The crime rate here in the UAE is very low. I’m pretty certain that a combination of extremely strong and unforgiving penalties, and the plethora of cameras (they are literally everywhere) works to deter even the smallest inkling to commit a crime. As a result, by and far people follow the rules, almost to the letter here. I know, I know… You are thinking this must be very tough for me, but I have not really been inclined to lead a life of crime. Yes, in my younger days I may have been responsible for a few lawns being papered, and a few others being relieved of tacky plastic lawn ornaments… But that was a long time ago, and I am certain I was never alone in those endeavors. Here we are discussing grownups, acting on their own, with no Volkswagens involved.
Even with the incredible lack of crime, I have seen people do things that I would never ever think of doing, simply because they feel (and apparently are) safe. The best example I can give of an absolutely jaw dropping incident I witnessed took place a couple of weekends ago, after my husband and I had finished lunch at one of the malls. We each had a list of things to grab, and is our habit, he went his way, I went mine, and we set a time and place to meet back up. Not being what you would classify an avid shopper, and having exactly 1 thing on my list, I was at the meetup point well before him. I sat down and pulled out my Kindle for the wait. I glanced around as it was powering up and saw a pretty red stroller at the opposite end of the row of benches I was sitting on. Looking around I saw one other woman sitting about halfway down, on the opposite bench reading a paper. There was nobody else around, and that stroller appeared to be unattended. Out of curiosity, I went over and looked inside. Yep… snoozing baby. Huh.
The set of benches I was on happens to be located between 2 busy escalators and very near the exit of one of the larger malls in town. This was the weekend, and the mall was busy. As far as I could tell, nobody besides me was the least bit concerned about the situation. I did not see a single person give the baby a second glance. So, okay, there must be nothing unusual about this. Nevertheless I feel uneasy. I cannot concentrate on my book, and keep looking around for somebody who might be missing a baby. I imagine a very harried looking (possibly young) mother running frantically around in search of her stroller and precious cargo. A little over 15 minutes after I sit back down, the baby begins to fuss and cries out. A woman walking by stops and looks over, making cooing noises, she rocks the stroller back and forth. The baby quiets. The woman walks on. I guess she was just a random baby whisperer. I am completely flabbergasted.
Another 10 minutes pass and a completely different woman, pushing another red stroller (this one with a toddler in it) walks out of a nearby store. She is with what I assume is her mother, and they head toward the ‘abandoned’ red stroller. They stop alongside it and adjust their bags. Then the older woman takes hold of it, unlocks the wheels, and they calmly walk off with both red strollers and lots of shopping bags. It looks as though they have been shopping for a while. I wonder at what point they left the baby there, maybe just while inside this one store? No way to have seen the child from inside it but at least it is close. Was the baby there the whole time? Why do I care? I still feel somewhat disconcerted while at the same time feeling somewhat impressed. There is no way this would ever have happened in the US. I don’t care what small town you live in.
Since coming here, I’ve noticed many such displays, though none as blatant as that. For example, I have been walking 4-5 miles several nights per week (an occasionally very early in the morning.) The walking path I take that parallels the beach is well designed.
At multiple points along the way there are tunnels that take you from the beach side to the city side of the 8-lane road that is called The Corniche. There are lots of people out at these times because they know what I know – it is coolest and the breeze is best after dark, and before sunrise. Sometimes I leave around 4:30 in the morning, and other times I’m not back until almost 10 at night. There are pros and cons to everything, and likewise to every place. Here a big pro is how safe you feel. I know of no other place where I can walk alone predawn or late at night, and never feel even the slightest bit uneasy. I know of no other place where a mother would feel it safe to leave a baby unattended in a crowded mall while she shopped. This feeling of personal safety is top among the positive things about living in the UAE.
So even as an “unattended” woman walking alone you don’t ever feel like you get disapproving stares or comments from the Local Men? Do Local women walk alone unattended?
Yes – all of the above. The group that is out and about exercising along the Corniche is multi cultural. There may be a few stares but I am diligent about dressing in an acceptable manner (meaning shoulders and knees covered) so if they are there, they are covert and not enough to hit my radar. I have never heard a comment out of anybody, at any time. The local women are out as well, in pairs and groups mostly, but quite a few on their own. It is a busy area, and most everybody is just doing their thing.