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.
Offensive behaviour
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.
Control the use of vulgar language, and keep all the slang, cuss words, and profanity to yourself during your visit to Dubai. Also, refrain from passing any comment that may be deemed insulting toward Islam or Muslims. It is considered a punishable offense in Dubai and might land you behind the bars.
Public displays of affection (PDA) are illegal in Dubai and may be punished with imprisonment or deportation. These laws include kissing, hugging, holding hands, etc.
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.
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 their countries, flashing your middle finger or insulting another is not acceptable but it is not punishable by the law. The culture for people living in the UAE is much different. At the end of the day, we are Muslims and committing such acts is not acceptable.”
In Dubai, and by extension the UAE, the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are banned – including WhatsApp.
Dubai Police have sealed 91 apartments in a crackdown on unlicensed massage services in 2022. The Dubai Police General Command issued a new warning urging the residents against seeking such services, which pose serious threats, including extortion and murder.
You can wear shorts in Dubai and even skirts, if they are at knee length and not shorter than that. Just be mindful of the fact that there are a lot of families and children there.
Hello / Goodbye
While in Dubai, the most common greetings visitors will come across are marhaba (hello) and maasalaamah (goodbye or with peace).
Which medications can I take into Dubai? You are free to bring any non-prescription, non-controlled medication into Dubai. This includes medicine such as Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, travel sickness medication, and Calpol.
If you plan on visiting either, remember to wear loose-fitting and conservative clothing, so avoid shorts and keep ankles covered. Women should also cover their head and arms before entering. You can bring a shawl of your own, but some mosques also let visitors borrow abayas.
Swearing, using obscenities, or making rude gestures in public. Using vulgar or obscene language in public, along with making rude gestures, can get you arrested in Dubai.
While there is no official dress code as such, modesty is appreciated and it is advisable to dress conservatively when in public places. The culture and customs of Dubai are based on Islamic traditions and practices.
Your arms, legs, hands and feet, neck and back, stomach, and buttocks are commonly included in a full-body massage.
Dubai: Prosecutors have sent out a strict warning to owners of women's salons and spas against flouting laws and making women specialists work as masseuses in male massage parlours.
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. While a married couple holding hands is tolerable displaying affection out in the open is generally not. This rule stands for married couples in the emirate.
Is Twitter banned in Dubai? Like Facebook, Twitter is available in Dubai, but users must adhere to strict rules when using the social media app.
Why Are Voice Calls, Video Calls and VOIP Services Banned? As mentioned earlier, the UAE government has banned WhatsApp calling and other Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls because of privacy and national security reasons.
Covered arms and legs for both men and women are advisable, and women have to also cover their hair inside the mosque. The mosques that allow non-muslim visits, usually provide appropriate clothing if needed.
That is the three-finger salute made famous by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. The gesture outlines three letters: a W for win, a V for victory, and an L for love.
Privacy is a huge matter in the UAE, and taking pictures of people without permission is illegal. Article 378 of the UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. 3 of 1987) states that taking a person's photo without his/her consent is an invasion of privacy, and thus punishable by law.