You'll find debauchery and cretinism in every large city around the world if you search for it; Dubai is far from unique in that regard. The air pollution issue he mentions is fair enough, and I suppose if one is the type of person who needs a varied social life and large circle of friends, other places might offer better opportunities for that but he could also just explore life outside of his work groups.
I'd still much rather live in Dubai over the UK, though. I really dislike visiting here these days. The capricious weather alone is depressing enough, but I no longer feel any connection at all to where I grew up. It's a morose, dark and demoralized hell-hole, where drunken half-wits and hopeless drug addicts roam around harassing people with impunity. I feel myself morphing further into Travis Bickle every day that I'm here.
I'm ashamed of our government, I'm ashamed of our public services, and I'm horrified by the fact that we've allowed ourselves to become an apathetic society where kids are left to grow feral. It feels like we celebrate and encourage ignorance. Every other flaw of Dubai is perhaps worth tolerating just to have a civilized public and a police force that doesn't turn a blind eye to petty crime. Granted, I am feeling particularly negative these days, though, and I might just do better in the remote countryside as opposed to the city.
The Middle East heat is indeed brutal, but it's bearable if you have air conditioning. I'm used to extreme temperatures now, but I am growing more concerned about skin cancer as I get older and come to the realization that I've nuked my face.
