DUBAI

I lived there for a while.
No other comment to make, but as a western holidaymaker you will be fine.

Hearmeout · Today 11:16
Only on MN can you ask a question about clothes and get a lecture that nobody, not a single soul, asked for.

Yes - and there’s so much hypocrisy here about travel. People rave about Cuba - “oh the people had nothing but they were so happy” with no mention of Cuba’s appalling human rights record.
I asked a poster upthread if she’d go to Iran, China or Malaysia to name a few and no answer.

Only on MN can you ask a question about clothes and get a lecture that nobody, not a single soul, asked for.

From mostly women anyway, for mostly men there's Reddit bores.

Funnily nor I nor my DH had to change how we behave in public. Because we didn't cause scenes or did pdas in uk anyway.

I went in March and stayed on the Palm, absolutely fine to wear normal holiday attire in the resort /on private beach.

As for safety, my DD has just moved out there for work, she's 21, in her own apartment and I genuinely believe she is a lot safer there than she would be in UK in a big city alone. I sleep soundly at night because she's there

The oppression is in the laws about behaviour.

You don’t have to stay in resorts to be safe there. That’s so far from how it is.

I saw that too 😂

Agreed. The whole place is built on exploitation

Currently under fog (and dust) cloud with rain and wind😂

Because of this I really felt like going back, asked my dh who looked up flights straight away and are now booking to go for 10 days this autumn. 😬 I can already feel the sun..

Cardibach would you go to China , Malaysia or Iran for example?
They are all beautiful countries with lots to see but their human rights are not in accord with liberal western views.

You do realise that the fact that as women "We've all held our keys walking home" is outrageous? As is the fact that I can't get home from the closest city to my own home (after a night out at the theatre) without planning my route, watching my back and eventually deciding a taxi is the safest option? The fact that the taxi is not risk free is also totally unacceptable.

I am a conservative practising Muslim and I have a huge problem with the way UAE treats women, migrants, people of colour

I hardly think I can be called islamophobic?

in fact it's main problem is that it actually is very far from adhering to fundamental islamic principles - equality, justice, mercy and also there is open prostitution etc. its essentially the Vegas of the middle east.

I am from Bangladesh and many of our citizens are lured there and then work under abyssmal conditions with NO rights. they are imprisoned and killed without trial. small children are also kidnapped/bought from Bangladesh to be sex trafficked or as camel jockeys. many of these children die.

the ruler kidnapped two of his own daughters and they live in prison like conditions.

criticising a nation where 'muslims' live is not islamophobia. we should ALL be open to scrutiny.

I'm not saying the UK is perfect, but I feel safer here as a woman, a person of colour and a Muslim than I would anywhere in the middle east.

I would never go anywhere homosexuality is illegal and women need a man's permission to marry or leave the country and can be legally "chastised" by her husband. That's not islamophobia.

@cardibach
'What does allowing places of worship have to do with whether the state and main religion is oppressive?'

It's hardly oppressive to the people who live there when they allow all religions to flourish within their emirate.

What does allowing places of worship have to do with whether the state and main religion is oppressive?

Fund*

By ‘unsafe’ I mean I’ve never really felt I was at significant risk. We’ve all held our keys walking home etc. Rather that than funs a regime based in slavery. You keep saying it’s Islamophobia. It’s not.

There are many churches, and other religious buildings in Dubai. There is even a synagogue now. Why do people persist in spreading misinformation?

Assuming you are an adult woman, if you have genuinely never felt unsafe in the UK, I can assure you..you are in a tiny, teeny minority and extremely privileged. Either that or you’re a hermit.

I am not claiming Dubai is perfect, but the hatred it gets from mumsnet is nothing more than Islamophobia. Women are treated awfully in the UK and in plenty of other countries. It’s always the Muslim countries posters are quick to claim they would never visit due to human rights issues. I hope they’re all packing their bags and preparing to leave the UK if that’s the case.

This will be my last post as OP’s thread has got derailed. Enjoy your holiday OP.

Ffs. These people that just perpetuate ridiculous rumours. I lived in Dubai for 16 years. You do not need to cover up and drinking is fine.
All they ask is that you are respectful away from the resorts. You don't need to wear an abaya 🙄 just don't wear tops where the cleavage is below your crotch and our shorts shorter than most people's knickers and you'll be fine.
It's all about respect.
Taxis are cheap. Shopping malls are unbelievable. Service is excellent. Please and thank you. Be respectful and you'll have a great time.
Have a fab time. Not sure when you're going but it is hot hot hot currently and humid.
Ignore the naysayers. It isnt perfect but much has changed with regard to how maids and labourers are treated but that doesn't make for good news.

I’ve never felt unsafe in the U.K.
However safe Dubai may be, it’s achieved by authoritarian rules and enforcement. And it’s built on slave labour.
Why are you so keen to defend it as a utopia? It’s not.

You ll be fine in resort, just need a cover up to walk through hotel reception areas, you don’t have to wear maxi dresses if you going to the mall etc just not anything too revealing or very short, I lived there for 6 years it’s not strict at all, you ll have a great time. Only things you need to be aware of especially around the locals is swearing, PDAs and behaving badly whilst drunk ( skinny dipping fighting etc ) theft and drug talking also a big No no. Just pack what you normally would for a holiday, take a thin neutral scarf to pop in your bag for nights out of resort if you wearing a strappy or low cut dress so you can cover up if you end up somewhere where there are a lot of locals.

Sounds just like the UK 😂