Can you tell me what is so interesting to see in these countries that it’s worth potentially sacrificing your freedom or your life for what we consider minor infractions?
Not this specific case but I have read numerous times about small time things that result in decades in prison or worse in these backwards countries, a sibling has provided an example.
In this case I still don’t see what warrants a life sentence.
Dubai is the fourth most popular city to visit in the world after London, Paris and Bangkok. Again, you're completely exaggerating when you say these things happen all the time. In Sweden it's a very common tourist destination and I've never heard anyone that have had problems with law enforcement or anything else. I also know Swedish people who have lived and worked there for extended period of times.
Skyscrapers. But seriously, it sounds like you talk about going to Syria. It's one of the most popular tourist destinations so I think you're exaggerating the danger here.