There are certainly a lot of very rich people in Dubai. The opportunity to make money in Dubai is like no other place in the world right now. It is a boomtown and if a person has the right idea and the right talents they can very easily become a multi-millionaire. Too bad I've never been entreprenurial

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Honestly, I don't travel in the tourist or visitor circles very much. My one experience of going to a 5 star resort for a weekend getaway was very nice and it appeared all guests were treated the same. There is a much higher level of service in certain areas, even for us lowely middle class workers.
The neighborhood I live in is very middle class. As are the places we shop and eat. Those tend to be the circles I travel in. Occasionally we'll go on excursions into Satwa, Karama, and Bur Dubai where we are seen as the ultra wealthy by comparison. Those neighborhoods are much lower income level than ours. I get my haircut in Satwa from a Pakistani barber. He does a very nice job and it only costs $5.40. I can then go around the corner and buy 3 chicken shawarmas for about $3.00, more than enough for a meal.
Pookie:
I hear you. That can be very annoying. You can either let it get to you or just realize that there are people here with no manners whatsoever. For what it's worth, I say something when it happens as well. More accurately I'll try to anticipate it happening and give a nasty look to the offender so keep them in place. On more than one occasion I've had the clerk tell the guy I was there first and to wait your turn.
What's up with you guys and the Russian/eastern European girls ? I've never seen any of them around Dubai

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Typhoonpilot