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?!

@heidivodca I don't read the Daily Mail, it's as hateful as Dubai. But tell us more about this whole entire year of tolerance – what happens when the time's up?

Look at what they have done to Sheikha Latifah. If they'll do that to one of their own, royalty at that.. No thanks. We might not have it 100% right here but they treat people like animals.

I am in Dubai just now. I’m sure you will be very safe as long as you don’t do anything silly. We are having a great time by the way.

Please keep on telling me how I don’t have any freedom when you have never been here - every time I have friends and family over they are amazed at life here and how it’s nothing like the press report it in the U.K.! How is dear old Blighty?

Heidi clearly couldn't support her ridiculous claim.

Run and built on the slave trade and abuse of children in household staff roles

Same as UK then. Funny how people forget about their own country's history.

OP seriously you will be fine. I lived out there for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed myself, was drunk many many times and affectionate with my husband. Dubai is 80% expat population and everyone tends to work hard and play hard. Try to book a Friday brunch if you can, a dubai institution and alot of fun. Ignore all the couldn't leave the hotel and stared at by men comments, fucking ridiculous.

Please keep on telling me how I don’t have any freedom when you have never been here - every time I have friends and family over they are amazed at life here and how it’s nothing like the press report it in the U.K.! How is dear old Blighty

And how are women's rights better @heidivodca?

How hard can it be to lay off the booze for a few days?

Lived in doobers for 10 years, never felt unsafe ever. Husband was paralytic one night and couldn't tell the taxi driver where to take him home so he spent the night in the cells. When he woke in the morning they cheerfully waved him off home and told him not to be an idiot in future (the door of the cell wasn't even locked). Lot of people on here with no personal experience and a lot of opinions. You'll be fine OP, just don't swear at a policeman, piss off anyone in Arab dress or shag on the beach.

Heidi you're so right. It sounds like paradise for women.

"Women’s Rights

Discrimination on the basis of sex and gender is not included in the definition of discrimination in the UAE’s 2015 anti-discrimination law.

Federal Law No. 28 of 2005 regulates personal status matters. Some of its provisions discriminate against women. For a woman to marry, her male guardian must conclude her marriage contract; men have the right to unilaterally divorce their wives, whereas a woman must apply for a court order to obtain a divorce; a woman can lose her right to maintenance if, for example, she refuses to have sexual relations with her husband without a lawful excuse; and women are required to “obey” their husbands. A woman may be considered disobedient, with few exceptions, if she decides to work without her husband’s consent.

UAE law permits domestic violence. Article 53 of the penal code allows the imposition of “chastisement by a husband to his wife and the chastisement of minor children” so long as the assault does not exceed the limits of Islamic law. Marital rape is not a crime. In 2010, theFederal Supreme Courtissued a ruling, citing thepenal code, that sanctions husbands’ beating and infliction of otherformsof punishment or coercion on their wives, provided they do not leave physical mark"

Why are you going there? Their human rights leave a lot to be desired.

@werideatdawn yeah those must be the wonderful women's rights that @heidivodca is referring to!

So Heidi, do you live in a gated community? Apologies if that's not the right term but do you live in one of the private areas where the rules are different in comparison to the ones outside? My friend lives in one and is under no illusions that life is very different for those within those confines compared to those outside.

@maryberryslayers My DM went there, she wore shorts. Men stopped and stared at her, slowed down in their cars to look at her and she was spat at by multiple people. She never ever did that again.

@heidivodca to you live in one of those commune type places with all the other expats? You know out of the real world? Lunching with similar women around the pool ..... saying how lucky you are?

You know that's not the real Dubai don't you?

Yes Dubai is built on slave labour. Yes Britain is too, but that was several hundred years ago. Dubai is being built and run on slave labour today.

And yes if you get raped there, do not report it. Go home.

Of course there are always those who claim it is fine. I am sure if MN had existed at the time we would have had white women living in South Africa telling us how happy black people were under apartheid. I guess it is too difficult to have a happy life if you don't live in denial of what is actually going on all around you.

I’ve been, my friend’s son lives and works there and we went to visit him. We lived for a week as an expat and it wasn’t like I expected.
We didn’t stay in a resort hotel so can’t comment on that.

Long shorts, cropped pants, skirts were all fine for going everywhere, we were advised to keep shoulders covered in the Malls but I saw plenty of people with bare shoulders too.

We travelled throughout Dubai as two women alone, used taxis and never found any problems.

Don’t think you will be enjoying a bottle of wine in a bar outside like in Europe, the bars and clubs we went to were usually behind closed doors and the ones we visited were rooftop type ones so a fairly normal door to an office type block then the bars and restaurants were up several floors in the lift.

I went with a friend so there wasn’t any hand holding but I wouldn’t recommend being overly tactile, that said it’s a different vibe, not one where I would have been inclined to get romantic in the street. As long as you are respectful of local culture as a westerner you should be fine.

I am sure it’s different in the villages but you won’t be going there.

I found is VERY safe, as in you can leave your handbag unaccompanied on your chair when you go to the loo and it will still be there when you get back.

It’s really not like I expected at all, in a very positive way.

I cannot imagine going on holiday to a place that thinks my gay friends are criminal and should be imprisoned if they admit to or show any behaviour that is considered homosexual. And as I'm not married, would do similar to me and my partner. Let alone all the rest of it.

My daughter in law grew up in Dubai with her ex pat parents and left as soon as she turned 18. She says it’s an awful place to live knowing how people are treated beyond the gates of their community.

I imagine heidi knows the real dubai more than most people on this thread seeing as she actually lives there

How hard can it be to lay off the booze for a few days?

Why on earth would she not drink when she is on holiday in a place full of bars and nightclubs and everyone else is enjoying themselves? She's not going to Saudi FFS

Lots of armchair Simon Calder’s on this thread.

You’ll be fine OP, have a great time

I've not long returned from Dubai, was incredibly anxious about it before going especially the clothes thing but people are everywhere in tiny shorts/dresses etc.

Tuesday is ladies night, where you'll definitely see ladies walking about pissed wearing little clothing. Go to pier 7 for dinner, and free drinks for you.

Friday brunch is a must, we went to the crowne plaza in festival city.

heidivodca I see you still can’t come up with anything to even try and prove your delusions then.