In the corridors of power, a new fantasy is taking hold among Britain's populist right. The object of their desire? Not a European neighbour or a transatlantic ally, but the glittering city-state of Dubai, held up as a shimmering model of what the UK could become.
The Allure of the Autocracy
Figures like Suella Braverman and Liz Truss have openly admired Dubai's approach: low taxes, light-touch regulation, and a business environment unburdened by democratic friction. It's a seductive vision for politicians frustrated by the slow, messy processes of Westminster.
But this infatuation, warn political analysts, overlooks a fundamental truth. Dubai's economic 'miracle' was built on a foundation that would be anathema to British values: an absence of political freedoms, suppressed dissent, and a workforce reliant on the precarious status of migrant labour.
Beneath the Glittering Facade
The article highlights the stark reality behind the gleaming skyscrapers. Dubai's success is intrinsically linked to its authoritarian political structure. The trade-off is simple, and brutal: economic growth in exchange for civil liberties.
For the UK to truly follow this blueprint, it would require a radical dismantling of the very institutions that define its democracy. The independent judiciary, free press, and right to protest are not mere inconveniences; they are the bedrock of a free society, and they are precisely what the Dubai model sidelines.
A Chilling Precedent
The piece serves as a stark warning against the importation of a 'get-rich-quick' political scheme. The pursuit of hyper-growth, untempered by democratic accountability, risks creating a Britain that is wealthier but far less free.
It argues that the populist right's desire for a streamlined state, capable of rapid, unchecked decision-making, is a dangerous gamble. The slow and often frustrating nature of British democracy is not a bug, but a feature—a vital system of checks and balances designed to prevent the concentration of power.
Be Careful What You Wish For
Ultimately, the cautionary tale of Dubai is a reminder that economic models cannot be divorced from their political context. The UK must look beyond the allure of tax-free havens and ask a fundamental question: what kind of country does it want to be?
The choice, as presented, is between the messy, resilient freedom of a centuries-old democracy and the efficient, brittle authoritarianism of a corporate city-state. It is a choice with profound consequences for every British citizen.
