I've seen something similar recently online, someone talking about wanting to visit a certain adjacent middle eastern country for a holiday, one with a fairly notorious public image in other regards. I'm assuming the advertising those countries are pushing play a big part in the mind share of people.

Dubai has excellent schools.

Hey everyone! Dubai has excellent schools!

Do not look any further into it, there are no other reasons one might not want to bring their family there or live there onesself.

Probably clean streets too.

What's up with the snark?

There are many reasons why one wouldn't want to live in Dubai. I was stationed in Dubai for work for two years, I know the place very well. Overall, I would say Dubai is very different than how it is portrayed in western media. Personally I find it amazing how much the place has grown in such a short time span.

But I have chosen to live in Switzerland(not my native country), a country more aligned with my personal values. Freedom for the individual, a strong democracy, a diverse culture, with people who genuinely care about the planet and their neighborhood.

But I do think a person grows when they are forced to live in cultures very different from their own.