The most modern city in the middle east. A lot of western influence however still a very Muslim city laws and expectations. The city is phenomenal however the "workers city" on the outskirts can be a very dangerous place.
Mixture of ultra rich and extremely poor. ]
Yes Dubai is a most amazing Emirate and city, (its a city state with its own king and a union with the UAR similar to the common market - unique as it has its own king and a veto on anything that the UAR decides - so in effect its a country. Yes it is a mix between ultra rich and poor, but it is not dangerous. It may be the safest city you will ever go to. Even in the so called, unsavory parts, I walked extensively feeling completely safe. The reason is that there is a population of 8 million, of which only one million are citizens. Anyone can go there to look for work but can only stay there if and while they are employed. They must sign a contract of 3 years with 2 year extensions and cannot switch employers. Also at age 65 they cannot retire there, they must leave. this applies even if born there as birth does not give citizenship. So in effect it is a city of 7 million foreign workers mostly from the India subcontinent, with large segments from Philippines and Africa. All business must be majority owned by citizens, so they do not work only collect royalties for being figureheads, or pensions. the workers get no pensions and must leave when their job expires or they are terminated. of if they commit a crime - for that reason there is no vagrancy and no crime. The citizens are rich and the rest have jobs. Yes some (probably most) are low paying but if they do anything wrong and are reported they are kicked out of the country. Our taxi driver tells how a week earlier he had stopped on the road to relieve himself, He was reported and given a fine of one months wage with a notation, that if further reported he would be expelled. Workers cannot complain as if fired, even if the employer is completely at fault, it it they that are expelled.
I spent a week there and it was not enough time - one day walking the Indian quarter, one day walking the African quarter, one day for the fake goods markets, one day for the worlds biggest malls (one has an indoor ski hill) a day or 2 for abu dabi, (the adjoining emmerate which is richer than dubai and has Ferrari world, and a grand prix race track - - a day for the desert, and dune rides a day or 2 or 3 for the beach, with fine sand and warm water; a day for new Dubai with wall to wall super expensive cars and restaurants - the worlds tallest building, the worlds largest mall, golf courses international championships at almost all sports; the berg, a 7 star hotel that costs $150 for afternoon tea - no visitors unless you have lunch, tea or dinner or stay there) a day at the gold souk - with more gold on display than you have ever seen in your life. In effect you can visit 4 or 5 different cultures simply by visiting differences parts of the Emirate
