eating cucumbers without permission...

Overpaid everybody, bribes, millions in scenes that didn't make final cut...

On the rim of the war zone, a new Mecca of conspicuous consumption and economic crime, under the iron rule of Sheikh al-Maktoum. Skyscrapers half a mile high, artificial archipelagoes, fantasy theme parks--and the indentured Asian labour force that sustains them.

Interesting and informative, especially compared to the kind of shallow "wow" travel-writing found elsewhere.

If you want to know what God thinks of money," said Dorothy Parker, "just look at the people he gave it to." Well, God's still on the job. The wealthy of our period are a great disappointment. Narcissism, greed, pride, self-indulgence, vulgarity, hypocrisy, and arrogance are not the problem; those come with the bank account. The problem is that today's rich are doing too little with their narcissism, greed, pride, self-indulgence, vulgarity, hypocrisy, and arrogance. A great fortune provides its holder with that rarest of luxuries, a chance to bring outlandish dreams to life. To astonish.

(Personally, I'm happy to see a little philanthropy instead, but the point is taken.)

It's insane that something like this can exist: 300 private islands in the shape of a world map. A resort where a house probably costs more money than I'll earn in my entire life.