A very readable article on what it is to be an expat in the UAE (by Claudia Pugh-Thomas, Dubai)
"Without civic responsibility, the points of engagement between individuals and the state are limited and the dynamic of communication is entirely top-down. While I wouldn’t argue either for representative political pluralism or suggest that foreign political systems or reforms are needed, what occurs is that the lack of representation or taxation numbs the expatriate population, curtails engagement with the state, diminishes intellectual and social contact with the indigenous population, and reinforces a sense of alienation."
The whole article in The National
Spot on!! andit is possible to mix with Emiratis but it takes more effort, and it's not like you are encouraged.. at least I don't feel so for some reason
what a wall of text. wasn't able to proceed after read first paragraph... sorry