A post comparing life in Dubai with India has sparked an online discussion after a user criticised India’s taxation and infrastructure while praising Dubai’s governance and social safety nets. Shared on the anonymous workplace forum Blind, the post highlighted the differences in income tax, public services, and social security.
“Dubai has zero income tax, government pays partial salary if you lose your job, sick leave is actually covered, infrastructure works, public transport is clean and safe,” the user wrote. Contrasting it with India, the post continued: “Meanwhile in India we pay European-level taxes and get potholes that eat cars, weekends spent working because ‘startup culture’, PF stuck for months after leaving jobs, public transport that’s unreliable at best, and literally zero safety net if you lose your job.”
The user clarified they were “not even asking for Dubai-level luxury” but “just basic respect for the taxes we pay,” adding that despite contributing “30% of income plus GST on everything,” citizens receive “almost nothing tangible in return.”
“Every time I see my payslip and compare it to what I actually get from the government in terms of services or safety nets I feel like I’m being scammed,” the post added, citing poor roads, uncertain healthcare, and lack of unemployment support. The post concluded: “What exactly are we paying these taxes for? Anyone here still genuinely believe staying in India long term is worth it or are we all just stuck because moving is hard? Because I’m running out of reasons to defend this system.”
Link for the viral post
“Dubai has zero income tax, government pays partial salary if you lose your job, sick leave is actually covered, infrastructure works, public transport is clean and safe,” the user wrote. Contrasting it with India, the post continued: “Meanwhile in India we pay European-level taxes and get potholes that eat cars, weekends spent working because ‘startup culture’, PF stuck for months after leaving jobs, public transport that’s unreliable at best, and literally zero safety net if you lose your job.”
The user clarified they were “not even asking for Dubai-level luxury” but “just basic respect for the taxes we pay,” adding that despite contributing “30% of income plus GST on everything,” citizens receive “almost nothing tangible in return.”
“Every time I see my payslip and compare it to what I actually get from the government in terms of services or safety nets I feel like I’m being scammed,” the post added, citing poor roads, uncertain healthcare, and lack of unemployment support. The post concluded: “What exactly are we paying these taxes for? Anyone here still genuinely believe staying in India long term is worth it or are we all just stuck because moving is hard? Because I’m running out of reasons to defend this system.”
Link for the viral post
Social media reactions
The post drew mixed reactions from users:- “You forgot to add one more point. Even after paying 30% tax, we pay bribe everywhere just to get our rights exercised… Everyone loves India. But leaving India is the smartest move and I’m also preparing for the same,” one user commented.
- “Best to leave India if one has the option to. This country is good only for politicians, bureaucrats and govt officials in the same order,” another wrote.
- “Public transport is clean because people don’t litter there. But in India, people don’t even have basic etiquette of how to behave in public, yet their expectations are on the next level from the government,” added a third.
- “Dubai has a ton of oil wealth. Their government has billions of dollars of investments with which they can sustain basic government expenses. India is a developing country and the people who even pay income tax are far above average. I know it’s not ‘fair’ but that’s just the cost of being born in a poorer country. If you just accept this you’ll be happier. Life isn’t meant to be fair,” noted another user.
- “When are Google software engineers moving to Dubai then? Or to Paris, London, Berlin? After all, these are such great cities,” a different user remarked.
