Re: Why do people want...
I imagine because one can eventually get a residence visa here, which means very few restrictions. Change job at any time, start a business, go to any university one wants to, buy/sell/rent any property one can afford, and no more worrying about renewing job contracts.
That's not to say there aren't challenges in the West.
But a side question....
If you own a house in Dubai (or whatever their complicated ownership type lease is for foreigners), doesn't that give you a resident visa? Once you have that resident visa, doesn't that mean one is no longer bound to their employer's sponsorship and contract?