Freelang’s blog

With all its amazing projects like artificial islands, underwater hotels and breath-taking towers and buildings, Dubai has become a popular destination for tourists and expatriates, and a regional business and entertainment hub. Actually, only 20% of the residents are native Emiratis, the rest being European and Asian expatriates. English is even more widely spoken than Arabic.

But Dubai remains a Muslim country, with conservative values, and authorities started a decency campaign. Undercover officers are patrolling the beach, ready to enforce the crackdown on nude sunbathing and indecent behaviors. As a result, 79 people have been arrested over the past two weeks.

According to authorities, complaints have ranged from families “offended by displays of nudity” to women sunbathers who say groups of men stare at them while at the beach. But the new campaign also left the tourists confused about what is considered appropriate in Dubai. As A British tourist put it: “I understand that I have to respect the rules of the country, but I am not sure if I can kiss my girlfriend or touch her in public.”