Etiquette in Dubai
Dubai hit the headlines for its ‘Sex on the Beach’ scandal, which drew into sharp focus the behaviour of expats living in or visiting Dubai. Newspaper articles oscillated between decrying the hedonistic lifestyles of Dubai residents, and portraying the emirate as a police state with few of the freedoms to which many of us are accustomed.
As ever, the truth is somewhere in between. Most expat residents and visitors happily co-exist with locals, finding that local customs hardly restrict their lifestyle at all. As a general rule, be polite and considerate and you’ll be just fine.
Alcohol
Contrary to what you might read in the UK or elsewhere, Dubai’s rules on alcohol consumption are very relaxed. Although residents need to license to buy alcoholic beverages in shops like MMI and A&E, anyone of legal age can buy a drink in hotel bars and restaurants.
Drinking alcohol in public is frowned upon so you won’t find any open street bars. In fact, even carrying alcohol around can get you in trouble, so make sure it is covered at all times. The staff at the off-license won’t let you leave the premises without a brown paper bag wrapped around all your purchases.
Appearing drunk in public is also frowned upon so try to behave yourself when you step out of the bar! And if you take a day-trip to Sharjah, remember that alcohol is completely forbidden there. Even driving through Sharjah with alcohol in your car can get you arrested.
Clothing
Most of the restaurants in this guide are based in hotels, where a looser attitude towards clothing prevails. As soon as you step out of the hotel however, be prepared to lose the revealing clothing and put on some more respectful attire.
This does not have to mean covering up fully, but you should avoid strappy, short dresses and mini-skirts. Try to wear tops with sleeves, combined with longer dresses or jeans. This applies particularly during Ramadan, when the utmost care must be taken to respect local Muslims.
Public Behaviour
As mentioned before, the ‘Sex on the Beach’ scandal thrust expat behaviour into the spotlight in Dubai. Even kissing in public is disallowed – an Italian couple was fined nearly $4000 for kissing in a taxi in 2004. This rule applies to any public place, including hotel bars, clubs, restaurants and even the beach.
Visitors can get in similar trouble for public drunkenness, although it will only be a problem if you’re actually doing something wrong at the time. Always remember to be respectful.