Dubai

Here is my rough impression of Duabi:

First, it is hot. Like opening an oven when it is on. 

As far as vibe, it was either:

A. A lot like a wealthy American suburb. Most of the buildings are new and in the nicer areas its all chain stores. You can find absolutely any product you want other than alcohol (only hotel bars) and drugs or prostitutes (need lots of money or to speak a couple languages). Every mile or so is a big mall (some are  more like insane shopping theme parks) which is where everyone goes during the day. By everyone I mean actual emirates (natives), tourists, or ex-pat business men and their families. 

B. 90% of the population is foriengn born, mostly working class brought from the Indian subcontinent or the Philippines. There is the other part of Dubai where they live and go out. This feels a lot more like a real place in the same way that a Pakistani neighborhood in Brooklyn is a real community.

The city can be expensive in the sense that simple things are expensive because they have to be imported. 

Random story: At the Burj, I went up in an elevator with six giant athletic men in D&G vests that smelled of expensive cologne and were being followed by the paparazzi. They were the newest members of a UAE football club and were having a press conference on the observation deck.