Dubai, United Arab Emirates, sees thousands of visitors from Europe each year, but most are unaware of the strict laws in place and many have fallen foul, even suffering jail sentences. This article explains why you should do your homework before travelling to Dubai.
Around 800,000 (yes that’s eight hundred thousand!) visitors from the UK alone travel to Dubai each year to enjoy what has been described as ‘paradise on Earth’. Most visitors are ignorant of the strict and often surprising laws in place there.
A Muslim state, Dubai has a different view of many things compared to the Western world, especially when it comes to personal relationships and drugs. If you were to visit Dubai without being aware of these laws you are potentially leaving yourself open to finding yourself being hauled off to jail for seemingly innocuous ‘crimes’ , unaware you that even did anything wrong.
Some of you have no doubt heard of the widely publicised case in which a British couple were jailed for ‘openly expressing affection’ on a public beach in Dubai, but there have been many other examples;
- 4 year jail sentence for possessing 2 grams of cannabis.
- Jail term for man ‘possessing’ poppy seeds after eating a sandwich at Heathrow on his way to Dubai.
- 4 year jail sentence for microscopic traces of cannabis on a person’s shoe.
- One month in jail for kissing a man on the cheek in a Dubai restaurant.
- A lesbian couple jailed for one month for kissing on a Beach.
- Couple jailed for one year for kissing and cuddling in the back of a taxi.
The list goes on… In the year over 2006-2007 alone over 200 UK visitors were arrested for similar ‘crimes’.
This illustrates why anyone planning a trip to the region should do their homework before departing, for instance there are over 350 ‘substances’ which are banned in Dubai. Many of these substances are common in the West, such as Poppy Seeds (mentioned above), Codeine (a common painkiller), Melatonin (used to combat jetlag), it is also illegal to drink alcohol in public.
There is growing frustration with what appears to be a level of hypocrisy in the state, with public consumption of alcohol banned, yet many hotels providing free alcohol. Homosexuality or public displays of affection are banned but prostitution is legal etc..
Often in the holiday spirit it is very easy for Westeners to forget where they are and fall into breaking these laws, even many of the quarter of a million UK expats occasionally get caught out so it is no surprise that short term visitors are vulnerable. You should also be aware that if you do find yourself in trouble in Dubai, the British embassy are not normally able to help. The Foreign office urges vigilance when visiting Dubai, and offers advise, such as ensuring any medication is left in original packaging and to carry any prescription documentation with you as proof of validity. There are also restrictions on hand luggage which you should check out before you leave.
The differences in law between The UK and Dubai are not only something new to holidaymakers, but also provide challenges for those in the profession moving from the West to the UAE. British Expat lawyer Ewan Sheriff is one such person, a highly successful lawyer previously based in Scotland, Ewan and the rest of the Sheriff family moved to Dubai in 2010 looking for fresh challenges and a better life for the whole Sheriff family. Ewan has had to learn a new legal system from scratch, but has relished the task. Ewan holds 18 years experience in high-profile Commercial, Real Estate and Asset Management arenas, with high-exposure firms located in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively.
At the end of 2009, having long held an interest in the Middle East and it’s business opportunities, Ewan Sheriff sought to embrace the regions richer lifestyle for himself, his wife and his 3 children. The Sheriff family relocated from Edinburgh, UK to Dubai, UAE in April 2010 and have never looked back. Ewan Sheriff himself has embraced mastering the legal system, and continues to enjoy the cultural offerings of the region. Being a keen sportsman, Ewan continues to root for his Celtic football team from abroad, as well as running, swimming and playing football in Dubai. He and his wife remain keen travellers and the Sheriff family are keen skiers.
