Ethics Of Flying Airlines From The Middle East: My Perspective

Here at OMAAT, I write about all kinds of airlines, from every part of the globe. Heck, sometimes I even write about fake airline startups. I love aviation, and there’s no limit to the airline topics I’m willing to discuss.

I often write about Middle Eastern carriers as well, whether it’s well established airlines like Emirates Airline or Qatar Airways, or airline startups like Riyadh Air. When I do, there’s often a very vocal and small minority of people who chime in, shaming me for daring to write about these airlines on ethical grounds.

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So while I often address these comments or talk about these topics in passing, I figured a dedicated post about this topic was in order. That way I can just link to this post, rather than being like a broken record. How can I in good conscience fly with airlines in the Gulf region, and write about them? Let’s get right into it…

We should all form our own independent opinions

Let me start by saying that as humans, we all have our own experiences based on the lives we’ve lived. Heck, you don’t even have to leave the United States to see that. Just look at the vastly different perceptions that people have of the current situation in the United States.

Similarly, I’m in no way suggesting that your opinion should be the same as my opinion. I very much welcome people who have different perspectives than I do. I think we can approach this respectfully, though, and not immediately assume that anyone who has a different opinion than us is a thoughtless loser who has no moral compass, and puts no thoughts into their actions.

I also think it’s much easier to hurl insults at others and suggest that something they do is wrong, rather than being introspective, and reflecting on our own actions. After all, if you’re so enlightened, you’re probably not spending your free time online being negative. 😉

I’d also like to acknowledge that I’m always evolving, and I love to learn. My perspective today might be different than my perspective in a week, or a month, or a year, or a decade. The world isn’t static.

What I can say with certainty is that the opinions I form in life aren’t because I don’t put any thought into them. Quite to the contrary, I’m a huge introvert, and I spend a lot of time “in my head,” thinking about the world.

I’m also unapologetically gay, but I don’t let that restrict me from engaging with people from different backgrounds, or with vastly different opinions. As a matter of fact, I think if we spend too much time in our own echo chamber, that’s when we get to the point where we’re unable to evolve.

My stance on flying with & writing about Gulf carriers

Now let me share my general stance on Gulf carriers, both when it comes to flying with them, and when it comes to writing about them. I’ll even talk a bit about my thought on visiting some of the countries they’re based in. It seems that most commonly, people have issues in one of three areas:

• How can you financially support Gulf carriers by flying with them?
• How can you promote Gulf carriers by writing about them?
• How can you support the social policies of these countries?

Financially supporting Gulf carriers…

Some people think it’s unconscionable to financially support a Gulf airline, given that they’re owned by their respective governments and investment funds. Let me just address that point realistically, rather than idealistically — like it or not, we’re all supporting Gulf governments.

Using that same logic, it would be unethical to fly on British Airways (the biggest shareholder is the government of Qatar), pass through Heathrow Airport (one of the biggest shareholders is the government of Saudi Arabia), or to stay at an endless number of hotels around the globe (which are largely owned by the investment funds of oil rich countries).

Never mind the stakes that these governments have in companies we interact with every day, from Bank of America, to Boeing, to Facebook, and many more…

In an ideal world, it’s absolutely nice to support companies that you think are ethical and do right by society. But honestly, I just don’t think that’s realistic in this context. If you’re someone who only does patronize businesses where you 100% agree with their business practices, I’d love to hear what your strategy is.

If you on principle avoid these airlines, because you want to send a message, I understand that, and even respect it. But it’s hard to argue in good conscience that it’s because of the financial support aspect…

Providing coverage of Gulf airlines…

I’ve been a full time blogger for over 16 years now, and the airline industry is my passion. While I of course have my favorite airlines, I try to cover the industry with little bias with regards to topics outside the core of the industry. Why? Because I recognize the fact that I have a very diverse set of readers, and I also realize that people visit this blog to escape the problems of the everyday world.

Coverage of something doesn’t equal an endorsement on my part. Let me give an example. I’m absolutely fascinated by Saudi Arabia’s massive tourism push, and all the interesting (bizarre?) projects that are underway. Does that mean I want to vacation there, or that I think everyone else should vacation there, or that I hope it becomes the new center of the world?

Well, no, not really. But I love learning about tourism and infrastructure projects, whether I agree with them or not. Saying “hey, the St. Regis Red Sea just opened, here’s what we know about it” is different than saying “the St. Regis Red Sea just opened, and you all should stay there immediately, because Saudi Arabia is the greatest country on the face of the earth.”

For the avoidance of doubt, let me be very transparent — I have no financial relationship with any Gulf airline. I pay for all of my flights on all of those airlines. I mean, I’ve seen quite a few otherwise legitimate sources do sponsored stories on Saudi Arabia’s tourism boom, and that’s not something I’d personally be comfortable doing. But hey, to each their own…

Some people also point out how I have positive coverage of aspects of the passenger experience at Gulf airlines. Yes, I mean, I do cover the airline industry, and if an airline does something well, I try to give them credit for that, and if an airline doesn’t do something well, I try to call them out for that. I’ll let my record there speak for itself — I’ve called out Gulf airlines on all kinds of topics over the years.

Gulf countries and social policies…

It goes without saying that my social values don’t align with those of a vast majority of governments with an official religion. I mean, I’m a gay, married man with a kid. For that matter, look how divided we currently are in the United States on social issues.

But I think any debate around the ethics of traveling to countries with more conservative governments have to be founded in reality. For example, I can’t count the number of times over the years that I’ve had someone tell me “how can you travel to Dubai, they stone people there for being gay.”

That just doesn’t reflect the reality of Dubai, which is basically like the Miami of the Middle East:

• First of all, no country can ban “being gay,” but rather certain activities are banned (many of which are performed by both straight and gay people)
• Second of all, look at the actual record the UAE has on this topic when it comes to punishment

I’ve written in the past about my perspective of traveling as a gay person, including in the Middle East. Heck, in the case of Dubai, I have several gay friends from western countries who choose to live there and are happy with their lives. They don’t live there due to a lack of options, but because they like it.

Furthermore, there’s a difference between government policies, and the reality of visiting places, and meeting people. Things aren’t always as they seem, and I think often the best way to form an opinion is to experience something for yourself.

Of course let me acknowledge that people should be careful and follow their own judgment, and that this isn’t to dismiss any of the problems that do exist. There are serious problems, and not all countries in the region are the same. Quite to the contrary, there’s quite the spectrum.

But to just uniformly paint the Gulf region as a place that’s dangerous and uncomfortable for gays doesn’t reflect what I’ve found to be the reality.

Bottom line

I try to keep the blog mostly about airlines, hotels, travel, points, etc. However, travel and politics are inherently intertwined, and people do often make fair points about the complicated politics of many of our favorite airlines. Hopefully the above provides some insights into my thoughts on this topic, and how I arrive at the conclusions I currently have.

I absolutely welcome a dialogue on this subject, and I’d love to hear how others feel as well. I’d just ask that we do so politely and constructively.

Where do you stand on the topic of Middle Eastern airlines and ethics?