Don't confuse "menial" with "low paid". I'm sure there are many Indians working in Dubai that do just as much non-menial labor as others and simply get paid a lot less for it...just as in other parts of the world.
Also, try not to degrade "menial" labor unless you've spent a few years digging ditches yourself. Your perspective may change.
I don't think he was degrading the work. The definition of "menial" is:
"of or relating to servants"
He was saying that many of the Indians there are working under conditions that can make it impossible to leave weather they would like to or not. That is not a comment on Indians in general nor on the value of digging ditches. Rather it seems to be a comment on the terrible societal problems in Dubai.
And also don't confuse "Indians" with "low paid". I'm not Indian myself, but I've had plenty of colleagues who are, and get paid as good a salary (if not better) than most Americans in the same job. I'm not sure I like this constant association with being Indian and being paid in pennies.
Also, try not to degrade "menial" labor unless you've spent a few years digging ditches yourself. Your perspective may change.