Anyone in Dubai? Tell me if this is true please

[MmeLindt]

DD's friends just came back from a holiday in Dubai. They have told her that it is illegal to point at someone in Dubai and that you can be jailed for doing so.

Is that true? She says that another child asked her mum and her mum said that it is.

And she wants me to ask if they jail children, even if the child pointed at someone "by accident"

Bump

I think aggressive hand gestures can get you in to trouble.

Not sure about incarcerating children though...

They certainly don't like being pointed at and you can get in trouble for taking photos of 'locals' but I doubt they'd sling a child in jail for pointing. Their laws can be a little daft but not that daft!

Thanks. And now can you tell me why my DD will believe random strangers on the Internet but not me, the woman who gave birth to her?

I can see where she's coming from.

It's not illegal to just point at someone in the street, as in, look at that man over there, i.e. indication. They might consider it rude, but not illegal.

However, if you were in a disagreement with an Emirati and you were pointing (jabbing your finger)at them in an aggresive fashion, then you could be arrested as making rude or offensive hand gestures is illegal.

There was one Australian guy who got deported for flicking the V's at an Emirati who cut him up on the main road.

I have read (on a ME board) and you must never, ever flip a finger or a V-sign in a traffic dispute, its enough to deport you.

But also in a book about cultural differences in the UAE was that pointing at someone is considered rude.

But i don't think punishment extends to visiting children, who will not understand these things.

No- I think the child would have been safe- they tend to be pretty indulgent of children, local or otherwise.

When newly arrived in the UAE, my friend's little daughter pointied at an Emirati lady in full veil and abaya and said

"look mummy- Batman"

Fortunately the lady laughed.