Dubai is fine for a Western Expat:
http://www.expatwoman.com/
There are effectively no restrictions on what she can and cannot do. Bottom line, as every one has said, is that it is not for everyone. Then again...neither is Seattle or Nebraska etc etc etc. For every 'my mate bought his wife and...' there are 5 happy families. Many will leave quite quickly, many will stay forever and all the whining in the world won't change it. If you have a great, stable job in the US, why take the risk, if not it may be the opportunity you have been looking for.
Ghost