In the UAE and Dubai, it is against Sharia law to live together, in the western sense, with someone you are not married to. You can only live together with a member of the opposite sex if you are married to them, or they are a family member.
It is pertinent to note that cohabitation of unmarried couples is not a crime anymore in the UAE if there are no objections by their legal guardians. Therefore, if you are living with your girlfriend in the UAE, it may not be considered a crime, and there may be no imprisonment or penalties for cohabitation.
Live Together With Your Partner In Dubai Legally
According to the Dubai government, it's a legal move to cohabitate.
Sexual relationships or unmarried couples cohabiting is illegal in Dubai. Cohabiting, including in hotels, is also illegal, however most hotels in Dubai do not enforce an 'only married couples' rule. The luxury hotels which mostly cater to foreigners are especially relaxed.
In Dubai, dating is common and you can see men and women on dates in the malls or in restaurants. In Saudi, however, there are laws forbidding a woman from standing next to a man. If you live in the Kingdom, dating is forbidden in public for both locals and expats.
In the UAE and Dubai, it is against Sharia law to live together, in the western sense, with someone you are not married to. You can only live together with a member of the opposite sex if you are married to them, or they are a family member.
Looking at pornography online (or bringing it into the country) is also illegal. Some prescription drugs, which you can get over the counter in the UK, are also illegal in Dubai. Sex outside marriage is also illegal – although if you get caught for that one, you're probably asking for it.
16/22 NEVER DO: KISS IN PUBLIC
It does not matter if one party kisses the other on the lips, on the cheek, or in a private place that would get them locked upon any part of the world; kissing is forbidden in public places in Dubai.
The Dubai Tourism Bureau states: “Dubai is a cosmopolitan city that recognises that marriage does not define all relationships and as such does not discriminate against singles or unmarried couples visiting the emirate.”
Sexting in the UAE is against the law.
That also includes nude selfies, as this young couple found out.
“Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offence to public decency,” it adds. “Public displays of affection, as well as sexual harassment or randomly addressing women in public places, is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.”
Following this, unmarried couples may now live in the same accommodation and cohabit without marriage in the UAE. Therefore, you may travel with your girlfriend to Dubai and stay with her in the same hotel room without facing any legal issues pertaining to cohabitation.
There are certain things you can't do in Dubai and PDA is one of them. In Dubai, holding hands, hugging, and kissing in public is considered socially unacceptable and if caught indulging in such acts, you might land up in jail.
Yes. No law in the country denies an unmarried couple a stay in a hotel. However, checking-in a couple is at the discretion of the hotel owners / managers.
The Executive Council has published a code of conduct that lays down acceptable conduct in Dubai. According to the code couples, both married and unmarried, cannot show affection in public places. Kissing and embracing out in the open is strictly forbidden.
Dating in the UAE can, in some ways, be quite similar to dating in your home country. You can meet people online, in bars, during activities, or at work. You could also explore casual dating or better still, discover love.
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.
Check out the dating scene in one of the best places to meet new people: Dubai. Whether you live here or plan to travel for a visit, on Tinder, you'll find plenty of locals near you.
As such, there is no rules for sharing accommodation in Dubai that restricts single women or men to share an apartment with people of their own gender. However, landlords sometimes do not let out their property to a group of men and/or women, especially in family-friendly residential areas.
There are certain things you can't do in Dubai and PDA is one of them. In Dubai, holding hands, hugging, and kissing in public is considered socially unacceptable and if caught indulging in such acts, you might land up in jail.
Having tattoos is perfectly fine and legal. And if you're asking can you show tattoos in Dubai? Yes you can. Saying that, however, if you have a tattoo that is considered offensive and against the values of the UAE, you may face trouble.
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.
The Dubai Tourism Bureau states: “Dubai is a cosmopolitan city that recognises that marriage does not define all relationships and as such does not discriminate against singles or unmarried couples visiting the emirate.”
The new federal law, which was introduced by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, under decree number 10-2022 regulating the registry of birth and death in the UAE, recognises the rights of single mother to register their children without the requirement of a father or a marriage certificate.