Swearing and making rude gestures (including online) are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and there have been several arrests for kissing in public.
Swearing on WhatsApp
Swearing is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine as high as 10,000 dirhams (£2,157). Flashing your middle finger, which is considered an “indecent gesture” that breaches “a victim's pride, privacy and/or modesty”, will result in deportation.
In Dubai, the use of the expletive “f**k”, and other verbal abuse, is considered a crime, as the word “disgraces the honour of the modesty” of a person, according to Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code.
Do not swear in public or use offensive gestures. Giving someone the finger or even just sticking out your tongue might be considered rude at home but can get you jailed in Dubai. This is particularly worth remembering when driving, since even a frustrated flap of the hands could potentially land you in trouble.
Homosexuality is against the law in Dubai, so any public romantic gestures in a same-sex relationship could put you at risk. Cross-dressing is also illegal in Dubai. Members of the LGBTQ+ community should be very cautious while in Dubai.
Swearing and making rude gestures (including online) are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and there have been several arrests for kissing in public.
Showing public affection is generally considered rude and disrespectful across the Middle East. Although some cultures within the Middle East might be more tolerant than others, it's generally not a good idea to kiss, hug or openly display intimacy.
Here are some taboos we think anyone relocating to the UAE should be aware of: Nobody should ever see the soles of your feet or shoes. Beware of how you sit – especially when crossing one leg over the other. Revealing the underside of your foot to someone is viewed as a rude and disrespectful gesture.
Ayreh Feek (AY-REE FEE-K) This is the common equivalent of “f*ck you” or “screw you.” This is a common expression between friends or prior to a gruesome fistfight.
Sexting in the UAE is against the law.
That also includes nude selfies, as this young couple found out.
Hello / Goodbye
While in Dubai, the most common greetings visitors will come across are marhaba (hello) and maasalaamah (goodbye or with peace).
Public affection
If you are a married couple, the extent of your public displays of affection is limited to hand holding. Couples who are not married cannot engage in any form of public affection. Kissing and hugging in public is not tolerated and couples who are caught could be fined or imprisoned.
Is it legal to kiss in public? While rare, people have been arrested for kissing in Dubai – it's not a city big on public displays of affection. In fact, outside your hotel room, it's best to avoid anything overtly physical.
What happens if you chew gum in Dubai? One must be aware that chewing gum in Dubai Metro or the platform and Dubai buses isn't allowed and you can be fined if caught. Spitting in a public place can cost Dh1,000 in fine.
Some hand gestures are considered offensive in Dubai. Showing a thumbs-up sign is equivalent to flipping the bird and the “ok” hand sign indicates the devil's eye. Any obscene or rude hand gestures will put you in jail.
If you are travelling in Arab countries, you should avoid public displays of affection. Avoid walking hand in hand with your partner or hugging or kissing your partner in public places. (You may see Arab men walking hand in hand. This is quite normal in Muslim societies.)
In the US, when you are a guest in someone's home, you may give a compliment as a sign of respect and admiration. In other words, Americans use compliments to be nice. However, if you compliment a Middle Eastern person on an object they own, they may feel obligated to give it to you as a sign of respect.
Dress code in public places in Dubai
Women do not have to cover their head, face and hair with a scarf or something similar in public, although Muslim women, particularly Gulf Arabs, do cover their hair, face and head with a scarf for cultural and religious reasons.
Death penalty shall be imposed if the murder is committed with premeditation and deliberation, or if associated with or connected to another crime, or if the murder is committed against any of the ascendants of the criminal, or against a public official or a person assigned to a public service, during or by reason of ...
' … Yamalov answers by saying that public display of affection (PDA) is, in fact, not illegal in the UAE. However, public display of affection that may be deemed either disgraceful or against public moral is against Article 58 of the UAE Penal Code.
What are the laws on tattoos in the UAE? The United Arab Emirates does not have any explicit laws on tattoos. As a result, those who want to get tattooed in the UAE are free to do so.
Is there a dress code in Dubai? The dress code in Dubai is quite liberal. Usually, you can wear pretty much what you like, certainly in tourist places and hotels and their adjacent beaches.