There are no local waiters, hotel porters or chefs to be found in Qatar, Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
Instead Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis make sure that Gulf Arabs and foreign visitors enjoy their stay in the region's hotels.
But that may soon change for some proud Arabs.
Oman and Bahrain are already planning for the day when their oil reserves run out. Saudi Arabia still has plenty of black gold but its growing population means not all can benefit from it in the future.
The ruling families and their ministers are trying to get their spoilt youth used to carrying their own bags and making their beds.
The Sultanate of Oman is having some success.
"In the beginning our students didn't usually know how to position cutlery beside a plate properly but it's in their nature to be friendly to guests because hospitality is valued very highly in Arab culture," says Eddy Tong.
Tong trains hotel staff in Oman's capital, Muscat. His school calls itself the National Hospitality Institute because many young people in the Gulf region dread the expression "service".
Mohammed Mussa began a government-sponsored training course here five months ago. A job in a five star hotel is already waiting for the 19-year-old when he receives his diploma in August.
Although he can expect to earn only 170 rials (320 euros), Mussa says as the eldest son he feels he must contribute to his family's income.
His English is basic and as a young man from the countryside he finds it difficult to overcome his shyness in the presence of women and foreigners.
Mussa is very polite when working in the school's restaurant as he serves a meal of chicken, potatoes and grilled tomatoes prepared by his fellow students and he speaks with a soft voice as his strict Sri Lankan teacher watches.
The air-conditioned room is almost freezing, but Mussa is so nervous that beads of sweat form on his brow.
That may explain why the foreign guests cannot bring it upon themselves to point out the strand of black hair on top of the pommes duchesse he has just served.
But for the teachers and students at the school mistakes like that are nothing in comparison to overcoming the mistrust that some Omanis - especially the older religious conservatives - have against the hospitality business.
For them a hotel is a place of sin only to be visited to drink alcohol or meet women.
