Overview

Nothing is as it seems. Illusion is their means, and façade is their power. Humans are first and foremost storytellers, and expatriates tend to be the best at it. The ones in this book have colourful experiences, complex personalities, real struggles, astonishing resilience, big dreams, and in many cases, a remarkable grasp of reality. There is the German who came to the Middle East to hide from her past, the French housewife whose husband left her for a younger woman, but she managed to turn it all around and emerge stronger and happier than ever, the Slovak who traded herself for big promises that proved to be lies, the Filipina who wanted to kill herself after her nude pictures were posted online, the European man who has several wives, and the Pole who made a home in Arabia. Then, there are the locals who fight against corruption and the renowned intellectuals who resigned themselves to servitude and duplicity. Alongside these true stories, the book provides facts and analysis that should provoke cause for concern, because what happened in this oil rich state is being imitated in different countries worldwide. The book debunks the theory of rentier states, demonstrating that the oil wealth did not impede development or democracy in Gulf states. It provides an alternative perspective on human rights reports about Middle Eastern countries, suggesting that they are often misleading and, as a result, fail to resonate with local populations. This is a story of how a small, impoverished country was transformed almost overnight into a rich, powerful welfare state controlled by a few shrewd families. We see what happened to the people who found themselves wealthy all of a sudden. We also see how foreigners flocked from all corners of the world to work hard there, or to exploit others. How a system was created to serve the few at the expense of the many. How a society was brainwashed into accepting a thinly veiled caste system and a Big Brother rule.

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Julia Firley, a young European writer, found herself unexpectedly living in the Middle East and mingling with people from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. In her breathtaking book, she shares the stories of several expats who have made the Middle East their home. The experiences of these individuals, who have found themselves living in a foreign land for various reasons, fascinated her and compelled her to document them. Through these stories, we witness how some were able to find happiness and serenity despite the many obstacles and daunting challenges, while others were deceived and paid a dear price for their kindness, gullibility or greed. The cast of characters includes a German girl who came to the Middle East to escape her past, a French woman whose husband left her for a younger partner but managed to turn her life around and achieve greater success, a Venezuelan who traded herself for promises that proved to be lies, and the Pole who made a home in this region. Then, there are the locals who stood up to the authority and the countless renowned intellectuals who resigned themselves to servitude and duplicity. Their tales will inspire and move readers as they reveal the depth and complexity of human experiences.

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