It has also been mentioned on another thread that after 7 years you will get Permanent Residency in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong there is an established property market with real contracts and laws where you can invest your housing allowance.
In the UAE (EK) we are constantly reminded that we will never really be welcome in Dubai i.e. one of the locals. At EK we are told if you don't like watching what is happening to your wage with inflation out of control and rentals, you can always leave! That is after you have given up your seniority in the last airline etc. Nice attitude that helps build moral?
Unless you want to part with your hard earned cash and the housing allowance (the allowance is not enough for mortgage, taxes, water, electricity and maintenance) in Dubai where you will be given a 2 page contract reminding you what you will pay to Emaar or any other developer and what laws you will follow.This is all for a block of land or apartment that can change dimension and aspect over night. Only then you will be given the right to stay in Dubai with some developers. BUT the laws change constantly in favour of locals or local developers. So don't bank on actually having a right to stay at the end.
Also should you ever have a scrape with the law (it is very easy in Dubai if you are an expat) then they will cancel your visa and you will be removed from the UAE. Then what happens to your little piece of paradise?
This is the reality.