My wife & I are now in our 4th year in Dubai and we're
very happy about being here!
Yes there are, inevitably, some frustrations (
especially wrt getting setup here) and there are of course some 'cultural differences' and, YES, it's a more than a bit hot & humid in the summer (
that's why we have air-conditioning and 'Gulf spec' cars); but, to counter that: fuel is cheap, no taxes on your income (
though if you're a citizen of the USA you're still required to give your government some of what you earn here), there's excellent shopping, food from around the world. Booze too. Pubs / NightClubs / Restaurants, etc. The standard of living (
for expats) is very high. We'd also agree with what's been said about it being a very safe place!
With a quick delve into YouTube you might find some videos like this (
filmed in one of Dubai's super-size malls); Have a look at the people, see what they (
especially the women) are wearing, see also the mix of different ethnicities, etc.
And / or maybe these too might provide a clue as to what it's like: