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.
Is it hard to date in Dubai? It might be challenging at first, but it's not as tough as you hear. Depending on where you're moving to Dubai from, you may have quite the culture shock at first. People in Dubai don't show much affection in public, and it can be hard to try and flirt when you meet someone.
You are allowed to date; however, you should respect the guidelines and traditions of the place where you live. In the Gulf region, for example, dating is far different in Dubai compared to Saudi Arabia. In Dubai, dating is common and you can see men and women on dates in the malls or in restaurants.
Although you'll need to get outside your comfort zone, making friends in Dubai isn't as daunting as it may seem. As expats, there are a lot of shared experiences that you can bond over. We suggest starting slow and talking to your colleagues at work and your neighbours from your apartment.
For those single and ready to mingle, Dubai can be a the perfect city for one to meet the love of their life.
In order to use Tinder safely in the UAE, you need to consider the best features of a VPN in this situation. The fantastic social discovery app Tinder was blocked in the UAE a few years ago.
3. Can unmarried couples stay in the same hotel room? According to the law, it's illegal for unmarried couples to stay in the same room during a holiday in Dubai. In reality, this is not strictly enforced and it's unlikely you'll be challenged on it.
The cultural differences
Many expats are not willing to marry or fall in love with people who are not from the same cultural background or religion as them. But that proves to be very challenging in a city that plays host to more than 200 nationalities and ethnicities.
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.
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.
Sexting in the UAE is against the law.
That also includes nude selfies, as this young couple found out.
Kissing and cuddling in public areas can be seen as obscene acts and it is against Dubai's laws for a minor (anyone under 18) to be in a sexual relationship. Homosexuality is against the law in Dubai, so any public romantic gestures in a same-sex relationship could put you at risk.
Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon in the great city of Dubai. This would include kissing, hugging, and everything in between the whole nine yards. Even something as simple as someone holding hands with their partner can catch weary eyes from the locals.
Kissing and embracing in public
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.
The Dubai code states: “Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offence to public decency. “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.”
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.
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.
Even in Dubai, arguably the most relaxed Emirate, for both men and women, officially, it means covering the shoulders and the knees (and everything in between).
The general rule regarding dressing in public in Dubai is to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and your knees. It's best to refrain from wearing clothing that is too tight or too revealing for both men and women. It's a good idea to carry a light sweater or shawl with you when going out into public places.
If interested in planning a Dubai itinerary, then a stay of about 5 days is the best amount of time to squeeze all of the tourism juices out of this illustrious middle eastern gem. From luxury to style to architecture—it boasts of the tallest building in the whole world: the Burj Khalifa.
While unlicensed Voice-over-Internet-Protocol services like WhatsApp, Skype and Viber are not supported in the UAE, due to security and cybercrime concerns, there are several alternative voice and video calling apps that residents can use.