This is an Arab city living in a unique moment in history.

It's become an embarrassment of a sort. [Having elections] was not something the UAE wanted to be behind in. They see themselves as leaders. They also found out you can't have a global city and a closed one.

Dubai has been trying to prove to the rest of the Arab world that there is life after oil, and that in fact it's a better life. The good news is there is room for a second and a third Dubai, just like there was room for a second Singapore in Asia.