but based upon some maybe unfounded ideas was thinking that UAE or another country.
Actually, if you want it to be somewhere "islamic" in the UAE, I would recommend sharjah. It's more conservative than dubai and AD, mashallah it's great there. Alcohol is also not allowed there (for whoever it was that was wondering about alcohol)
regarding the Hospitality Industry, are the workers at the big hotels in Makkah and Medina Muslim? or are they Immigrant workers?
I'm not sure about madinah, but in makkah they are mostly saudis and muslim immigrant workers.
what do all the malls, restaurants and hotels do at prayer time? who minds the store? who watches the ovens? who watches the front desk?
The store closes and all the men go to the masjid to pray (one thing i like about saudi). If you're in a restaurant, they close the doors, don't let any body out or in, stop serving, but you stay inside the restaurant.
but if there are no churches and synagogues, dose that mean there are no non-Muslim tourists in Makkah and Medinah? i ask because i spent 30 years in the Hospitality business and it may be where i can not only find employment but do some good as i spent most of my life training folks and resolving disputes in that arena.
Again, I'm not sure about madinah, but non muslims are definitely not allowed into makkah.