DUBAI

I’d suspect that’s more whose visa the child was registered with. My kids are on my visa so I am the one who signs off all decisions, my husband needs to get my permission to enroll into school, apply for government things for them. And our shared bank account has me as the primary holder (as I’m the higher earner) so all banking comms comes to me.

You win the thread😂
What happened to her?

Hi, I am visually impaired, and went on my own to attend a conference a couple of years ago. Yes, wearing a swimsuit by the pool is fine, they were serving beer at the conference, so I guess in the hotel it’s fine. I don’t drink, so I don’t worry about that kind of thing though. There is plenty of air conditioning, and there are also ladies taxis, so I took one of those and felt very safe. The drivers are also ladies. There was a cockroach in the taxi as well, but maybe she was also, a lady, I just wish she had kept out of my shoes…

But what exactly is religiously oppressive or blatantly misogynistic here in Dubai? You have been here so you don’t have firsthand experience. Can you highlight the exact oppression a non-Muslim woman would face here? Spell it out.

What’s wrong with the cooked breakfast? I could seriously go just for the breakfast at InterContinental Festival City (or dinner). It is fantastic, absolutely fantastic!

I wouldn’t put a penny of my money into the coffers of oppressive countries. Dubai would be an absolute no for me as would any religiously oppressive or blatantly mysogynistic country.

Are you staying at Atlantis on the Palm? It’s a fantastic place to stay, we loved it. I felt very safe in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, both great places.

Avoid the cooked breakfast!

I've seen similarly dressed people trying to go to church in France.
Istanbul was an eye opener tbh. Especially Sultan Ahmet tomb. It's a mausoleum, people really need to have some resoect and not prance around uncovered. My jaw dropped at people arguing in mosque about wanting to wear shoes and few wanted to come up into the specified prayer area so they can get better pics🙄

Dubai Marina is extremely touristy. We usually stay elsewhere but went to have a look and thought I suddenly was in Spain or something.

I was told once that I couldn't open a bank account for my child and my husband had to do it. That's the only other one I've found and it felt like a legacy rule I could have challenged if I really cared.

Interestingly I've faced a lot of misogyny in Dubai but never from an Emirati.

Years ago we went to Egypt & there was a young girl waltzing around the pyramids with her shorts stuck up the crack of her arse 🙄 I wouldn’t dare as apart from respecting laws, they greedily stared at my ankles like I was naked. Although I don’t have massive tits, I’ve never known anyone stare at them so much whilst talking to me either.

Soz OP, I’ve gone through the airport many times but never fancied it. Whilst the heat’s unbearable, the AC’s brutal.

Necessary though!

i was listening to LBC and there was a gay man who used to live with his partner there and he said it was tacitly accepted and people turned a blind eye and he was fine in the uae and loved his life and there was an undercover gay scene, he compared it as stark contrast to other gulf countries like qatar and Kuwait. Obviously I wouldn’t want to speak over him but it’s pretty evident you couldn’t be as a gay couple in the uae as you could here but the uae isn’t really a pda place, so perhaps there’s that

Still better than some other tourist popular places. Here it can be done to save the woman (medical reasons), in quite a few countries even that is not allowed.

The only right I don’t have in Dubai, that I have in the U.K., is the right to have an abortion.

Enlighten me. What rights do I not have, that you do.

I always wear linen shift dresses or loose cotton trousers and t shirt when sightseeing. That way I’m church-ready. I find shorts and strappy tops uncomfortable when sightseeing.

You will be absolutely fine wearing what ever you normally wear on holiday. The only reason I wore a little more in the shopping malls/indoor attractions/restaurants was because the aircon is always on super high everywhere you go so it does get chilly inside!

enjoy and don’t worry!

Ignore the ignorant Islamaphobic responses with outdated information - I’d love to know what rights they think I don’t have here

Oh wow. Someone has never switched the news on.

This is not true and hasn't been true for a while. If you don't know what you're talking about please don't comment. The position in Dubai is a million miles from Qatar. I have lived in both.

OP you can wear what you want. Personally I wouldn't go to Mall of the Emirates in hot pants and with my midriff on show but then (a) not a good look for me anyway, (c) I would be really cold as others have said, and (c) I've seen plenty of people do it. They get the odd stare but no one says anything. You don't need to have shoulders and knees covered anywhere but government offices and mosques.

There are some areas of Dubai you wouldn't want to have a lot of skin on show but they're unlikely to be areas you'd go to as a tourist and it's normally because of the number of men from conservative cultures that are likely to stare. No one's going to arrest you.

In terms of the pool, the insta pics are right in terms of what people wear. I'm not sure I'd wander through the lobby in a bikini (but then see (a) above), but is that a done thing in other places? I think if you can do it in a hotel in Spain you can do it in a hotel on the Palm in Dubai.

Been to the uae numerous times. The only thing i would say is don't wander around the streets drunk. But otherwise wear what you want. And within a resort its no different to europe.

Your biggest concern will be how expensive it is

I like beer and omg. This is my only issue here😂 We buy our favourite in Ajman now, but bars in Dubai cost an arm and leg outsode of specific happy hours. Cheaper in places like Ras Al Khaimah but too far to go regularly.

You’ll be safe, I personally wouldn’t go as it’s a playground for the rich built on the back of slaves. Also the gay rights would be another no

Zero clothing restrictions in Dubai- if in good taste.
Don't walk around malls in a bikini, do this at the pool/ pool bar.
Don't wear tasteless , very showy clothes and go and sit next to locals and swear a lot. This will not go down well.
Dress for your night out as you would in UK. Don't stumble around drunk in public and swear at people.
Just behave in a way that is socially acceptable in UK and you will be fine and have a great time.
Your biggest concern will be how expensive it is. Get a copy of a time out as soon as you land and find out the nights where ladies drink for free.
If single and you meet a guy on a night out- be discreet- public kissing is not allowed but all that will happen is a gentle tap on the shoulder and asked to stop- nothing worse. Same goes in taxis- just behave like your gran is driving you home and you will be fine.
It's just good manners that you need to take with you- that's all.
You really do need to do more research about Dubai. It's huge fun with great club nights.

I’ve lived here for years, and it’s far far safer than the UK, especially as a non-white woman. Wear your bikini at the pool, pull on a floaty summer dress to head back inside. I’m currently sat at a cafe in a tank top cotton dress and sandals, as are most of the women around me. If you’re on the Palm, the hotels there do attract a lot of the Love Island type, so expect to see lots of mini dresses and thong bottoms.

Basically no crime, never felt uncomfortable around men here, police are very friendly and happy to help. Ignore the ignorant Islamaphobic responses with outdated information - I’d love to know what rights they think I don’t have here.
Tbh it’s the British tourists who pose more of a threat to residents. One that comes to mind is when my friend was sexually touched by a British male tourist and he was immediately arrested, charged, and sent home. She was offered lots of help from the police and follow up support. They take crimes against women very seriously here.