I have to agree with allaru. There seems to be a degree of gloating involved in these articles, as if the writers are glad to see those expats and locals who, (in the journos' minds at least), did not deserve the success and good life they were enjoying when Dubai was booming.
While I acknowledge things aren't good, I have to say I've yet to encounter deserted roads or empty restaurants.
The problem with 24 hour news channels is that when they go into gloom and doom mode, (as they are are now), they become self-fullfilling. After 24 hours in a hotel room where the Beeb and CNN are the only English language TV available, one could be forgiven for looking for the nearest high window ledge to jump from.