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It's strong economy is based on a limited resource that much of the world is shifting away from.

Unlike most other gulf states, Abu Dhabi has actually been diversifying it's economy for years. According to Wikipeda, _non oil and gas GDP now constitutes 64% of the UAE’s total GDP_ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Dhabi#Economy

its social policies remain incompatible with many of the major countries of today

Perhaps, but it's certainly more liberal than most of it's neighbors. I would have thought an international university could act as a factor to improve that as well.

the surrounding area is torn apart by a never-ending war

It's about 600km from Iraq. That's very roughly the same distance Los Angles is from the Mexican drug wars - where more people are being killed than Iraq at the moment.