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Escape from Dubai
2010 Finalist Indie Book Awards Best Non-Fiction Finalist Indie Book Awards Best Multi-Cultural Non-Fiction USA News Best Book Awards Finalist Best Multi-Cultural Non-fiction San Francisco Book Festival Honorable Mention Best on-Fiction SPYS...Wealthy Dubai Businessmen...Luxury Submarines...and a harrowing escape Former French Secret Service agent, Herve Jaubert, writes a story that will make your hair stand on end. From a life of luxury in the opulent city of Dubai to promised ruination, Jaubert tells a tale of espionage and escape that rivals any best selling novel on the market. Immersed in a luxury submarine business, Jaubert was hired as CEO by Dubai World to develop and design miniature subs for the wealthy. Once problems developed within the business, Herve Jaubert became the scapegoat of government officials and found himself ensnared in a web of police threats, extortion, human rights abuses and coercion. With no chance to make it through their biased legal system, Jaubert planned the escape of his life.
- GenresNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2009
15 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Herve Jaubert
14 books11 followers1980, French Navy Academy
15 years Covert operative for the French Counter Espionage
Submarine builder in Florida, then in Dubai.
In 2008, after being framed by the Dubai Government and threatened of life imprisonment and torture, he escapes from Dubai on a rubber dinghy, and sails to India.
2009, publishes his story and exposes the truth about Dubai.
15 years Covert operative for the French Counter Espionage
Submarine builder in Florida, then in Dubai.
In 2008, after being framed by the Dubai Government and threatened of life imprisonment and torture, he escapes from Dubai on a rubber dinghy, and sails to India.
2009, publishes his story and exposes the truth about Dubai.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 26, 2010
I have read this book eagerly after recently leaving Dubai. Since the book is banned there I could not help but read the book in almost one sitting when I arrived in my home country.
I truly admire Herve Jaubert for what he has accomplished in his daring escape after managing a company in Dubai.
I have been to 20 or so countries in my life, from the 3rd world to first world countries, and never seen anything like what I experienced in Dubai.
I completly agree with what he says that people go to Dubai chasing a dream that is a PR illusion or are running away from something. I have never been somewhere where ego's exceed peoples abilities in such rediculous proportions.
I am glad he escaped and I salute his courage to name names and show the world how backwards that place is.
The concept sold there is quite easy to explain. Bigger is better. Bigger buildings, bigger cars, big diamond watches, big work forces. They blatently fail to understand that charisma and style cannot be bought, big work forces of incompetence cannot achieve what a handful of talented staff could (with their eyes closed).
Great people with great minds should not have to boast about how great they are. Style, charisma and greatness comes through planning, modesty and an original vision.
Great book, what an adventure, I hope to see another book from him, or see a movie on his story. This man is a hero.
I truly admire Herve Jaubert for what he has accomplished in his daring escape after managing a company in Dubai.
I have been to 20 or so countries in my life, from the 3rd world to first world countries, and never seen anything like what I experienced in Dubai.
I completly agree with what he says that people go to Dubai chasing a dream that is a PR illusion or are running away from something. I have never been somewhere where ego's exceed peoples abilities in such rediculous proportions.
I am glad he escaped and I salute his courage to name names and show the world how backwards that place is.
The concept sold there is quite easy to explain. Bigger is better. Bigger buildings, bigger cars, big diamond watches, big work forces. They blatently fail to understand that charisma and style cannot be bought, big work forces of incompetence cannot achieve what a handful of talented staff could (with their eyes closed).
Great people with great minds should not have to boast about how great they are. Style, charisma and greatness comes through planning, modesty and an original vision.
Great book, what an adventure, I hope to see another book from him, or see a movie on his story. This man is a hero.
December 12, 2013
At the request of the author, I'm adjusting my review to better reflect the circumstances surrounding his book. Actually, I've stopped caring, so I'll just delete my review because I have a history of bending to the will of French men.
Damn accent gets me every time. :-D
Damn accent gets me every time. :-D
October 31, 2018
Former French Intelligence Officer M. Jaubert’s account of his escape from the UAE is a riveting read for those that have never visited any of the Gulf Kingdoms and a real page-turner full of joy and laughter that rapidly turns to suffering and sadness if the reader has ever lived and worked in the Gulf Kingdoms.
If the book has a flaw it is that it is need of a good proof-reader and editor to tidy up what appears to be a good first or second draft into an instant classic cut from the same cloth as Pat Reid’s The Colditz Story. Contrary to other reviewers I only spotted one factual error, which was more likely a typing error than ignorance and has no bearing on the point being made on how business is conducted and the legal system corrupted in Dubai.
M. Jaubert’s English is better than he gives himself credit for accurately describing in the first third of the book his arrival and apparently successful start in the UAE successfully building up a business gaining civilian and military contracts around the world for miniature submarines. Inevitably, local jealousies over his initial successes lead to him personally and professionally being undermined and falsely accused of embezzlement.
The second third of the book deals with his planning and preparations for his escape, which I’ll leave the reader to explore and admire for themselves.
In the final third of his tale Jaubert explicitly lays bare the hypocrisy that permeates everything in the Disneyland for adults and makes some interesting observations about the expatriate population being in denial of the reality of their situation- they are living in a surveillance state, ruled over by an obviously paranoid elite who are terrified of a coup d’état occurring.
For regular visitors to the UAE you too can follow in Jaubert’s footsteps and even see the disabled Coast Guard boat sitting outside the Fujairah International Marine Club bizarrely next to a once bright red London bus that has since gone pink under the Emirati Sun- the wealthy local poplation will buy any old junk. Regrettably, I suspect the unnamed hotel Jaubert and his friend Bernard launched the escape from was the Fujairah Hilton, sadly demolished in April 2017.
I hope M. Jaubert writes a sequel covering his attempt earlier this year to help Princess Latifa of Dubai escape the country. This is a must read for anyone who has ever lived or worked in the Gulf Kingdoms or is planning too. Escape From Dubai is not an embittered rant, it’s simply a cautionary tale of what can and does happen to anyone in the Kingdoms no matter what their profession is, but especially for businessmen. Escape From Dubai would also make a really good mini-series for the HBO/ Netflix/ Canal + generation.
If the book has a flaw it is that it is need of a good proof-reader and editor to tidy up what appears to be a good first or second draft into an instant classic cut from the same cloth as Pat Reid’s The Colditz Story. Contrary to other reviewers I only spotted one factual error, which was more likely a typing error than ignorance and has no bearing on the point being made on how business is conducted and the legal system corrupted in Dubai.
M. Jaubert’s English is better than he gives himself credit for accurately describing in the first third of the book his arrival and apparently successful start in the UAE successfully building up a business gaining civilian and military contracts around the world for miniature submarines. Inevitably, local jealousies over his initial successes lead to him personally and professionally being undermined and falsely accused of embezzlement.
The second third of the book deals with his planning and preparations for his escape, which I’ll leave the reader to explore and admire for themselves.
In the final third of his tale Jaubert explicitly lays bare the hypocrisy that permeates everything in the Disneyland for adults and makes some interesting observations about the expatriate population being in denial of the reality of their situation- they are living in a surveillance state, ruled over by an obviously paranoid elite who are terrified of a coup d’état occurring.
For regular visitors to the UAE you too can follow in Jaubert’s footsteps and even see the disabled Coast Guard boat sitting outside the Fujairah International Marine Club bizarrely next to a once bright red London bus that has since gone pink under the Emirati Sun- the wealthy local poplation will buy any old junk. Regrettably, I suspect the unnamed hotel Jaubert and his friend Bernard launched the escape from was the Fujairah Hilton, sadly demolished in April 2017.
I hope M. Jaubert writes a sequel covering his attempt earlier this year to help Princess Latifa of Dubai escape the country. This is a must read for anyone who has ever lived or worked in the Gulf Kingdoms or is planning too. Escape From Dubai is not an embittered rant, it’s simply a cautionary tale of what can and does happen to anyone in the Kingdoms no matter what their profession is, but especially for businessmen. Escape From Dubai would also make a really good mini-series for the HBO/ Netflix/ Canal + generation.
September 16, 2012
A complete contrast of how the government of Dubai wishes to be portrayed. This non-fictional account it is quite intriguing. I found myself cheering for this man to be successful in his escape. It is an amazingly eye-opening trek of how this skillful, well trained French engineer who is recruited by the a sultan, the chairman of Dubai World to create a large manufacturing company primarily focused on the building of submarine and marine watercraft. The French engineer, a former French elite Secret Operative, becomes ensnared in a trap of government coercion and extortion. The author conveys that once you become an employee in Dubai just about everything you do is controlled by the Dubai government, even to the point your passport is confiscated and to finally leave the country he must put to use his training and experience he gleaned while he was a French Secret Operative. The details of the censorship, fraud, coercion and corruption he conveys in Dubai casts long dark shadows on that government demonstrating that their public persona appears to be orchestrated different than what is more factual. There are small parts of the book that I was bored with - the technical aspects of his job. But because the author is an engineer it is not uncharacteristic of an engineer to be more detailed. Even with these points and sections of the book, I did not want to stop reading it and follow his scary trek through to escape. It is definitely an eye-opener while being entertaining.
May 22, 2015
shocking....unbelievable....true story and a cautionary tale for anyone who is thinking about going to Dubai to do business. Think again. Herve Jaubert writes about the way Expats get lured into Dubai with promises of high salaries and a life of luxury. What they don't know is that the laws in Dubai are stacked against any expat...and many expats are stuck in Dubai with no assets, money or even their passports. Thanks to his former life as a French special agent, he was able to plan and execute a very daring escape....and he writes this book to open our eyes to the truth.
December 26, 2010
I loved this book until my eyes could not stay opened. It has given me a totally new perspective on Dubai. I don't think I will be going there any time soon.
And there is no need to read fiction thrillers, this French 007 is the real deal with an incredible story, he mastered his plan and executed an escape that would make Ian Flemming blush.
And there is no need to read fiction thrillers, this French 007 is the real deal with an incredible story, he mastered his plan and executed an escape that would make Ian Flemming blush.
June 20, 2018
Very poorly written
I lived in Dubai for 3 years and know that you don’t want to get caught in its justice system.
But this guy has an ax to grind from page one all the way to the end. No objectivity and a lot of spite and bitterness. Plus he repeats himself frequently. Very poorly written.
I lived in Dubai for 3 years and know that you don’t want to get caught in its justice system.
But this guy has an ax to grind from page one all the way to the end. No objectivity and a lot of spite and bitterness. Plus he repeats himself frequently. Very poorly written.
January 14, 2011
A must read! Real story from Dubai to India, Dubai smoke and mirrors, a French spy caught up in an extortion scheme, he fears for his life and escapes with a small boat to India.
Not only a spy and conspiracy story, but a disturbing truth behind Dubai glitz
Not only a spy and conspiracy story, but a disturbing truth behind Dubai glitz
July 30, 2018
Fascinating, but lots of typos and quite rambly and repetitive at times. Worth a read but not as smooth a ride as it could have been.
September 11, 2022
An interesting, unique story and a much needed look on Dubai behind the veils. I was delighted to find a solid book on the topic; at the time I ordered it, it seemed like a rare find.
What almost made me to drop the book, however, were the multiple writing mistakes and the overall unedited feeling of the book. Initially I found it weird the book is written in third person, when it's clear the story is Herve's and the writer is Herve. The writer can also be rather black-and-white with his critique on Dubai and the Emiratis - a writing style that might put some people off, but which is somewhat understandable given his experiences.
Overall I was left feeling the author might not be entirely innocent either, but obviously he deserved to leave the country and live a life as a free man. The story itself is so interesting you should try to look past the unedited feeling of the book. As a bonus, you might learn some practical tricks from an ex-secret service agent.
What almost made me to drop the book, however, were the multiple writing mistakes and the overall unedited feeling of the book. Initially I found it weird the book is written in third person, when it's clear the story is Herve's and the writer is Herve. The writer can also be rather black-and-white with his critique on Dubai and the Emiratis - a writing style that might put some people off, but which is somewhat understandable given his experiences.
Overall I was left feeling the author might not be entirely innocent either, but obviously he deserved to leave the country and live a life as a free man. The story itself is so interesting you should try to look past the unedited feeling of the book. As a bonus, you might learn some practical tricks from an ex-secret service agent.
May 12, 2025
While I tend to believe most if not all of what was written in this book, having someone do a simple edit before publication would have gone a long way. Sometimes it was hard to even understand what sentences were supposed to mean. I think it also would have been helpful and bolstered his argument if the section at the back of the book had contained links to actual facts to support his arguments about the corruption in Dubai.
April 16, 2018
Pulsating read
more interesting than papillion it gets a 5 from me .
I felt the atmosphere and danger like the account about pretense used reminded bible a count said and eglon
more interesting than papillion it gets a 5 from me .
I felt the atmosphere and danger like the account about pretense used reminded bible a count said and eglon
November 3, 2024
Book would have been readable of the publishing was good. The only publisher of this book is amazon.and half the pages are missing in the book. For what it's worth in the pages I could read, really shows a different picture of Emiratis
June 8, 2016
One of the best books I have ever read. A very frightening tale about a very successful businessman from the U.S. who moves to Dubai to do contract work for the big projects there. In the U.S. he has his very own successful company making small underwater submarines. He goes to Dubai and barely escapes with his life, trying to leave. A fascinating tale and a jaw dropping page turner.
December 24, 2014
Great read
Very important reading for anyone who is thinking of setting foot in Dubai. I'm glad Harve triumphed in the end. I wonder if he ever paid the judgment against him to Dubai.
Very important reading for anyone who is thinking of setting foot in Dubai. I'm glad Harve triumphed in the end. I wonder if he ever paid the judgment against him to Dubai.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews