Yes, in 2008 recession it happened. Middle east & Dubai have way way lot expats as compared to locals, sometimes like 90%. Most of the Dubai expats had lots of disposable income for similar jobs as compared to income from same jobs in their home countries, so many of them financed luxury cars, expensive houses etc. Once recession hit, the jobs started disappearing here & there, & expats had no choice but to return back to home. Now, if they inform bank first, banks can stop them from exiting country by government assistance, so many of them just drove to airport in those cars, parked, took flights & never looked back.