I can’t imagine why anyone would go there, or any other shiite hole country in the Middle East. I can guarantee, I won’t go there.
1000 to 2500 a day for oil industry types plus 100% of T&E is a lot of reasons to go. Plus the first 120,000 is tax free and if you know what you are doing with the rest of it that’s tax free as well. I love Dubai you can drink at the hotel bars and that’s where all the night clubs are at stocked full of 20s tall blonde Ukrainians and Moldovans it’s like Vegas with much more money flowing around.
I stopped off there twice on a trip to New Zealand (from Europe)....spending two days on each leg.
What I’ll say is that hotel-wise, across the entire spectrum...they meet your expectations. Although you will come to realize that almost all hotel employees are non-Dubai citizens. I’d also say with the weather situation, if you just wanted sun and leisure, I’d give a thumbs-up.
Beyond that, it reminds me of Vegas hotels which are built and last about 20 years then torn down. The whole city has that look and feel. Traffic-wise, you only want locals driving you around because of the confusion factor and continual construction projects going on.
To be fair Dubai is not a *hithole in the ME, been there many times and never had an issue, and it is beautiful. Also I fly Emirates and I am a reward member, I refuse to fly any American Air Carrier internationally again.