Dubai bans dancing ‘in public’
Dubai bans dancing ‘in public’
AFP/Dubai
Playing loud music, dancing, nudity, kissing and even holding hands in public is considered inappropriate behaviour under new guidelines laid down by the authorities of Dubai, a report said Saturday.
Arabic-language daily Al Emarat Al Youm said the Dubai Executive Council had urged residents of Dubai, where foreigners make up more than 80% of the population, to respect the customs of the Muslim majority country and avoid inappropriate behaviour.
The rules, which apply to all public places, include a ban on all forms of nudity, playing music loudly and dancing, exchange of kisses between men and women - and even on unmarried couples holding hands.
Any breach of the guidelines, by nationals or expatriates, carries a possible prison penalty, the paper said.
The guidelines also stipulate that anyone caught under the influence of alcohol - even small amounts - outside designated drinking areas is liable to be fined or imprisoned, the paper added.
Dubai, a member of the seven-emirate United Arab Emirates, has a diverse culture as it is home to a foreign population made up mainly of low-skilled workers from Asia and Western professionals.
Unlike most of its neighbours in the Gulf, the emirate tolerates a relatively relaxed dress code and hosts dozens of hotels that have bars and clubs, where alcohol is legally served.
However, a series of incidents, including crackdowns on cross dressers and the expulsion of two British expats found guilty of having sex on the beach, has thrown into the limelight the sometimes clashing local and foreign cultures.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=278617...
As mentioned earlier, I can understand the backlash, but the 'horse had kind of bolted already'. If the GCC wanted to develop and preserve its values and customs it should of spent its wealth developing its youth for a more sustabinable future.
If you provide a pseudo western environment, bars clubs etc, unfortunatly your going to get problems. This argument is polarised as you never get a big fuss when a GCC tourist drunk drives and kills people.
Dubai will eventually be again what nature intended it to be!
Maybe, EVERYONE NEED TO DRESS LIKE A PRIEST WITH A conical hood over their heads and a long RED ROBE! While carrying a crucifix in both hands and with a rabbinical smile.
Westerners will do a mental count of Hadji's inside any aircraft, at any airport, before take off...
Peter Russel
Arabic-language daily Al Emarat Al Youm said the Dubai Executive Council had urged residents of Dubai, where foreigners make up more than 80% of the population, to respect the customs of the Muslim majority country and avoid inappropriate behaviour.
If foreigners make up 80% of the popualtion then they are the majority and the 20% left are the locals which makes them the minority.
If I were them I would forget trying to be the new place to be then and go back to their roots. It's their own fault they got to this. They were always open to abuse by holiday makers breaking the law by becoming too big too soon and not realising that the people they attract could have the potential to act in a manner that is offensive to them.
If they wanted to be exclusive and attract people who would not look out of place in the Pig & Whistle in Malaga then they should not have made themselves look like the Blackpool of the Middle East.
My thoughts are my own, but I doubt my Mum would agree with some of them.
i'm with brit....cross dressing banned???
I agree with you. They have probably announced these measures to placate a certain cross section whilst encouraging others to visit.
However, the proof is in the enforcement.
Quickly quickly, that man and that woman are holding hands!!! COPS, Dubai edition.
Nah, I think Dubai will be a damp squid after a while, people just won't put up with all that crap. Not saying its acceptable but Dubai is big on the Brit package tours.....Brits won't tolerate no nudity, no being drunk in public and dancing on tables in streets ratted and vomitting...no way Jose, they'll just stick to the Costas........
Sounds like one step forward, two steps back. :Z
Finally the truth is comming out...from underneath all the marketing hype of Shopping Festival...City of Wonders....Undersea Resort.....Dubailand (twice as big than Disneyland)...world's biggest SkiResort....World Island....Palm Jumeriah....Venice of the Gulf ...they dont want a Venice...nor the people .......they just want the boats & the buildings....lol.
I wouldnt want to go to that place ...as a tourist....Isnt it similar to going to Jail?
A silly mistake could make you spend your entire life in the Country behind bars!!!
it would depend on the colour of the skin I believe.
Who says they want to get rid of Westerners ??
They are probably going to focus on a certain type of tourist / resident.
Yeah, no kidding, they must really not want tourists! Who wants to go to a place with all these restrictions?
They want to get rid of all extra western people is there.
Crises is there, and what best that scare expats, ime to move out
Check mate.....
Its getting scary around these private parts :)
Seriously though, does it really impact the ordinary citizen or traveller ??
As an aside, perhaps Dubai reeling under economic pressures wants to now "invite" conservative types to the country..
Guys but where is the public to ban in Dubai.
I have heard a load of them are moving out in april after exams of their respectiive kids are over by march end.
an other man and woman kissing an other woman is fine? Or having sex?
What is wrong with dancing in the streets? :)
And if 80% is foreigner shouldn't they be more flexible?
It's true that had working hadn't killed anyone yet, but why to take risk?
So where would someone be 'nude' in public? And dancing?In public? What about nightclubs, they are, afterall, public?
Dubai is on its way to being tumbleweed city if these 'rule' makers aren't careful, no bugger will want to go there and that means the rich and famous....!
the best part is .... The guidelines also stipulate that anyone caught under the influence of alcohol - even small amounts - outside designated drinking areas is liable to be fined or imprisoned, the paper added....
u mean after drinking in a pub / bar, one has to hire a room for the next 24 hrs untill alcohol toxication is down to micro milli.
Cross Dressing is banned ??
That's the end of Dubai for me :(
BUT WHERE IS THE PUBLIC THAT DUBAI IS BANNING.
Come april - may. dubai will be almost a ghost town.
i wonder who is being banned for dancing????