Dubai Verdicts: A wealth of opinion.(executives' opinions about the city)

Agents and corporates discuss what they like about Dubai and identify the shortcomings that need to be addressed.

- Claire Okrafo-Smart, senior account manager, Zibrant

'For first-timers to Dubai, I think the destination still has a real 'wow' factor, although I feel it is much better for incentives than conferences. You cannot go there without including dune-bashing, a trip on a dhow or a Bedouin feast. All this can easily be achieved in a three-night programme. Beyond these usual incentives there's little else to do. So, while the buildings change, the incentive programmes don't and this means I am reluctant to recommend Dubai to a client that has already been there. I am organising an event for a pharmaceutical group next April. It hasn't got a large budget, so we have to choose the hotel carefully. If money is tight you can cut it fine by staying in the city's financial district rather than the beach area, which can save pounds 50 per head per night.'

- Deborah Elsom, internal communications manager, Volkswagen

'We held an event in Dubai in February and it was …