New Dubai and - deeply uncomfortable

[UnderTheStairs51]

There seems to be a new ad promoting Dubai as a holiday destination.

The one that starts and ends with 'swim first'.

I have been sad enough to pause it and hands are bare of rings walking through the market so no indication they are a married couple.

You'd run a risk to behave in the way shown on a public beach surely. They are not in swimming gear so what's the implication here?

I do think people should understand local rules when they visit other places but this seems to send out a message completely at odds with this.

Just me?

That is... Like 99% countries. Probably 100%.

I’m not disagreeing with you by the way, but this isn’t something that’s specific to the UAE.
I see lots of travel recommendations on here for countries where poverty is rife, and the difference between rich and poor is stark. Cambodia is one that springs to mind, but there are many others. I appreciate there is a class divide in the UK, but in comparison to many populations of the world, it is actually very minimum.

Right!! The mass hysteria on MN in regards to Dubai is batshit.

Would you have gone swimming in the sea with your husband after a night out?

My question in in regard to this specific piece of marketing, not the merits or otherwise of Dubai but whether this is an appropriate representation.

Yes how liberal we are with free for all shoplifting. At least they have some strict laws.

I guess Amnesty International are batshit too 🙄

God what absolute nonsense. Why is Mumsnet such a weird hotbed of uninformed information about Dubai.

Of course you can hold hands in Dubai. Men hold hands in Dubai .

Dubai has always been ready to sell itself to anyone - available to the highest bidder. It's a tourist ad I assume but the reality of Dubai is that things are unpredictable. Yes you can drink alcohol at many many venues. Yes you can go to clubs and dance. All it takes however is one person to report you to the police and you are busted. This would normally involve a local emirati who didn't like something. You will always get " the pink ticket". You will get the blame. Nude swimming would be a no.

Why is everyone talking about holding hands when that has nothing to do with why the advert is questionable?

If you are at beach open for night swimming, why not?

They have turned a blind eye to unmarried foreign couples for many years now. They want our money! I personally wouldn't visit for human rights reasons, particularly how workers from poorer countries are treated, modern day slavery etc, their rules on unmarried couples and alcohol are up to them.

I guess Amnesty International are batshit too 🙄

Absolutely they are. Have you seen their X account? They're constantly posting stuff like "Trans women are women" over and over again. They're not a serious organisation any more.

Not as scuzzy as the UK where kids get stabbed in school, swearing, fighting drunks are normal in town centres, pavement covered in puke and litter and robbing and mugging is commonplace.

@colinthedogfromaccounts

Not true, the wearing of the hijab is far more complicated than "a woman's choice" my friend wears a niqab because it would affect her husbands business if it appeared that he wasn't "in control of his wife" yet she's the strongest woman I know and it's her brains behind the business, her husband doesn't make her, it's all for show!! (On holiday she wears a bikini ) Doing things for appearances sake is a huge issue in the Muslim communities I'm involved with and the women I know aren't really happy but accept that it's for the greater good.

Remember it's very complex and the Muslim community is actually very diverse from so many cultural backgrounds, most of my friends are Indian (either Punjabi or via east Africa)

What on earth are you on about? They're holding hands but not married and therefore this must be a problem because it's Dubai? Have you been there? I have lived in Abu Dhabi so obviously spent a lot of time in Dubai and promise you that it's a lot more liberal than you might like to think.

I’d never go back to Dubai. The taxi arrived at our lovely 5* hotel, the porter began to open the car door for me, saw I was female, and slammed it back in my face.

I and my gay male friend have stayed in hotels there together maybe 10+ times and never had an issue. Obviously not married. Obvious that one is gay. Nobody has ever, ever cared or mistreated us.

And sorry but MN's obsession with bashing the Middle East and their muslim culture reeks of racism under the guise of other concerns.

I’ve just come back from Dubai (first visit). I saw plenty of people holding hands in the Dubai Mall for example. Of course if you’re going to frolick topless with your partner on a beach it’ll be frowned upon (but I wouldn’t approve of that in any country tbh!). I enjoy a drink with the best of them but it was refreshing to go out for a night and not have to dodge the pissed up groups of people. It’s incredibly safe and very clean.

And if you take the time to learn about the culture, history etc it’s very interesting. My DS moved there last year so I’m looking forward to my next trip!

FFS I have not ever mentioned holding hands.

The bit of the advert I have a problem with is the 'swim first?' question at the end where they are walking on an empty beach in glitzy outfits from a night out (the ad starts with this as well).

This implies a type of behaviour which does not seem in keeping with Dubai, particularly coupled with the fact they are not represented as a married couple.

Op, Totally with you in the naked swimming off a beach in Dubai but you have to drop the idea that no rings = no marriage.

Ads aren't designed to reflect real life, that's why every time you get in your car you aren't speeding peacefully through empty mountain roads but stuck in gridlock traffic on the M25, and why your eye bags just look like your eye bags despite the so-called "HD 3D AI rejuvenating technology" in xyz miracle skin cream.

@ItWasnaMeGuv
It's me that thinks photo ID is unnecessary and politically motivated. My point is that voter fraud barely existed before photo ID was introduced. And it has had the effect of reducing voting hence why I consider it anti democratic.

Muslims don't traditionally wear wedding rings.