Despite the economic downturn that Dubai has experienced over the past couple of years, and the knock on effect that this has had in terms of the availability of jobs for expatriates, Dubai and the UAE in general are still very popular destinations with would-be British expatriates seeking a decent and well-paid lifestyle in the sun where there is still plenty of optimism.
As we reported earlier this year, expat life in Dubai has not necessarily become less enjoyable or harder since the recessionary times have hit: however, those who have inadvertently fallen foul of the law in Dubai because of financial problems for example, have discovered that there is a less appealing side to the UAE that is little commented upon.
The fact of the matter is, if you know the laws and you understand the culture in the UAE, you can still tap into an exceptional lifestyle in Dubai – the way of life for expats is one of hard work counterbalanced with plenty of sunshine, exceptional facilities and amenities and enough freedom and money to enjoy a very high standard of living. But before you move to live in Dubai you need to heed the following essential advice…
Expats and Emiratis
There are an estimated 100,000 Brits living in and around Dubai and throughout the United Arab Emirates, and people from over 150 nations make up the population across the UAE. Most of these people flooded the region because of its strong economy and essential requirement for additional labour and skills – and despite Dubai’s downturn, they remain in employment alongside Emiratis.
The symbiotic relationship that should exist between all these nationalities as they all work towards the same goals is a bit of a myth! Depending on the nation you herald from you will be more or less well regarded locally, with Brits relatively fortunate that they are fairly well respected generally speaking. However, no matter where you come from and what role you play in the UAE’s development, you need to understand local traditions and laws and be respectful of them if you want to live a harmonious and peaceful life in Dubai.
The bottom line is that you’re a visitor to the region, and because it’s a region steeped deeply in Islamic traditions, culture and heritage, you need to adapt certain aspects of your life and your way of thinking so that you’re in alignment with the laws, rules and accepted behaviours locally – there are no short cuts or ways to avoid this truth!
Understanding the Importance of Respect
In our society in the UK we have a view that respect is something to be earned – it’s not something we’re necessarily keen to just proffer to a stranger! In Dubai however, you need to be respectful of everyone around you – no matter what perceived cultural, religious or even class differences there appear to be between you. If you display improper, disrespectful conduct in public you could fall foul of the law and face a fine, imprisonment or even deportation.
Reading the above you may be confused, because as you will openly see in Dubai certain nationalities of workers are treated less well than others – however, if you believe that this is acceptable and in turn you’re rude to others, you make offensive hand gestures if someone cuts you up in traffic or you issue an expletive if someone pushes in front of you in a queue for example, be prepared for the fallout!
Yes, respect is not universally observed in the UAE – however, if you want to live your life without conflict you will observe respect unilaterally whilst living in Dubai, because you never know who you’re disrespecting or who’s watching you or listening when you call someone a choice four letter word for letting a door slam in your face! Learn to bite your tongue.
Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll!
Dubai has falsely obtained a reputation as a party town – people who have never lived or worked in the emirate believe that expats are forever out clubbing, drinking and getting involved in all sorts of debauchery! Whilst life in Dubai is not dull, it’s not that far beyond the boundaries of acceptable behaviour either!
You need to know that there is a zero tolerance attitude across the UAE to drugs, drinking and driving and sexual relations outside of marriage – if you choose to flout these laws you are risking your freedom.
So – do not take illegal drugs, do not buy or sell illegal drugs, and do not bring any prescription medicine into the UAE unless you’ve checked with the UAE consulate or embassy that it is an accepted drug in the emirate first.
Do not even have one alcoholic drink and get behind the steering wheel of your car either – and unless you have a license to buy and consume alcohol at home, do not buy or consume alcohol at home! If you’re stopped at a random checkpoint and discovered to have alcohol in your car and no license to buy it, you will be punished.
If you want to enjoy a drink then you can go to a licensed pub, club or restaurant and get a taxi home.
With regards to smoking, it is not allowed in government areas, offices or shopping malls for example, but if you look you will see designated areas where it is acceptable. During Ramadan you should not smoke in public during daylight hours – nor should you be seen eating or drinking in public either, unless in a restaurant or café that has remained open to serve tourists or exapts for example.
Other points to note are that dancing in public (as opposed to in the privacy of your own home or in a club environment!) is considered indecent. Swearing, spitting and making rude gestures are also offences – and any form of public nudity is illegal. You can wear swimwear only on the beach or by a hotel’s pool, and if you’re not appropriately dressed when you’re out and about you may be asked to leave the likes of malls or restaurants.
The dress code for non-Muslims is not extremely strict in Dubai – but you need to maintain your respectful attitude when it comes to the length of sleeves and skirts for example, and ensure your clothing is not transparent, does not display rude slogans or images or leave too much flesh exposed.
Finally for this section, it’s time to talk about relationships! As stated above, sex outside of marriage is not legally accepted in the UAE. This means that if you’re not married you cannot live together or even share a hotel room – and if you are married then the only form of an acceptable public display of affection is holding hands with your spouse.
Anything like touching, kissing or even hugging in public can be considered an offence to public decency. Whilst you may witness things differently on occasion in Dubai, do not push the boundaries because if you’re caught by a policeman having a bad day, you will not have a legal leg to stand on!
Financial Advice for Expats Living in Dubai
The final essential advice we’d like to impart relates to money matters and finance. Bouncing a cheque or defaulting on a payment is illegal in the UAE – it’s not a case of a bailiff coming round or interest being added to your bill, it’s a case of you having your passport confiscated and perhaps facing imprisonment. Do not enter into any financial agreement lightly – bear in mind that the economy in Dubai is on rocky ground and that your current affluent lifestyle could be impacted if you faced job loss.
Do not over-extend yourself and buy into the tax-free lifestyle too quickly, ensure you have a good financial footing before you consider buying anything on finance. If you cannot make a payment, the weight of the law can fall on you and you could be imprisoned. It’s not an empty threat, it’s a genuine reality and one a number of expats have faced since Dubai has been impacted by the global recession.
In Conclusion…
This article paints a fairly negative view of life in Dubai for expats – which is not wholly accurate! Life in the UAE can be exceptionally fantastic – you have sun, you have tax-free salaries, you have plenty of freedom, you have all the trappings, amenities and facilities that give one a great quality of life – however, to truly enjoy all of these things ‘safely,’ you need to heed the above words of advice.
The laws and rules in Dubai differ from our own to a certain extent – but the punishment for any crime tends to differ greatly in terms of its severity. Therefore observe traditions, respect laws and obey rules and then you can have a trouble free and exceptionally enjoyable time living in Dubai.