Originally Posted by
arlflyer
Pretty sure that it is the OP, not the hotel, that runs the risk of showing up out of his jurisdiction, in the middle of the desert, with a locked gate in his face and no immediate recourse. While I admire your sentiment, I am not sure I would call that “the upper hand”.
Not only doesn't OP have the upper hand here, this is a classic case of not understanding the immediate consequences. E.g. being walked into the desert at some ridiculous time of day with no alternative in place and nobody helping out. Whether one has some cash and points tossed one's way at some future point has little to do with the unpleasant situation of having to hopefully find alternatives, shell out cash, and then spend a vacation fretting.
Marriott itself has little sway in the UAE. Not as though it has much control over local investors,.
OP either gets this fixed before stepping on a plane or runs a serious risk.