Many Ukrainian tourists prefer to wait for the cold in the UAE, where Dubai has become the most popular resort. There is a warm sea in winter, well-developed infrastructure, as well as a variety of entertainment that will suit even budget tourists. However, vacationing in Dubai has its drawbacks. For example, some messengers do not work there and do not sell alcohol. In the material “DIP” – about the nuances you need to know before going to Dubai.
In Dubai, you will not be able to contact relatives and friends from Ukraine via WhatsApp, Viber and Skype. You will have to use other messengers for communication. According to local law, the transmission of voice messages over the Internet must be licensed by the cellular operator, and European companies are not targeted at this audience, so bureaucratic issues are not addressed. There are only two officially working messengers in Dubai: Du and Etisalat. They compete fiercely with other applications, and the state supports them because they are local companies.
It is noteworthy that it is better not to take risks and not to use messengers even with a VPN connection. They will work, but in the UAE it is illegal and can be punishable by a fine or imprisonment. According to tourists who tried to use WhatsApp for calls, it is either interrupted or does not pass.
Alcohol is prohibited
The sale of alcohol is prohibited in the UAE, and you can not appear on the street while intoxicated. In Dubai, this is much more closely monitored due to the large number of tourists. If you plan to have a drink on holiday, find out in advance if your hotel has a license to sell alcohol. You can drink alcohol in hotels, as well as in closed restaurants and clubs, but be careful, because if the police on the street suspect you of being intoxicated, they can deport you. There are also specialty shops selling alcohol. Before buying, you will be asked to sign a license stating your age, passport data and religion. The last point is a clue to the ban on alcohol.
The fact is that in the UAE they profess Islam. According to religious laws, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited for a number of reasons: it obscures consciousness, distracts from the understanding of religion, can motivate a person to uncultured acts, and makes a pig out of man – in Islam they are considered unclean animals.
Division into men’s and women’s cars in the subway
Many Ukrainian tourists find themselves in awkward situations in the Dubai Metro due to the fact that there is a certain division into cars. You can buy a gold card, which will give you access to the first class cars – there are single seats, rush hour less people, but you have to pay for it several times higher. There is another type of car – cars for women. Typically, these cars are located at the front or rear of the train. Only women and children have the right to be there. According to the government, such a measure protects women from harassment on public transport. If you find yourself in a first class car without a gold card or a man gets into a women’s car, you face a fine. And in the second case, a few dozen sidelong glances until you realize what’s going on.
Prohibition of expression of feelings and dress code
It is better to choose more closed clothes for excursions and for visits to shopping malls. Women are not recommended to expose their legs and shoulders, as well as to wear things with a deep neckline. If in tourist places you are simply looked at askance, then near mosques can make remarks.
Also in Dubai there is a ban on public expression of feelings. If you want to show your relationship in public, believe me, you don’t have to. Kissing, passionate hugs and sitting on your partner’s lap are forbidden. A 10-day detention is threatened for public display of romantic feelings.