs and great life. The amount of respect and importance women get in Dubai is incomparable to any other country.
- mkl 13y ago
  Rape victims can be jailed for over a year for "extramarital sex". That is not respect. http://www.ibtimes.com/dubai-safe-female-travelers-norwegian-woman-jailed-over-rape-report-warns-others-1354317 http://www.ibtimes.com/dubai-safe-female-travelers-norwegian...
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
  - level09 13y ago
    People like to generalize a lot. for someone who lived in Dubai for 5+ years, I find those stories really strange. the city is really different than what you get from Media. the government give a lot of privileges to western residents that's why the local population is nearly 18% of the total population. Dubai has a lot of problems with its social system, but these sex/rape stories are definitely not the major ones, and its totally uncommon to read such stories.
    - pyre 13y ago
      I'd say the biggest problem is the treatment of foreign workers. Maybe foreign workers from "the west" get good treatment, but the ones bussed in from Asia, for example, aren't treated so well.
      - level09 13y ago
        I agree, that's one good example of social inequality. though, to be fair, I think the rulers are trying to improve the laws and the culture, for a third-world country UAE can never be compared to any of its neighbours where women can't even drive.
        pyre 13y ago
        > I think the rulers are trying to improve the laws and the culture How? As I understand it the actual UAE citizens are getting 'fat' off of the oil money, so all of the menial labour work goes to poor foreigners that are bussed in from SE Asia. It's going to be difficult to change a culture of people that are used to poor Asians doing all of the 'crap jobs' for them while they just bask in money (so to speak).
    - amerika_blog 13y ago
      > People like to generalize a lot. Especially the mainstream media (MSM)...
- mithras 13y ago
  This is the polar opposite of everything I ever read on Dubai.
opminion 13y ago
Nothing compared to being in a war zone. Many foreign women live on their own in Dubai, working for multinationals, by choice. One thing is to boycott it in principle, which either a man or a woman might want to do, and another is to rule it out as an alternative to Syria.
yannis 13y ago
I worked in Dubai and that is not correct. It is not a major issue, but Dubai currently has tightened on visa requirements for Syrians and is next to impossible for Qatar also, which would have been another alternative. I am moving again to Dubai next month for a two year stint. If you know anyone in Dubai that can push for you to get a visa, make it your first choice. At least it will give you time to make your next move.

dheavy 13y ago

I strongly support level09's comment. It's wiser than going to Europe for instance. Safer and with better perspective. Why would you want to go to Europe anyway? Compared to Dubai (especially since you speak the language) it provides harder living conditions and the whole process of getting and staying there is a pain. Also, sad but true: some European societies are plagued with either latent, or even blatant racism.