There needs to be a distinction between attaining the property and paying for the development of the property. Attaining the property is, without a doubt, a simple task as Sheikh Mo owns Dubai anyways. However, developing the property is a completely different story. Development requires an infusion of capital that Dubai is struggling to attain.

He has two choices - he can sell the prime properties of downtown Dubai to wealthy investors and make a handsome profit and move the EK crew member housing to the outskirts of Dubai that border Sharjah OR he can build luxury apartments for all of EK's crew at his own expense. I think its a no brainer that Dubai's officials would choose the former approach.

Of course, EK's crew has the choice of finding their own place to rent and EK will reimburse them but rent in Dubai is outrageous and filled with narrow advertising stipulations (i.e. you need to be a Muslim...etc.) that will make it very difficult for EK's very diverse crew to get any form of housing at all.