Just because they're flying into Dubai doesn't mean they're racing in Dubai. They could be going anywhere in the UAE.
Anyway, I seem to remember people hoping for this to be the worst route ever to match what people feared would be the worst cast ever. So I guess people are getting their wish, judging from the meltdowns over Asia and Dubai.
We need this cast to deliver so much that the (so far) mediocre route can be overshadowed.
I'm going to hold out until we find out more about the next leg, but I wouldn't call this route mediocre just yet.
Starting leg in Tokyo at night: like
New country in Laos: love
Vietnam usually delivers and again we haven't seen southern Vietnam since TAR 15: like
(Kind of the same reason I've been accepting of the abundance of France legs due to the variety of locations)
I would be disappointed if they went to the same city after 3 seasons but we'll see.