Dubai is mostly full of chavs from the UK these days. The nouveau-rich class set is now mostly Russians - again with no taste. It's still overrun with ladies of the night too. It's changed much since 1989, and is fast becoming the Vegas of the Middle East - good for 24hrs, but once you've got caught in a traffic jam or two you are ready for the airport.
I'm don't think Maktoum had quite anticipated the little India Vegas vulgarity of it all. I don't think all the consultants in the world are gonna change it either. Well that's capitalism for you....
I travelled on a SIA A380 a few weeks ago. Quite spacious inside, but the IFE stopped working for the entire aircraft 5hrs into the flight. The remaining 8 hrs to LHR were very long. A little bit quieter than a 744, but not much. View outside the window was the same.