With luxurious five-star resorts and year-round sunshine, it’s not hard to see why Dubai attracted 18.72 million international visitors in 2024 alone.
But in the United Arab Emirates, there are strict rules to be followed, including dressing modestly, refraining from PDA (apart from holding hands), and not getting drunk in public.
More seriously, you can’t have sex with anyone under the age of 18, an offence for which British teenager Marcus Fakana was imprisoned for while he was on holiday in the UAE in September 2024.
As an 18-year-old, he’d had a holiday romance with a 17-year-old British girl, and was only released from prison in July this year.
So we must respect and familiarise ourselves with Dubai’s laws and customs.
Much of it is now common knowledge, but some lesser-known laws could still catch you out, as TikToker and Dubai resident, Tetiana Skoryna, recently revealed.
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Taking photos
You might want to be careful what you’re taking holiday pictures of when you’re in public, because taking a photo of someone without their consent could lead to a hefty fine or jail time.
This especially goes for people who take pictures and post them on social media, because it’s reportedly seen as a breach of privacy.
Tetiana claims this could result in you being slapped with a fine of anywhere from £31,000 to £103,000, depending on the severity of the offence. You can even get six months in jail.
Authorities also warn against taking photos of aircraft in the UAE without permission, so plane spotting is also illegal. Certain government buildings and military installations cannot be pictured either.
Don’t sleep in public
If you’re ever tempted to fall asleep on a beach or park in Dubai, you might want to think twice.
Doing so could earn you a £62 fine, all for the sake of some shuteye.
Now, this obviously doesn’t apply to snoozing on a sun lounger by the pool or ocean at your resort during the day, so don’t panic.
But, it’s worth keeping in mind.
No littering
Talk about a law that should be introduced absolutely everywhere. No one likes a litterbug and Dubai has a zero-tolerance policy for it.
If you’re tempted to throw that empty water bottle on the floor or subtly drop a chocolate wrapper – think again.
Tetiana says this will deservedly land you with a £103 fine, so just wait to find a bin.
Cross the road the right way
As Brits, we might be tempted to make a dash across the road between traffic, as we tend to do on busy London streets, but it’s a no no in Dubai.
Known as jaywalking, crossing the street where there is no designated pedestrian crossing is not acceptable.
If you’re spotted doing so, you’ll get an £82 fine, for the sake of a short walk to a crossing.
Washing your car
A slightly more unusual one here, but local Tetiana explains washing your car in public is against the rules.
You might think Dubai would be more concerned with having clean and presentable cars on its roads, but you’ll have to get them washed in private.
If you don’t, you could be looking at another £103 fine. It’s not worth the risk.
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