Yes, I agree Paris is hugely experienced, cautious and been visiting UAE for many years as an indy for work and pleasure not agency, I think.
I only have indy experience no agency experience in UAE. I worked in Abu Dhuabi, invited by an existing client. So I wasn't exposed to much interaction from the outside as I stayed at his home. Compared to other UAE's it's pretty mild and tolerant. I felt safe to explore, accepted as a clueless foreigner. But noticed no women walking around the streets or shops at all. The papers had a daily full page publicising runaway Filipino slaves maids who had rewards on their heads.
Stricter UAE countries...I'm not fussed about deportation that's fine at least you get home to cocoa and slippers. Imprisonment is the worrying thing.
Obvious concerns are who do you complain to if you get a shitty agency? not paid, ripped off, assaulted, threatened or pressurised to do things you haven't agreed. Or if a malicious client reports you to the cops? You can't go to the police in these countries.
Marte Deborah Dalelv a Norwegian civvy got 16 months sentence for reporting rape in Dubai.