The cosy comfort of the Irish country cottage is not exactly what they have in mind. Nor are the delights of a gracious Georgian home or the more spartan pleasures of camping or caravanning in Ireland's green fields on the wish list of these particular tourists.
What they want are big hotels. And these big hotels must come complete with the larger lobby. Whether carpet or parquet, the lobby must be of gargantuan proportions if these sheikhs are going to be persuaded to open their oil rich wallets.
For the first time, a tour operator from the United Arab Emirates is attending what Bord Failte describes as the "biggest ever tourism promotion" organised by the board in conjunction with the travel trade. More than 700 Irish tourism representatives are selling various facets of Ireland to 360 tour operators from 32 countries at the Ireland Travel Trade Workshop in the RDS in Dublin.
Mr Andre Labouri, marketing manager with Emirates Holidays, says Arabs will come to Ireland for the "green, the comfort, the good food and the shopping", but when it comes to accommodation the preference is for the large four or five-star hotel . . .with the spacious lobby.
Emirates Holidays, the leisure division of Emirates Airlines, usually promotes holidays in destinations where direct flights exist. There is no direct flight from Dubai to Dublin at present, so, initially, tourists would fly to London. However, a direct flight is being considered.
The population of the United Arab Emirates is 1.5 million but only 13 per cent are local, according to Mr Labouri. Arabs will holiday from June to September when the weather is too hot at home and they will stay a minimum of three weeks.
The other market is for expatriates from Australia, South Africa and the US, "doing Europe" and it is hoped they might include a one- or two-day stopover in Dublin in their itineraries.
And why not? Ireland offers "glorious scenery, an authentic experience, a warm welcome and unbeatable value", according to Minister of State Mr Eoin Ryan, who opened the travel trade event yesterday.