UAE - Dos and donts

[cjt110]

I have found after a google some handy do's and dont's when visiting the UAE but it'd be great to know from people who have been/live there any customary things etc such as whether to tip etc.

Thanks

#1 tip, very important.

If you're female, don't ever go there.

#2 tip, very important.

See tip #1

#1 Read up on the UAE justice system
#2 Avoid

Not very helpful but thanks

Well I certainly wouldn't be heading there ate moment

littlemiss has it nailed.

It's not until Sept - we are watching the news/FCO advice closely.

Dress modestly - shoulders and knees covered. Lots don’t but you should.

Try and not go in September, it’s normally horribly humid........

And yes tip, it’s really not that different to UK in terms of stuff like that

I suppose @Autumn101 I would just hate to upset anyone. We went to the Maldives years ago and dressed modestly when going to Male. A fellow tourist had the shortest shorts and lowest vest top ever. I felt mortfied.

In terms of manners etc it's just normal I guess...

It's things such as do we tip or not.. then i read about accepting and eating food with the right hand and though oh my gosh...

Is this a holiday or a business trip? If the former rebook somewhere else.

Honestly don’t worry! The majority of UAE is such a multicultural place with such a variety of nationalities everyone does things differently. And really if you’re in a mall full of UK shops and chain restaurants it’s no different.

Depending on where you’re staying though try and get out the cities and see some of the lesser known tourist sites - there’s a lot more to the country than malls and 5* hotels

@Autumn101 We are staying in Fujairah as opposed to Dubai. A bit less hussle and bustle.

Dress modestly in public, carry a scarf in the event you want to visit a mosque. Hotels will have private beaches where you can wear swimwear, I wouldn't advise that on public beaches. Don't walk around visibly drunk or being loud.

Fujairah is lovely! Very quiet and peaceful, see if you can do a boat trip and snorkeling/diving - sometimes can see wild dolphins too

My parents live there. They are very relaxed about the Iran thing and point out that a lot of the press stories don't tell the entire picture. I don't agree with them about a lot of the stuff that goes on there but I also agree that there is a lot of scaremongering. Dubai seems to be a particular favourite here on MN for scaremongering. I have felt less safe visiting parts of the UK than I have in Dubai.

As others have said, dress moderately, don't do public displays of affection, don't get blind drunk, don't do anything illegal, and be respectful and you will be fine.

Oh for goodness sake - mention Dubai on here and everyone gets on ridiculously.

You'll be fine OP. No one cares about what hand you use to eat with. Don't wear hot pants to the mall and you're grand.

I've lived in Dubai for 5 years and it's fine. Nothing to worry about. Fujairah is lovely. Enjoy your trip.

Oh and tips - yes customarily about 10% if in a restaurant is appreciated for good service. Any Qs let me know but don't panic.

I'd say you're unlikely to be sexually assaulted or robbed, but if you are, do not report it. The UAE will not support you, you will not get justice, you and not a rapist are the one who will probably end up arrested and jailed. Similar to what happened in Cyprus but turned up to 11.

I would be especially wary about going there for work. Even in a seemingly high-status professional job, it can easily turn bad in the UAE if you're a foreign worker and your employer decides to be a shithead.

PS: So I suppose my "don't" is

Don't report or even discuss any crimes against you until you are back in your home country.

If you’re getting a taxi from the airport/port, do make sure the driver uses the meter - don’t accept a flat price, it’ll be way over the odds.

Do respect female-only carriages on the metro; it’s strictly observed, but they aren’t very clearly marked, in my experience.

Do not expect to find alcohol routinely; some hotel bars sell it, but restaurants and shops don’t. Our livers must have thanked us for our time in UAE.

As a side issue, we found a couple of supermarkets selling packaged pork products (away from the main part of the shop). We didn’t buy any, as a Muslim friend had told us that pigs are considered unclean, and we thought it might be unpleasant for the assistant to have to handle ham, as much as we fancied some.

Don't go if you are not married or in a same sex relationship! Dress modestly when in public

Honestly these threads are ridiculous! Ive been to Dubai and Abu Dhabi countless times and there is nothing to worry about.

1. Don't go in Gold Class/Female only carriage on the metro if you are not female or do not have a Gold Card ticket

1. Don't go wandering around malls in bikini tops...be respectful but at the same time it's a tourist destination so you will see lots of different clothing.

1. Alcohol is hard to find except in hotels and its very expensive

1. Have an amazing time-it's an amazing place and Im sure you will love it.

I got in the parent/child carriage on the Metro by mistake but the ticket inspector (who incidentally was female) merely told me to swop carriages at the next stop. No big deal, I wasn't arrested or otherwise humiliated.

I've been there loads. The only things I am super strict about is I don't get drunk or even tipsy and I always cover shoulders and legs. I carry a pashmina too as I find sometimes I just feel better with more coverage over arms and upper body.

Most importantly make sure have a Friday there, look up Friday Brunch and get booked into one before you go . Friday Brunch is massive there and usually absolutely amazing.

Be extremely careful about taking any medication with you. Do not take anything that isn't prescribed and make sure you have a copy of your prescription with you. A number of medicines that are readily available here, e.g. paracetamol with codeine (even the low strength over-the-counter version) are illegal in the UAE and foreigners regularly get jailed for carrying them, even in transit through an airport.