Dubai is a stunning Middle Eastern city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a popular holiday destination. Despite Dubai’s glitzy shopping centres and luxury hotels, there are many rules to follow and not being aware of the rules is never an excuse in Dubai.
Visitors from the West, who aren’t used to being restricted by laws as strict as UAE’s, are most at risk from Dubai’s stringent rules and ruthless police enforcement. In Dubai, people are not allowed to display public affection (especially between unmarried or homosexual partners), dress immodestly, swear, make rude gestures, photograph people without their permission, criticise the government, conduct fundraising for charity, or solicit escorts in Dubai, and many more things.
Tips for staying safe in Dubai
Before you travel to Dubai, make sure you know and follow the rules. The UAE’s laws are much more conservative than those of any Western country, which cannot be stressed enough. It is not uncommon for tourists to be jailed or otherwise detained in Dubai for doing things that are perfectly legal and normal in their home countries.
Dubai doesn’t have many unsafe neighbourhoods, but it’s a good idea to be aware of its typical threats like pickpockets, dangerous drivers, terrorism, and extreme heat. If you’re a woman travelling to Dubai, pack conservative and modest clothing to avoid harassment and show respect for local customs.
Dubai travel tips for women
It’s often more complicated to travel when you’re a woman, but it can be even more so in Dubai than in other places. Though it’s generally safe for women to visit Dubai, female travellers should dress conservatively, stay in groups or pairs (especially after dark), avoid making eye contact with men, and avoid bars, clubs, or hotels where prostitutes may operate.
Unaccompanied women are likely to get propositioned or harassed, especially in Dubai’s prostitute-heavy neighbourhoods of Bur Dubai and Deira.
Multiple government sources advise women in Dubai never to accept drinks from strangers and never leave a drink unattended. Criminals may spike women’s drinks with drugs or more potent alcohol to rape, rob, or kidnap them. However, keep in mind that Dubai’s authorities are not always your friend: Western women travellers who have reported being raped in Dubai have been jailed and detained for having extramarital sex.
Instead of walking, female visitors to Dubai should use a reputable taxi company, particularly at night. The cabs with pink roofs are reserved for female drivers and female passengers only—if you get a male cab driver, sit in the back seat. If you take public transport, sit in the women’s section toward the front.
Dubai’s stance on drugs
The police have zero tolerance for drug-related offences. The penalties are severe for trafficking, smuggling and possession of drugs (even residual amounts). Death sentences can be imposed for crimes involving drug trafficking. Even in small quantities, drug possession is punishable by death and can lead to a minimum three-month prison sentence or a fine not less than AED 20,000 and not exceeding AED100,000. The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the bloodstream as possession.
A British tourist was given a jail sentence for having a speck of cannabis lodged in his shoe. Another tourist was given a four-year sentence for bringing a small bag of cannabis into the country.
Finally, before travelling to Dubai, check the news or your government’s website to see if there are any reports of terrorism in the surrounding areas that may affect your ability to travel.
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