Dubai has no banking treaties or extradition treaties with the US. So combine that with it's oil wealth and a lot of dollars sloshing around to begin with - th

Dubai has no banking treaties or extradition treaties with the US. So combine that with it's oil wealth and a lot of dollars sloshing around to begin with - they have created a zone that attracts zillions of ill gotten dollars, a lot of it related to oil. Since the mid 20th century there has been some transparency on resource extraction among nation states, like the US, UK tc. Then regional nationalist leaders have sought to take those over 'for the people'. But in reality those leaders are often more corrupt than their colonial overlords. So they, shady bankers, and all sorts of actors need to do their banking somewhere. When you hear about the Afghani Army General who is not paid very much is actually a millionaire, where do you think he keeps is money? 'Cleaned' dirty money makes it's way to London, Switzerland or Hong Kong, but while it's obviously attached to someone or there is no legal cover, it sits in places Dubai. And FYI all of that money drives a lot of 'legit' expansion, particularly in real estate.