DUBAI

[Question10]

I have booked a holiday to Dubai in a 5 star hotel on the palm. The plan is to stay in the resort for the week & enjoy the pool etc. AIBU to worry about going to Dubai? One of my friends has told me that she would never go there because of their strict laws and she’s got me worried. I’ve done some googling and I’m still a bit worried. Will I be able to wear a swimming costume at the pool? Do I need to cover up? If you have been to Dubai before, I would really appreciate your opinion.

Not sure why you’re going then. Plenty of lovely resorts in far less controversial places that are much closer.

@DisquietintheRanks

Yes I don't travel to places that have shit rights for women or treat migrant workers like slaves. I hope that clears it up for you.

And @DisquietintheRanks there is a difference between state sanctioned lack of rights and countries where there is a lack of enforcement of rights.

@jeaux90 you lost credibility a bit on the first page tbh

@jeaux90 can you tell me what these shit women’s rights are? I want to know how I’m being oppressed.

Gosh, like the United Kingdom? Sounds awful in regards to human rights.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/europe-and-central-asia/united-kingdom/report-united-kingdom/

@Sowhatifthatswhatisaid ah annoying! I feel like my biggest day to day grievances here all relate to the “computer says no” things and script following. I personally haven’t felt treated unequally due to being a woman, and for what it’s worth people wouldn’t assume I’m “western”.

Totally forgot about the temp! Yes I was there this time last year and it hit 40 some days. It’s only an issue outside though, conversely the you may need a cardie indoors as the aircon is very chilly in some places

Sounds a little bit Aunt Lydia and the difference between freedom to and freedom from…
land those saying what can’t you do as a ‘non-Muslim woman’ are missing the point - I don’t want to go somewhere whereany woman is subjected to even more patriarchal nonsense than here.

Just checking in after a busy day! This thread has moved on from my original question but thank you for all comments. It’s much food for thought.
Some posters asked where I’m staying … it’s the Rixos hotel on the Palm with access to the water park at the Atlantis.

Sounds great OP.
Just be prepared for the high temps outside and humidity if you are going soon.
Enjoy!

I have a few Muslim female friends who have relocated to Dubai and one to Qatar. They have wonderful lives as do majority of the emirati women out there. Sorry to disappoint you but they are not oppressed and locked up like you would like to believe.
Save your pity party for British women who are unsafe here in the UK and heading down a dangerous road of having our rights completely trampled over.

Enjoy OP, sounds lovely. You’ve actually got me thinking about visiting Dubai again, a friend has been asking me and my kids to go visit her for months and I might just take her up on it! Have a lovely trip.

Sounds just like the UK 😂

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Fund*

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

@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.

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.

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.