How to Spot Truly Rich People in Dubai
Plus more insights I’ve learned as your Pursuits rep in the Middle East
Hey it’s Lisa Fleisher. For the past year and a half, I’ve had the pleasure of being your Middle East luxury correspondent, based in Dubai. I’ve given you the lay of the land in this city: where to eat, what to see, where to stay. I was your stand-in at Beyoncé’s internet-breaking performance in front of an invitation-only crowd to open a $1.2 billion hotel—and then relayed what it was like to stay at said ultraluxury hotel, Atlantis the Royal.
We covered some of Dubai's excesses, such as a plot of sand—on an artificial island sometimes referred to as Billionaires Island—that sold for $34 million, earning the guy who flipped it a 242% profit. A mansion slathered in gold leaf and marble which listed for $204 million. Why it can be difficult even for royals to buy a Rolex here. And a party jet owned by a party hotel for rent at $14,000 per hour.