For years Dubai (appeared) to have turned itself into a successful model - super-modern, yet Arab, spurring many of its (neighbours) to imitate the flamboyant Western architecture and its approach to diversifying an oil-based economy. It had also become a (magnet) for other Arabs dreaming of the material (comfort) of a Western lifestyle.
But as the debt (crisis) began to bite the dream turned sour. Reports speak of many forced to literally dump their cars by the airport and flee the country for fear of the (consequences) of defaulting on their (personal) loans.
The question now is whether Dubai's much richer Arab neighbours will come to its (rescue).
Magdi Abdelhadi, BBC News