[Cronos]

I always found Dubai an artificial city -

In the Gulf region, I much prefer Muscat

[sphinx]

Perhaps it’s time for the expats, 90 percent of the populstion, to take over, expel the Arabs, and turn the Emirates into the Federation of Liberated Gulf States. If they’re clever, they could call it de-colonization.

[Justa]

Oman is always a favorite of regional travelers. Not yet ruined by oil wealth and a hospitable people.

For Muslim cultural authenticity a stay in Organi Town, Karachi, Pakistan will do. Or Birmingham, England.

[FLT-bird]

I was in Dubai a few times in 03-04. All the higher end stuff in tech or especially finance was done by Europeans and Americans. All the grunt work from construction to retail was done by Indians and Pakistanis. The few native Arabs that there were sat back and collected rents. The laws could be a dicey if you got caught doing anything shady (you could get penalties that were much much harsher than anything you'd get back home). But on the other hand it was very safe.

One benefit of no welfare state and everybody being temporary is the lack of entitlement and the lack of bums. You know you can get punished severely or deported if you break the law or even act in an antisocial way. So people don't. You are there to work or are wealthy enough that you don't have to. You are not there to sponge off of others, because that's not possible and you'll get deported. There's no attempt to cry "racism" because that doesn't bring you any benefit there. The lack of rights means I would not want to live there, but I do appreciate the lack of crime and the lack of a welfare dependent socialist race grifting underclass.

[03A3]

I do too.

[zeestephen]

Re: "I always found Dubai an artificial city..."

Not surprising - 90% of the residents are non-citizen expats.

Re: "In the Gulf region, I much prefer Muscat (Oman)."

Oman has just 50% of the GDP (Per Resident) that Dubai has.

[Paul R.]

To read some of the sillier propaganda, er, reports, you’d think Dubai was in rubble. But, the Emiratis have done a pretty good job of shooting down incoming. They seem to know the financial aspect of shootdown methods too:

https://youtu.be/pLyrXSmPE1E?t=29

A nice hobby for wealthy young Emiratis?

[misterdarcey]

Dubai is a helluva city. It’s sure to bounce back.

[Wilderness Conservative]

Fake news. The war was over last week.

[DeplorableTrumpSupporter]

I'd say the UAR is an artificial nation...

Yet I love their citizenship policy...

[catnipman]

“More than 260 ballistic missiles and over 1,500 drones have been detected over the U.A.E.; most have been intercepted, but their percussive booms have become part of the city’s soundscape.”

in querying grok about how the UAE accomplished the above, i was surprised at the depth and sophistication of UAE air defenses ... apparently they were anticipating exactly what is now happening to them from Iran ... i have no doubt that foreign experts are in charge of these defenses, but one still has to be impressed with how well they’ve defended themselves from these attacks ...