DH thinks we're going to get arrested in Dubai

[willyougobacktobed]

Going to Dubai next week for Easter on a mini break with DH. As a tactile couple who enjoys a couple of drinks with dinner he's getting really anxious that we're going to get arrested if we a) unthinkingly give each other a peck on the cheek or b) share a bottle of wine and have a giggle.

He has googled their strict laws and legal systems LOTS.

I think he's BU, his worries and mithering are making me not look as forward to a holiday I've saved hard for as much as I otherwise would.

Are we going to get arrested?!

I very rarely comment on posts (I’m a watcher). Anyway I felt I needed to give the op some advice from someone who lived there for a few years. I lived on the marina and walked around on my own and got the tram/metro alone regularly. I wore normal summer clothes sometimes with shot sleeves sometimes with thin straps. I also wore shorts and just above the knee skirts and dresses. I never felt uncomfortable or stared at. My husband and I went out to hotels for food and drinks and behaved exactly as we would in any restaurant/bar across the world. You will have a fantastic time and wonder why you were worried at all. Enjoy!

@clairemcnam.
Do you worry about everything and it's social cost. Seems a stressful way to exist.
Do you have a holiday destination that is guilt free?

This is such an annoying thread. Lots of people seem to think that unless you've been somewhere you are incapable of understanding their legal system. This is obviously rubbish. Also many pointless anecdotes saying "I went and I wasn't arrested!" so irrelevant. One of the most concerning things about the place is the inconsistent enforcement of the laws. What's fine for one is punishable by a life sentence for another.

If you enjoy spending time in soulless pockets of nauseating wealth surrounded by a desert of poverty, exploitation, misogyny and homophobia then go. You'll love it.

Buster Do you not consider human rights abuses and exploitation when considering where to go on holiday? Would you have went on holiday to South Africa during apartheid?

And I am not stupid. I know a lot of people actually don't really care about anyone outside their immediate family.
But the world is made a batter place all the time by those who do care and who campaign and work to make the world a better place.
I am very well travelled and have travelled to many countries. And yes you can do this and try and be ethical as a tourist. Of course nothing is 100% ethical. But there are red lines.

I have lived and worked in the UAE.
IMO you'll be fine as long as you:

Drink alcohol only where it's obviously OK to do so
Do not get remotely drunk
Do not snog or grope in public
Except for on the beach, or in beach resort areas, dress conservatively - no shorts or skimpy tops, no very tight jeans or leggings with short tops, skirts or dresses should be knee length. Best to avoid avoid anything sleeveless.
No singlets - which are ghastly anyway - for men.
Do not - anywhere public - say anything critical of the country or its government.

I used to love Dubai, but that was years ago. Apart from reliable sun and nice warm sea, I don't think I'd like it at all now that it's changed so much, seems to appeal mostly to those who like shopping and bling.

This is a thread about Dubai....?

Yes but my (pretty obvious, I thought) point was that they don't queue up to bash other holiday destinations when threads are started about them, even though all or many of the same issues, or different but equally questionable ones, exist in that country.

There is something peculiar to Dubai that brings this extreme reaction in people - mainly those who haven't actually been there.

Yes but my (pretty obvious, I thought) point was that they don't queue up to bash other holiday destinations when threads are started about them, even though all or many of the same issues, or different but equally questionable ones, exist in that country.

Whataboutery in its purest form.

I haven't seen any threads about other places where the rights of women are awful but hey not to matter they have shiny things in shops and it's nice and hot.
I'd say the same about those places if I did!

Are you on any threads about India? Indonesia? Malaysia? The Maldives? Egypt? China? Just off the top of my head?

Women are not subjegated here. The UAE is probably more fair on womens rights and equality than many many other countries including the 'developed' countries. It's not perfect and not without it's problems, that's for sute, bit some of the tripe being spouted here is ridiculous. I have lived here, admittedly in Abu Dhabi, for nearly 12 years and have 2 daughters whom i have no issues bringing up here.
Yes there a disparities in society, as there are everywhere ... the gap between the top and the bottom tiers in society are no different to anywhere else.
If you look into the workers rights issues you will see that it is illegal to hold onto employees passports, where construction workers are 'indebted' and unable to leave is more down to agency fees in their own countries where they are charged exhorbitant fees to find a job for them here and it taking years to pay this back ... this is also illegal here however it unfortunately does still happen. They do not live on the street. They live in construction worker villages ... some are grear anf yes some are absolute shit-holes ... the shit-hole ones are against workers rights and companies that run them are being prosecuted ... things are chaning but change can take time. Just as in any other country many things are against the law but unscrupulous employers still try to get away with shafting employees ... happens in all countries. I'm sure given human rights are issues all over the world including the UK you won't travel anywhere ... turkey, anywhere in Africa, anywhere in any part of Asia, lots of parts of the Americas, close to home lots of shitty lives for migrants in any EU country and shitty lives for any families living below the poverty line.
Prostitution... I'm pretty sure this exists in all countries and not just here ... if you are saying this is a rwaso you would not come here, I 'm sure that means you will not travel to amy other country that has prostitution either.
Gated communties .. not really a thing here .... there are a few (more like posh housing estates if you ask me) but there is a diverse mix of people living here ... I think you are all confusing with Saudi. I've lived in apartments the whole time I've been here with all different nationalities.
Nowhere is perfect. Ot certai ly isn't perfect here but it's a damn sight safer and more inclusive than a lot of other countries that i bet a lot of you would happily go on holiday to without a second thought.

Ellenborough I have never seen a thread on here about people going on holiday to other places with as bad human rights records. When I see threads about people going on holiday to North Korea or Yemen I will comment.
I have seen threads about going on holiday to Turkey with many negative comments about their attitude to and treatment of women.

As long as they could get a suntan and go shopping, probably.

Said by @GucciDay**

LOL, yes the irony was not lost on me either.

lilbaby I do not know how you have the front to post such a load of rubbish and lies.

How do you make out it is rubbish and lies?

Just read some of the links posted to organisations that talk about the reality in terms of human rights abuses and women.

@clairemcnam

Ahhhhhh.....must be true then if it's on the internet.......
Daily Mail sounds a good source for you too.

Yes I have. I've also worked with HRW organisations here as they have done their reports so I'm not blind to realities, bit also nor am i blind to the fact the UAE does take these reports seriously and is trying to act to vhange and rectify things. You talk about passports being held ..this is illegal. Recruitment firms taking bribes or kickbacks is also illegal. Housing staff in ub-human comditions is illegal. Withholding salaries is illegal. All of these things are illegal. Does it mean they don't happen ... of course not ... unfortunately they do happen but not because the law allows it...and companies that do carry out these practices are being cracked down on but it takes time.
But as I said. If you have issues with any of tgese types of HR issuesyou should not travel anywhere because unscrupulous employers treat peiple like sgit and abuse their human rights everywhere

For God's sake, Nigellas. You're embarrassing yourself.

www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/united-arab-emirates

www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde25/9899/2019/en/

Human rights organisations and other ngos are biased. I was at a meeting of a hro once and they had nominated someone to be a spokesperson for an area that he had never visited, didn’t speak the language of, and freely admitted he had no working experience of.
Disclaimer: I have never been to Dubai

Lots of people seem to think that unless you've been somewhere you are incapable of understanding their legal system. This is obviously rubbish
You can read on legal systems but it diesnt mean that you will be submitted to what's officially legal and these are the bits that people who don't have the experience of being there are missing.

There are many British laws that don't apply on every day life, many most residents have no clue about.

This thread is sadly just confirming that people get way more outraged about what clothes they can wear on holiday than how people are treated in the UAE. Despite people trying to discuss some of the (real and true) pretty horrible reality for many people in UAE (exploited workers and treatment of women) people just ignore that and are giving restaurant tips!
WTF

You don't get much freedom inside a jail cell for the crime of being raped.

Yes Nigella I have posted links to respected human rights organisations. But keep going on about the Daily Mail as if it is all made up.

lilbaby There are lots of things that are illegal in lots of countries where there is little or no police enforcement. Everything I have read says that Dubai police take very seriously a theft of property from tourists or rich expats living there. It is about what a Government actually thinks is worth enforcing legally.

And someone above who works in human rights has explained how things are getting worse in Dubai, not better.

Human rights organisations and other ngos are biased.

Well, I suppose it's back to viewing Dubai entirely as the background to footballers' WAGs 'flaunting their curves' in a bikini poolside via the tabloids then. Clearly a far more accurate source of information.