UAE | General
Mind your language, behaviour and dress in the UAE
If you are planning to come to the UAE it is very important to keep local sensitivities in mind and find out what is allowed and what is not, before you travel.
- By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:16 July 18, 2008
- Image Credit:
Dubai: If you are planning to come to the UAE it is very important to keep local sensitivities in mind and find out what is allowed and what is not, before you travel.
Some Emirates are more liberal regarding clothing so check out what restrictions there are before you embark on a trip here.
Detailed information can be found on your home country's embassy website, travel advice sections.
However, there are a few rules that apply in the UAE. It is not illegal to drink alcohol and hotels have licences in most of the Emirates, but it is an arrestable offence to be drunk in a public place.
There is zero-tolerance to drink driving and you will be in deep trouble if you are also involved in an accident.
It is acceptable to wear a bikini/swimming costume or swimming trunks for men on the beach, but it is an arrestable offence to go topless or wear a thong.
Swimming attire is fine for the beach under these rules, but it is not acceptable once you leave the beach; don't walk around the streets in a bikini.
However, Sharjah holds different rules that prohibit women from wearing swimsuits on the beach.
It is also illegal for women to wear clothes that show their upper arms too much leg in Sharjah, and alcohol is strictly illegal.
Although non-Muslim women are not required to cover their heads in public, if you enter a mosque it will be required for religious reasons.
The Shaikh Mohammad Centre for Cultural Understanding organises tours of Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai. The website has more details about clothing requirements: http://www.cultures.ae/jumeirah.htm
Holding hands in public is not illegal, but any shows of affection are frowned upon and can result in arrests for public indecency. This includes public places such as malls and beaches.
Most tourist guides have sections with these details.
Keep in mind
- Kissing in public and public displays of affection are frowned upon.
- Indecent gestures could land you in jail.
- Dress code is generally casual
- Since you are visiting a Muslim country, bikinis, swimsuits, shorts and revealing tops should be confined to beach resorts.
- Women are usually advised not to wear short skirts and to keep their shoulders covered.
- In Sharjah women are prohibited from wearing swimsuits on public beaches.
- In Abu Dhabi, visitors are advised not to wear excessively revealing clothing in public places, as a sign of respect for local culture and customs.
- This also applies to public beaches, where swimmers should avoid excessively revealing swimming suits.
- Most nightclubs require their guests not to wear shorts, caps or sport shoes on their premises.
- Details on clothing requirement for Jumeirah mosque visit at www.cultures.ae/jumeirah
Share this article
Related Articles
-
Public decency in the UAE
Public decency: what is acceptable in the UAE and what is not
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
The best reader pictures from around the UAE this week
Latest news
- Haj pilgrims from UAE get quality services
- There's something to sing and dance about in Sonapur
- Local students shine at Dubai media awards
- Charity trek to frozen heights raises Dh180,000
- Parents want pupils dropped off inside schools
- Community event to salute selfless citizens
- Time to properly deal with waste
- Focus on Guggenheim: Abu Dhabi keeps art lovers hooked
- Holidaymakers in UAE make a beeline to deserts during the cool season
- Five months later, same driver, same queue
- Metro has carried nearly 3m people
- Road work delay jams Deira
- Tache the way to highlight causes
- Internet blamed for reading habit decline
- Youngsters arrested for violating decency laws
Community Reports
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
-
Stop disregarding road rules
Gulf News reader calls on authorities to curb reckless driving during rush hours in Mussafah industrial area underpass
-
Public transport is the way to go
Residents must stop complaining about feeder buses taking up parking space
