We're all going on a summer holiday

...but not to Dubai, in the case of many British holidaymakers:

"Dozens of UK holidaymakers are understood to have cancelled their trips to Dubai after a documentary showing construction work at Jumeirah Beach Residence.

"The programme, Package Holidays Uncovered, was screened on British channel ITV earlier this month. The reporter visited the Hilton Jumeirah and highlighted heavy construction work immediately opposite the hotel."

The only surprising thing about this story is that it took a documentary to alert people. Surely word-of-mouth from friends and family would have been quicker? When glossy brochure promises of either "ocean" or "desert" views turn out to be dredging or dust?

"But a source at a major hotel slammed the state of the area. "The biggest problem is the litter," said the source, who asked not to be named. "There’s styrofoam and plastic everywhere, and the road is turning into a dirt track.

""It doesn’t exactly set a good first impression to visitors." The hotels say they have been able to fill most of the rooms with other customers. Mohammad Abdul Mannan at the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said the problems were regrettable but necessary as Dubai grows."

It has always been a concern that Dubai risked getting the Costa Del Hell reputation that dogged Spain in the 1980s, of half-built hotels, endless building sites and general construction disorder. But the bigger concern is how is it going to shake this reputation off, with major tourism projects under construction for the next decade or more?