Discussion
Hi all. Right well i am aware that plenty on here have spent time in dubai etc so am hoping you can offer some assistance to someone who has never been.
As i understand it being gay in dubai much like any arab state is illegal and correct me if wrong punishable by jail/death (though never heard of any brit suffering this).
My little bro is considering moving over there and bats for the other team and this concerns me slightly. He is very smart and not your typical "Oooo matron look at me im gay" type so to meet or work with him people would be none the wiser but as i say the legal ramifications concern me so any info people would be much appreciated.
Also in fact what is the social alco scene like?
Thanks
Jimmyb
As i understand it being gay in dubai much like any arab state is illegal and correct me if wrong punishable by jail/death (though never heard of any brit suffering this).
My little bro is considering moving over there and bats for the other team and this concerns me slightly. He is very smart and not your typical "Oooo matron look at me im gay" type so to meet or work with him people would be none the wiser but as i say the legal ramifications concern me so any info people would be much appreciated.
Also in fact what is the social alco scene like?
Thanks
Jimmyb
I have it on reasonable authority (friend of a friend worked there) that it's tolerated (legally, not socially) so long as it's not too open. Their definition of open is much more conservative than the Western definition. By all accounts it seemed getting a visit from the police at a gay bar was not all that unusual, so if he's used to going to out at 'gay venues' then he may be in for a spot of bother. This is all the say so of someone I met once or twice though, who lived there 3 or so years ago, so it could be like San Francisco now.
He will be OK so long as he does not take it up the Emirates Tower.
In all seriousness, I got there on business a bit. I can tell you it is changing for expats, on many levels. Sort fo behaviour that went on maybe 5 years ago that was illegal but tolerated, people are much more wary of now. The problem is the laws are very draconian, but most expats even the ones who have been there a while dont realise some of them. And because it has this Western "feel" to it, it is easy to forget, even if you know the laws. And as soon as you have draconian laws, you leave yourself open to risk of getting caught up in stuff that can seriously ruin your life!
Generally, Westerners will take second on the pecking order to Locals, and ahead of the mainly immigrant workforce out there. But as most of the police are "immigrant workers" (from Jordan most of them it seems) it is very easy to get on the wrong side of them!
With all the Westerners flipping off leaving their cars and maxed out credit cards at the airports too, the relative collapse of the housing and development market, it is a different vibe there now, more crime, less of a carefree attitude to life, so a difficult time to make the major step to move out there. And tell him to remember that if he goes for a visit, living there is different to visting there! Seriously different.
It is quite expensive to live there, so many moving out for their first jobs end up having to live out of the posh city places, where it is not so nice and TRAFFIC can be a real nightmare.
Be very careful is my advice. It can be a real nightmare if it goes wrong!
In all seriousness, I got there on business a bit. I can tell you it is changing for expats, on many levels. Sort fo behaviour that went on maybe 5 years ago that was illegal but tolerated, people are much more wary of now. The problem is the laws are very draconian, but most expats even the ones who have been there a while dont realise some of them. And because it has this Western "feel" to it, it is easy to forget, even if you know the laws. And as soon as you have draconian laws, you leave yourself open to risk of getting caught up in stuff that can seriously ruin your life!
Generally, Westerners will take second on the pecking order to Locals, and ahead of the mainly immigrant workforce out there. But as most of the police are "immigrant workers" (from Jordan most of them it seems) it is very easy to get on the wrong side of them!
With all the Westerners flipping off leaving their cars and maxed out credit cards at the airports too, the relative collapse of the housing and development market, it is a different vibe there now, more crime, less of a carefree attitude to life, so a difficult time to make the major step to move out there. And tell him to remember that if he goes for a visit, living there is different to visting there! Seriously different.
It is quite expensive to live there, so many moving out for their first jobs end up having to live out of the posh city places, where it is not so nice and TRAFFIC can be a real nightmare.
Be very careful is my advice. It can be a real nightmare if it goes wrong!
my gay mate lived out there for 6 years and was arrested at the airport for kissing his boyfriend on the lips goodbye, just a peck.
He was tried and thrown in jail for 12 years without any defence allowed on his part, lost his job, boyfriend and life.
Very sad and all that for just a simple kiss goodbye, oh and 10kg of cocaine.
He was tried and thrown in jail for 12 years without any defence allowed on his part, lost his job, boyfriend and life.
Very sad and all that for just a simple kiss goodbye, oh and 10kg of cocaine.
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