A Hub for Pearls
Initially, Dubai was a city that built its money on the pearl industry. It wasn't until the beginning of the 21st century that Dubai became a hub for the oil trade. Pearls are still considered to be a huge portion of the cultural income of the area, but they don't bring in nearly as much money as petroleum does.
Massive Class Divides
As Dubai gets larger, the divide between the upper and lower classes becomes wider. The majority of the occupants of Dubai are immigrant workers that live their day to day lives in uncomfortable impoverished conditions. Emirates natives get their rent, education, and medical bills paid by the government, and the other foreigners typically have high paying jobs that keep the poverty line low.
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