In the United Arab Emirates, as in other Islamic countries, there are many prohibitions that some tourists find unusual and not obvious.
And, although local authorities are usually loyal to guests, these rules should be studied in advance so as not to get into an awkward situation and not ruin your vacation.
You can’t eat or drink on public transport
Eating and drinking are prohibited on all forms of public transport, as well as at stations and stops. If you get caught with a glass of cola or ice cream on the subway or bus, be prepared to shell out about $30.
Do not carry products containing poppy seeds
The UAE has very strict anti-drug laws. Even relatively harmless poppy seeds (they are used to make opium) were banned. Therefore, if you are planning to put your favorite buns from a nearby dining room in your suitcase, it is better to refuse this idea.
You can’t drive a dirty car
Under local law, dirty cars “disturb the character of the city and harm public health.” Fines for those who missed a visit to the car wash are very substantial: up to $810.
You can’t take pictures of people without their permission
UAE law is very strict about privacy. Photos of people taken without their permission are punished very severely: violators face huge fines and even jail time, especially if the pictures are published in the public domain, for example, on social networks.
In 2015, an Australian artist who lived in the UAE with her husband was fined $2,800 and deported from the country for posting a photo of a car parked in handicapped spaces on her Facebook page.
You can’t dance in public places
If having arrived on vacation in the Emirates, you decide to dance a happy vacationer right at the airport, try to control yourself before you find yourself in a hotel room. Dancing in front of everyone in the country is considered indecent. You can dance only in specially designated places, for example, at home or in licensed nightclubs.
Photographs of road accidents are not allowed
When traveling around the UAE, you should think 100 times before grabbing a camera or mobile phone. In addition to people, it is forbidden in the country to take pictures of government buildings, military installations, courts, and palaces. Shooting accidents and other incidents on the roads are especially severely punished: the amount of the fine varies from 14 thousand to 800 thousand dollars.
You can’t publicly express your feelings
In the UAE, it is illegal to hold hands, kiss and hug in public places (not to mention more intimate things).
Even though local authorities usually turn a blind eye to such behavior on the part of tourists, there are cases when they were also held accountable. For example, in 2010, a couple from the UK was arrested and charged with indecent behavior for a regular kiss. The guy and the girl tried to challenge the charge, but ended up spending a month in prison and were subsequently deported.
You can’t swear at mom
The Emirates are very conservative when it comes to swearing, and this is not only about curses spoken out loud, but also about written speech, for example, on social networks and even in instant messengers in personal correspondence.
If you do not speak Arabic, do not rush to rejoice: the ban also applies to gestures. For example, in 2017, a British IT consultant was arrested and sentenced to 6 months in prison for making an obscene gesture during an incident on the road.
Can’t drive slow
In addition, on the roads of the UAE, it is not allowed to drive faster or slower than indicated on road signs. Slow driving can also result in a $100 fine.