The study of Dubai yields insights into how a
small and comparatively remote state with an
imperfect supply of conventional natural and
cultural attractions can become an internationally
known tourist destination. Possible weaknesses
have been turned into selling points of
consistently hot weather and awesome desert
landscape and elaborate attractions have been
constructed to satisfy modern tastes, with technology
allowing them to function irrespective
of climatic and other geographical impediments.
Economic wealth has meant funds to
support expansion in all sectors of the indus
try, including the fostering of a global air transport
system and stock of lavish accommodation.
The urban metropolis founded on such
wealth is itself of interest to tourists. These
features have been marketed in such a way as
to enable Dubai to entice tourists from outside
the region to a part of the world that is often
dismissed as dangerous and unappealing. It
has thereby achieved some success in recognising
and negotiating the barriers that have
impaired tourism development elsewhere in
the Middle East and beyond.
Dubai’s accomplishments are of interest to
other destinations looking to emulate its
example and aspects of its experiences can be
observed elsewhere, yet few countries share
the emirate’s defining characteristics that have
made possible such a distinctive pattern of
tourism. However, development is ongoing
and further research is required to monitor the
evolution of Dubai as a tourist destination and
evaluate underlying policies. Some obstacles
remain and new ones may be confronted so
that the future is not without formidable
challenges. The merits of the Dubai model and
the wider lessons to be derived about factors
critical to destination development can then be
more fully assessed, the results also contributing
to an improved understanding of the
somewhat neglected topic of tourism in the
Middle East.