skinnylatte on Dubai vs Singapore:

"Someone observed that every Singaporean + every expat that's ever lived in Singapore before Dubai seems to hate Dubai more than anyone else.

I think Dubai hits close to home in many parts. It feels like Singapore. In all the wrong parts, i.e. the parts we hate.

Though it must be said that a key difference between Singapore and Dubai is... it's better to be a foreigner in Singapore than to be local!

The autocracy, the ERP (Salik), the Metro that looks like the MRT (built by the same people), the media regulations, the love and the hate
The scholarship bonds, government run conglomerates; on the surface there are lots of similarities but 2x more racism, 100x less efficient.
The legions of young talented people dying to leave. But yet, hope and optimism in both cities: slowly improving arts scenes, etc.

Just as Singapore has been getting better and becoming more livable in the last 2-3 yrs, I think Dubai might hit that point: maybe in 5.

I still wouldn't live in either city though. I doubt I can ever live in Singapore ever again. Ever. Not for more than two weeks."