DUBAI

PDA’s between adults are discouraged but holding hands is fine, of course you can cuddle your kid, people are really nice to kids across the GCC. Extra nice if your kid is polite and well behaved.

Oh no, my human rights to break the law are not respected 🤣🤣🤣 nobody has to take drugs do they?

Oh my gosh, you are really overthinking this. Kids have an amazing time in Dubai, everyone caters to them. Mothers are also looked after, of course you can cuddle your son in public.

I’m going in October, staying at Le Royal Meridian.

My 11 year old son is very openly affectionate to me- holding hands, hugs and kisses. He still sometimes sits on my knee! Will that be ok as he’s my child? He’s still a couple of inches shorter than me. OTOH after 17 years of marriage DH and I can keep our hand off each other in public no problem.😂

My holiday wardrobe is either strappy midi dresses/ skirts and tops or loose mini dresses but with sleeves. Mini for me is mid thigh at the shortest! Will pack a cotton shawl.

So you don't mind going on holiday to a country that shits all over people's human rights, uses torture, and turns a blind eye to abuse of the foreign workforce who do most of the actual work, provided you can wear a SWIMSUIT by the pool??

You have bigger problems than your sartorial choices.

Human rights in the United Arab Emirates - Wikipedia

My DD finishes work early on a Friday, Saturday off and works part of Sunday, maybe it does very company to company.

Which posters are "bleating about" Dubai and also recommending Budepest, precisely?

I love the MN's bleating about Dubai. These are the same people who are quick to recommend a city break to the lovely Budapest. Really? I wouldn't step food in Victor Orban's right wing Hungary. Try being openly gay there.

My male, gay hairdresser would never return there to live.

@cymbidium @tartareistasty
Sheik Mo declared the weekend Saturday/ Sunday back in January 2022. Schools compressed their week to be Monday - Thursday with a half day Friday. Big business is Monday to Friday in keeping with the majority of the rest of the world. Some companies allow employees to have Friday afternoon for prayers. Theoretically the employee is meant to return to work. In reality that doesn't always happen.
Regarding brunches. Well that's interesting. Most moved to Saturday, some stayed as Friday for a while and some moved to Sunday.

Depends on company as I understand. Some do Friday or at least half off, some don't anymore. But it's the Jumuah and lots of people still keep the Friday afternoon/eve as main event meeting up families etc.

What do you mean? Friday is the big weekend day in Dubai.

Yeh except the weekend is Saturday and Sunday these days...

About 70% of Dubai population are South Asians (similar number for whole UAE) .
The problem is that the worst is usually done by own people. Every time there was an article about my nationality people being saved from modern slavery situation in uk, usually agriculture, you could bet all your savings it was our people leading it. And you would not lose.

Was trying to reply to @SpottyWindow ’s post about privilege, to agree that you’ll be fine as a holidaying westerners, just don’t be poor and brown.

This. Absolutely this

I generally wore t shirts with short sleeves and cropped trousers below the knee, going out and about in Dubai. If I wanted to go into a mosque, I had to wear long sleeves and trousers, and a head scarf. Alternatively, the mosque lends women visitors an abayeh (spelling?); but it’s very hot on top of clothes! Actually, we went to Oman recently and I wore the long trousers, sleeves and head scarf in the grand mosque. I felt cooler than in short sleeves, cropped trousers, a sun hat and loads of sun cream!

I didn’t swim, but I have no doubt if I had wanted to, I’d have been ok in a swimming costume, so long as I covered up, outside the pool area. (We stayed with a relative in an apartment block with its own pool).

I would have been more worried about swearing and PDAs in public! You can drink in the big hotels, but our relative warned us, we had to be able to walk down the street in a straight line afterwards. Not that it was a problem, as we got a taxi there and back. I recommend going for brunch in a big hotel on a Friday! It’s fantastic!

Ok read on tripadvisor, doesn’t look very interesting apart from the beautiful building.0

Anyone been to the museum of the future, what was it like and was it worth it?

I understand the need for sun and a complete rest, staying in the resort and enjoying the facilities etc. What I don't get is why go all the way to Dubai for that? Is it the price? Is a 5 star there better and cheaper than Europe ... or possibly the time of year? When are you going?

Go visit the malls and the old part of Dubai. All the gold is a sight.

If someone starts a thread about Dubai people are going to give their opinions on Dubai.

Are the same posters who are raving about Cuba also the ones criticising Dubai?

You will be fine. You are a westerner not a migrant worker from the Indian subcontinent. Your privilege will keep you safe.

It's fine. We nor married either bur in resorts there are no issues. Obviously no drugs, don't get drink outside the resort, if you go shopping then cover legs to knees and cover arms to be respectful, wear ehatever at the pool but cover to go inside. I've always found it very safe.

I have presumed this is because its all done within certain hotel or resort confines.

Most buildings here have pools. There are restaurants on every corner, it's amazing. You can find anything from 10 dirham shawarma to expensive restaurant. Lots of happy hours (though in many cases the prices still give me eye twitch). I think there are 4 places with alcohol licence within 15 min walk from mine. Not that I walk now in summer anywhere but building's gym😂
It's very social place ime. I have ME inlaws and there is always something going on.

I have a friend whose daughter lives and works in Dubai. She is always swimming, out drinking and eating - moreso than anyone else I know on sm. I have presumed this is because its all done within certain hotel or resort confines.

I've never been there because there doesn't seem to be much to attract me (I can't sit in the sun for long and don't like shopping) but I'm.all for trying anywhere once and probably will go one day. The hotels look fabulous.