That was my experience when I used to stay at the Dubai "Ramada" in Bur Dubai. The Dubai Courtyard doesn't have quite that feel.

The Middle East has never really developed that middle ground in hotels other than the small local hotels. They desperately need that middle tier occupied by our Courtyards, Hamptons Inns, Hilton Garden Inns, etc. Labor is so cheap in those countries because of the sojourn workers from the Indian subcontinent and Palestine that this seems to be off the radar. Meanwhile, when they need consultants they pay a fortune.

In Dubai, there are the tourist that compete for the rooms. In Kuwait you probably have two tourists at a time (excluding relatives visiting contractors and consultants).

My usual "cheapish" stay (by Kuwaiti standards) is the Holiday Inn in Salmiya. It is only a Crowne Plaza by U.S. standards.