Dreams Turning Nightmare As Recession Bites The Gulf

Dubai
Image used for representation only

It is getting tougher by the day. The Gulf dream is beginning to turn into a nightmare.

B Shrikrishna, who has lived in Bahrain for 25 years, looks despondent as he speaks about what living in the Gulf seems like these days.

Shrikrishna is among the many Indian expats who have reached a crossroad in the onetime Desert Paradise, now hit by recession, rising prices, political instability and joblessness.

“The entire Gulf has become insecure for expats, particularly those from Asia. There is downsizing by most companies in the region and many people have lost once secure jobs.

“The recession has really bitten in the Gulf. Countries in the GCC also face constant pressure to give jobs to its nationals and the victims are normally expats.

“Besides that, prices have soared sky high. Already expensive earlier, prices have now reached unaffordable levels. With salaries remaining where they are, one has to think twice before buying anything,” he says.

“With no taxes in place earlier, GCC states have tried to introduce some. There is also an astronomical increase in utility bills which have added to the pain.

“It is not easy to restart life back home or elsewhere. I plan to give it a couple more years and then take a final call,” he adds.

“I am out of a job for the last two years because of litigation against my former employers. It has been a real struggle,” says Sanobar Khan, an event manager in Dubai.

“The Gulf is no more a paradise. The realities of recession have begun to show. And without a job, I find it difficult to make ends meet.

“Some experts predict that the downturn will end next year and the economy revive shortly afterwards. I hope this true.

“The one option I have is to return to my home in Pune. I am told that there is still scope for my profession in India and maybe I should try my luck there.

“If things improve, then I can always return to Dubai,” she adds.

Shreedhar Nair has been working as a labourer in Bahrain for close to 10 years and is now stranded because his passport has been misplaced by a rogue boss.

He has been working illegally and now cannot afford to survive because he earns a pittance and lives on other people’s kindness.

“I managed to live somehow and send money home. But now it has become very costly. My new company also pays me irregularly which makes it worse,” he says.

“The realities of living in the Gulf hit me badly when I couldn’t go for my mother’s funeral a month ago because I did not have a passport and no money. I am hoping make use of the Eid immunity period now and go back to Kerala. At least I have a roof over my head there,” he adds.

But for some, the Gulf has become a way of life. It’s their home and they don’t want to leave until they have to.

“Though I had reached retirement age of 60, I didn’t feel like leaving Dubai and did something about,” says Dr J Surendran, a doctor by profession.

“With the demand for doctors from India always high, I managed to get a job. I have to shell out for insurance from pocket but that is alright and I have taken a pay cut.

“We have to take the rough with the smooth. Am sure Gulf economies will revive in the long run,” he adds.

“I sent my family back to cut costs,” says Alfred Dias. “With new rules coming into force on spouses, I took advantage of it and can now save some money.”

“Living without my family is going to be tough but I will have to bear it until such time when things improve here or I make enough to go back.”

The Gulf dream, however, is over for Rupesh Patel, an architect by profession.

“The Gulf is too expensive to stay, there is a lot of uncertainty both socially and politically. I may lose my job tomorrow so I better take the gamble now and go home before it is too late.”

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# Views expressed in this article are those of the individual respondents (names changed to protect privacy) and Pune365 does not necessarily subscribe to them.  

 

Babu Kalyanpur
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