Dubai has always been God's own personalized dream created as a gift for humans wishing for loathing luxuries of life. No one really knew, or perhaps cared, that a coin has two sides. If the emirate projected an image of prosperity and creativity way above anybody's imagination, then there has always been underlying currents seething below Dubai's façade. The split personality of the city is discussed in hush tones, sometimes its never paid attention to. Higher-income expatriates and tourists don't care unless and until an unexpected drastic event changes their life forever.

The dark side of Dubai cannot be brought to light in just a few mentions. However, there are some issues that need deep introspection from tourists and expats before sealing the fate of Dubai as the "ideal city".

Stagnating Constructions: The glimmering lights of Burj Al Arab, the floating islands, the dancing fountains, the spiky Burj Khalifa; they all rise into the air like a pyramid of cards ready to be blown away with a whiff of recession. A new realization dawns as you drive through Dubai's jam-packed roads. The city is home to abandoned constructions languishing like dead vegetables, exposing the half-baked truth about its prosperity. Even the five and seven-star Dubai hotels are covering themselves up to save their face especially when tourists are showing their back to unkempt rooms and impoverished services. Rather they stay in dingy rooms and eat on the Karama Street than splurge on the unexpected.

Talking about Dubai constructions, the plight of workers from Asia is a forgotten story. These are the same people who are brought to Dubai on fake lies by middlemen who suck a staggering amount of money for visa fees. Promised the finest adjectives in accommodation, health and stay, all what they get is a filthy room at an overcrowded camp. The payment for the first year as usual disappears in the name of visa fee. Their passport is hijacked and the men are sent to work like horses in desert temperatures of 55°, which we tourists find torturing or perhaps a milder word – the off season. In the end, what we are getting are slogging servants for the wealthy kingdom of Dubai.

Of course, as with other administrative authorities, the Municipal government will fend for their and Dubai's overprotected image by furnishing details on their fatherly-like behavior with migrant workers.

Abandoned Dubai Malls?: A flight to Dubai will land you on a tax-free terrain overflowing with expensive malls selling designer goods much cheaper compared to their worldwide prices. Once crowded with tourists, they now evoke a feel of worry and frustrations as shop owners long for the same faces who returned year after year. Even at the Dubai Mall, everyone is wearing a mask trying desperately to hide their fears. However, the shiny floors with no footmarks tell a different story altogether. All that is left is an air conditioned space for people who want to escape the sweltering heat.

It's not always sunny: Rise and shine with a glass of wine. Well, if that's what tourist's think of Dubai, then they certainly need a tutorial on how to behave in paradise. Dubai has the worst traffic jams, rules that are flouted regularly and the strictest laws just in case you are the 'luck' ones to get caught (pun intended). There is an accident happening every two minutes and a death every day due to a road accident.

Constructions are a part and parcel of Dubai tourism. Hotels in Dubai could try out their hand at organizing an innovative sightseeing tour of construction projects as a part of vacation packages. Avoid booking a hotel in Dubai city near an ongoing construction, because it's daily event for 24-hours a day.

PDA or public display of affection is taboo in Dubai. As much as you love your partner, save your affections for some other time rather than in public places. The emirate may publicize itself as a forward-looking city, but yet it is a Muslim country that won't let others walk over its religious feelings.

The sarcasm in this article may sound overpowering or turn off certain sections of public, but the truth remains the dark side is omnipresent in every factor of life; Dubai not being an exception.