Maybe Skype is banned for use in bypassing Dubai's own telephone network for commercial reasons. It certainly works internationally for computer to computer. My real point is that to suggest that it is banned for some big brother surveillance or reduction of civil liberties reason is plain wrong.
Dubai is not a western city, but then neither is Hong Kong or Singapore. Dubai has some iron rules (no drugs anywhere and no alcohol at all when driving, for example) but some of the horror stories are wildly exaggerated. Professional ex-pats can have a very good life over there. The weather is good, apart from two months in Summer; westerners tend to be left alone to do their own thing; if you want to drink, there are plenty of approved bars (mostly in hotels); there are plenty of sports available; the money is good (although the cost of living there has been going up recently). There is also an almost zero crime rate. Most importantly, however, there are jobs. Money in your bank account and hours in your log book are surely good wherever they come from.