Despite an over all good experience in Dubai and general good will from staff at the YHA (HI Dubai) I had almost £2000 sterling removed from the Safe. My bank card, travellers cheques and some US dollars remained in tact.
The reception give you a key to your 'personal' safe, which opens only in combination with a master key.
It was the start of my trip and although I kept my valuables with me at all other times, one day I decided not to take my worldly goods with me to the beach.
When I retrieved my money belt to find almost £2000 missing, the management stood together and denied any possibility of theft from their staff. Of course they didn't want to ruin their reputation.
Sadly, one crooked character amongst a friendly, helpful team has tainted my experience and impressions of Dubai. DO NOT PUT YOUR VALUABLES IN THE SAFE AT DUBAI YOUTH HOSTEL ! IT IS NOT SAFE !
Please call the police !!! The Dubai police will take this very, very seriously. It is unusual for this sort of thing to happen in Dubai because of how harsh the consequences. The police will not let it drop until they find the culprit.
Yes....................call the cops! The Dubai police WILL find out where your money has gone. The police in the Emirates do not screw around with this sort of thing and as mentioned they won't let it go until someone is in handcuffs.
I wonder if this is a true story, it seems strange that OP has not replied, maybe she has a grudge to bear with Dubai Youth Hostel!
So where is this 'Safe' actually kept.. in the reception area? There is CCTV video recording throughout the hostel, including the reception, maybe they could review these. Hard to imagine someone working there would be stupid enough to do such a thing though. And have you gone to the police about it ???
As LP members said) call Dubai Police and tell them that your money has been taking I need your help: Dubai Police will not mess you about and they will take this case very serious regarding this case.
If you have lost cards make sure you cancel them and if you lost your passport you need to get a Police report and contact your local consulate – I will also advise to visit your local consulate in Dubai, I advise to make a phone call before you go.
Good Lucky
Thanks for all the replies and concern, of course it's a true story, would I waste my time otherwise? The situation is a little longer and more complicated but I didn't think it was relevant to go into all the details. I hold no grudges, this is life.
Let me explain for those interested. My trip began in Dubai from where I flew across to Qatar to stay with my friend as her guest. I retrieved my moneybelt from the "safe" (they are located behind the reception) at 4am, prior to my early morning flight. I did not check the contents there and then because I assumed the safe was safe and yes, I am aware of how unusual this is, not only in Dubai but in the Middle East in general. The belt stayed on me. Only once I was out of Dubai did I realise the theft. I returned to Dubai some weeks later to report the incident to the hostel (I stayed there once again but this time kept my valuables with me.) No I didnt go to the Dubai police because in the weeks that had passed the money had probably been hidden/sent away/spent with no trace so I thought there was no point. (With all your comments, in retrospect, I realise I probably should have.) It was better than nothing to inform the management, as well as to confront the person whom I suspect to this day, and watch him squirm in his receptionist's seat. I felt it was too late to do anything else by this time (but it's never too late for karma...)
The purpose of my message is to warn other travellers. As I have no evidence I did not bother mentioning this one individual (nor his name, which I have on my receipt.) Despite his occasional cheeriness to the guests, he also showed a rude, abrupt and arrogant side. During my 2 extended visits to Dubai, I heard several complaints about him from other travellers: the way he had spoken to them, his aversion to saying please or thank you, his petty-mindedness. (These comments came without my having said a word about my experience). Whilst the management stayed united as a team, they may have had a quiet word with this man in private. In the Middle East you protect your brothers - and more likely believe them than some tourist. (Which is another reason why I decided not to go to the police.)
I am currently not travelling but back in my home existence. It is for this reason I do not go into the travel forum so often and reply. However, my travel experiences remain firmly in my heart...and on this particular 4 month trip, this was the ONE bad experience I had. No point dwelling on it.....warn others, learn and move on.
I believe your wrong in not reporting this to the police in Dubai.................Yes your money is probably gone by now but it still will not deter the police from finding out who took your cash. It just might save the next person who stays there that is not lucky enough to read your post.
''In the Middle East you protect your brothers - and more likely believe them than some tourist (Which is another reason why I decided not to go to the police.)''
The staff and management of the hostel would most certainly not been Emirati but Indian or Filipino!!
You say this man put his name on a a receipt, No way would he have taken the risk of taking your money, how did he know that you would not check your moneybelt and call the police. You are talking about alot of money - £2000 in cash is extremely bulky in a moneybelt. The police in Dubai arrest first and ask questions later and this guy would have known that.
to add to wandabug's post, the staff in reception are Egyptian, the cleaners are Philipino, the management, I'm not sure.
I'm not quite sure why you would leave your money belt in the 'safe' all through the night, why not retrieve it after getting back from the beach?
How many nights in total have you spent at the hostel? Because you describe the guy who works on the night shift very very accurately, as if you know him well and this makes me wonder if this is not some personal quarrel other than what you say. These people, as wandabug says, know the rules and I'm sure, the unpleasant consequences.
But if not, then much commiseration to you for losing all this money and thanks for writing about it here.
trusted partner
