We're definitely not paranoid. Dubai is still a safe place for me and my family. For the time being at least, the Gulf's personal security business is based on the'better safe than sorry' mentality. The possiblity of attacks on Western targets in the Gulfremains, but analysts believe a significant strike by terrorists is unlikely on Arab soil. Theassassination attempt on Jamil Sultan in Kuwait City was very much a one-off, and Yemenikidnappers can normally be evaded by taking common sense steps to avoid isolated trouble spots.
New dangers lie just around the corner, though.
Organised crime is also rearing its head in the region. Organised crime has developed and so haswhite collar crime within and between companies. Gulf businessmen may be over-reacting to what remains no more than a potential threat. But thegraveyards of cities such as Johannesburg, Lagos and Palermo are full of money-makers whofailed to take security seriously. When safety is on the line, the Gulf businessman's obsession with buying the biggest and best of everything might just pay off.