The modern desert metropolis of Dubai has built a flashy reputation as the go-to destination for celebrities and holidaymakers, but crime and eyesore high-rises could spell the end of its dominance.
Home to the Burj Khalifa, the center of the Middle East has long been a favorite of sports stars and Hollywood A-listers such as Wayne Rooney and Will Smith, who have promoted the city-state on their social media pages, bringing more tourists to have been lured in.
However, an insider who has worked with celebrities in Dubai said A-listers were leaving the desert paradise in favor of destinations such as the Maldives as the desert city has become 'the new Magaluf'.
He told MailOnline: 'If you're an A-lister, Dubai is going to be the place to avoid.
'Only cheap reality stars or retired footballers go there now and that's probably because they have a free deal.
The modern desert metropolis of Dubai has built a flashy reputation as the destination for celebrities and holidaymakers
Hollywood A-lister Jason Statham poses with Rosie Huntington Whitely in Dubai
The city has long had a champion in Will Smith, who has traveled to the city to perform and film TV shows
'It has become the new Magaluf, it is like a Spanish holiday destination.'
He also added that Dubai's reputation as a safe haven for drug lords and gangsters, thanks to favorable extradition laws, has played a major role.
It has long been rumored that Christy Kinahan, the leader of the transnational crime organization, and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. are hiding in the city-state, protected 'by Dubai's elites'.
“It has turned into a mafia paradise with the Kinahans there and their associates,” the source explained.
'They are part of the new rich and flaunt their wealth, much of it ill-gotten.
'You also see fights in hotels and many prostitutes coming and going.'
The hotel boss added that the city had become “overdeveloped”, with endless hotel blocks and offices that had lost the allure of a desert oasis for many celebrities.
He added: “It's been going this way for four or five years. The Maldives and the Caribbean are now much more popular among celebrities.”
Dubai's relative youth on the international stage and lack of historical prestige have meant that Dubai has always relied on word of mouth for its tourism.
The city has long had a champion in Will Smith, who has traveled to the city to perform and film TV shows, memorably climbing the Burj in 2021.
He has spoken openly about his admiration for the destination, saying: “Dubai suits my personality. It just speaks to how I see the world, how I see life.
“If you're going to build a building, are you really not going to try to build the Burj Khalifa?”
Love Island star Kaz Crossley was jailed for a week in Dubai after a video emerged of her sniffing white lines
Kendall Jenner visited Dubai (photo: Inside the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai)
But the city's strict laws and willingness to punish and even jail foreign tourists have deterred some celebrities following Kaz Crossley's detention.
In 2020, the reality star was filmed without her knowledge as she appeared to be snorted lines of white powder by her 'controlling and manipulative' ex-boyfriend in Dubai.
After flying to Abu Dhabi for a business trip following the incident, Kaz was jailed for a week over the video.
She was then transferred to a prison in Dubai, where she was reportedly denied a phone call to her family but allowed to send a single email.
In a bid to put a more accepting face on tourists, Dubai has liberalized its drug laws, with first-time offenders facing a minimum three-month prison sentence and a fine of £4,559 to £22,799.
Previously, offenders would receive a minimum of four years in prison for each drug offense.
Now that Dubai has been relegated to the Maldives, many more Hollywood A-listers are flocking to the Maldives
Kendall's sister Kylie has posted a series of holiday photos from the Maldives – a new favorite spot for A-listers
Influencer Demi Rose has shared her holiday snaps from the Maldives with her 20 million followers
Love Island's Zara McDermott has been photographed on holiday in the Maldives
With Dubai relegated to play too, many more Hollywood A-listers are flocking to the Maldives, attracted by its pristine white beaches and luxury resorts, including the Oblu Select Lobigili hotel.
The hotel extends to the sea and even features an underwater restaurant – perfect for Instagrams.
One of the Maldives' most popular inhabited islands is Maafushi, which offers an abundance of beach bars, restaurants, water sports and snorkeling tours.
Other hotspots on the archipelago include the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, where the Kardashians often visit.