Ladies and gents, it's time to come clean: Living in the UAE has made me a public toilet snob
For all the wonderful things the UAE has given me over the past decade, it has also introduced an unexpected downside: higher standards for women's public toilets On a recent two-week trip across Europe , I realised just how much of a toilet snob I'd become. Before agreeing to use one, I found myself asking my friends: “Is it clean? Is it spacious? Does it smell OK?” If there was even the…
After a decade in the UAE, a writer has noticed a shift in her expectations for public toilets. During a recent trip across Europe, she realised how much of a toilet snob she had become. Before moving to the UAE, she would have considered a bathroom acceptable even if it was only reasonably clean. However, the high standards set by the UAE's spotless public bathrooms have changed her perspective. She now pays close attention to factors like cleanliness, spaciousness, cleanliness, and even the presence of a bidet hose.
In Europe, she found herself hesitating before using public toilets, comparing them to the ones back home. Overflowing bins, damp floors, missing soap, and inadequate facilities in European bathrooms made her long for the comfort of her home. This heightened awareness of public toilet quality is a reflection of the UAE's emphasis on cleanliness and safety.
The writer also appreciates the UAE's accessibility, with clean public toilets often available in malls, petrol stations, and even on the beach, many of which are free to use. This level of accessibility is uncommon in other cities, where finding a public toilet can be a challenge and may require payment. Apps like Got2GoNYC, Flush, and SitOrSquat have emerged to help people locate public toilets, but these are not always necessary in the UAE.
While the writer acknowledges that there are more pressing issues in the world, she has come to appreciate the UAE's attention to public toilet quality. This change in expectations has made her realise that she may be a little spoiled when it comes to public toilets and may not want to return to the conditions she left behind.
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