Dubai is definitely a tourist destination, and it's not just for hyper-wealthy people. They get a huge amount of middle class tourism from South Asia and China.

Dubai is definitely a tourist destination, and it's not just for hyper-wealthy people. They get a huge amount of middle class tourism from South Asia and China. There's a wide variety of hotels, from 2* to 7* and you can stay in a superb 5* hotel for $150/night. It feels like a destination for the hyper-wealthy to Americans because our tourist offerings here are so much better - but not everyone can come here. My best analogy for Dubai is that it's like Vegas without the gambling - and while that may suck for some people, it can definitely be done. Vegas is also done at every price point!