If you are talking about going to Afghanistan or even Saudi that is a whole different thing to Dubai/Doha/Bahrain. You have to realise that the "Middle East" isn't just one homogenious country. Maybe if you clarified which part you are looking at you would get some more relevant responses. Most people here are in the more "Western" parts and that is what they are telling you about. A shopping mall in Dubai is not the same thing as a military camp in Afghanistan. Except during the sales maybe.
