GLBT Travelers - Dubai anyone?

My partner and I are terrified of traveling to Dubai. We have straight friends that go every year for New Years...an insist it is ok and no big deal. Any advice for us? Afraid of being arrested for being gay. Thanks!

My partner and I are terrified of traveling to Dubai. We have straight friends that go every year for New Years...an insist it is ok and no big deal. Any advice for us? Afraid of being arrested for being gay. Thanks!

You don't want to lead a pride parade down the Sheikh Zayed road or anything, but other than that there's no reason not to visit. Open displays of affection in public, gay or straight, would be frowned upon and could land you in trouble. Other than that, a pretty laid back place.

It's a beautiful place to go to. All and any kind of public affection is not a good idea. Lot of places to go and have a good time. You can't buy alcohol at stores because it's not being sold at any store. Dubai marina area is very popular with westerners and visit Atlantis Dubai it's beautiful. I went with my wife and right of the gates you feel like you are being watched by the religious police. Just keep it to your self and you'll be fine.

There is no reason to visit the $hithole that Dubai is. Go to Beirut instead.

There is no reason to visit the $hithole that Dubai is. Go to Beirut instead.

I've been to Beirut , Kuwait City, Riyadh and Qatar and I'll take Dubai anytime over Beirut that's my opinion.

There is no reason to visit the $hithole that Dubai is. Go to Beirut instead.

Not having been to Beirut, I can't comment on that. But I do agree that Dubai has really nothing to offer the tourist. I usually describe it to Americans as "the traffic of LA combined with the empty glitz of Vegas."

There is no real reason for a gay couple to want to go there for vacation, except as a stopover point to get somewhere else.

Not having been to Beirut, I can't comment on that. But I do agree that Dubai has really nothing to offer the tourist. I usually describe it to Americans as "the traffic of LA combined with the empty glitz of Vegas."

There is no real reason for a gay couple to want to go there for vacation, except as a stopover point to get somewhere else.

Given all of the beautiful places in this world (and natural beauty at that) which are more welcoming to gays, why would you want to go to a place that is not (for personal/leisure travel.)

You can go to Las Vegas and see the same things you can do in Dubai, probably a lot cheaper.

You can go to Las Vegas and see the same things you can do in Dubai, probably a lot cheaper.

And supposely with pool parties now with hot gay men. Won't see that in Dubai.

Given all of the beautiful places in this world (and natural beauty at that) which are more welcoming to gays, why would you want to go to a place that is not (for personal/leisure travel.)

Because travel is not just about where you go, but who you are with. If we all limited ourselves to just the places that accepted us, we'd not have much of the world left to see.

Not a huge fan of Dubai myself, but there is plenty to do to make a visit worthwhile, especially if you are going with people who go frequently or live there.

Because travel is not just about where you go, but who you are with. If we all limited ourselves to just the places that accepted us, we'd not have much of the world left to see.

Not a huge fan of Dubai myself, but there is plenty to do to make a visit worthwhile, especially if you are going with people who go frequently or live there.

In particular, if I was going with someone else, more specifically a loved one, and traveling a distance to get there I would want to be a in a place that was at least somewhat accepting of me.

Here in the US, I've gone to places of natural beauty really to see the place that may have not been the gayest places in the US. But I'm talking about a day or two and a relatively short flight. If I am going to sit on an a/c for 9hours+ (even in premium) and spend a week or more there I want to be able to be myself when I get there, and not necessarily from a "I want to hook up" stance.

Have been several times to Dubai with a partner; never had a problem checking in (king bed honoured without an issue).

Have some respect for local norms (two guys kissing in the pool would not be recommended) and you'll be fine.

There's quite a gay scene in Dubai if you know where to look. Some great hotels and restaurants, and plenty to experience as a tourist.

The more we travel to places, the more we become an important part of the tourist economy and with familiarity, comes knowledge and acceptance as opposed to fear and discrimination...

Pay for the top hotels and no one bats an eyelid. Most of the staff will be from around the world as well.

We stayed at the Burj twice. They only do King beds (- with mirrors on the ceiling - eek!) without any issues. Arrived for a hotel Rolls pick-up. I did have a smile when I say the driver started taking out a bouquet of flowers, see us and stuff them back into the boot again.

The Burj were extremely good and immediately replaced the his and her toiletries with his and his toiletries (you get about $200 worth of design soap, perfume, shower gel). The second time, we asked them to leave the hers toiletries so that we could give it to a neighbour who looked after our cat and shared the one set of his (which was still large enough to share with spare to warrant bringing home). When we stayed over Christmas, we got his and his Christmas presents in the room on Christmas Eve. We did get his and hers presents for Christmas Eve dinner but I think they were limited in supplies.

In short - they make an discrete effort which is fantastic. Just be discrete in return. In fact, they made more of an effort than at various top hotels around the world.

We also stayed at the Al Maha which also only does King Beds without any issue.

To be honest, we chose to keep to hotel/resort area, not for any particular purpose other than we had no interest going shopping or seeing the sights.

I was just there. It's not that bad. Do a search. The scene is different in Beirut now

Given all of the beautiful places in this world (and natural beauty at that) which are more welcoming to gays, why would you want to go to a place that is not (for personal/leisure travel.)

Because you only live once and none of us is getting any younger. Thus, if there is something about Dubai that you want to explore, there probably is no better time than now, to paraphrase that old saw. Just be prepared for the drawbacks and risks. @:-)

There is no reason to visit the $hithole that Dubai is. Go to Beirut instead.

You can probably visit without a problem, just don't do anything obviously gay... if you want to go to the middle east and be openly gay, go to Tel Aviv, you can hold hands and kiss in public there... I'm kinda sad I missed the parade a few weeks a few weeks ago

You can probably visit without a problem, just don't do anything obviously gay... if you want to go to the middle east and be openly gay, go to Tel Aviv, you can hold hands and kiss in public there... I'm kinda sad I missed the parade a few weeks a few weeks ago

I met an Israeli last night - beautiful guy, and very outgoing, good-natured. :) ^ I'm not sure which town he's from, but if there's more like him there, that's my next international trip. :D

I met an Israeli last night - beautiful guy, and very outgoing, good-natured. :) ^ I'm not sure which town he's from, but if there's more like him there, that's my next international trip. :D

I've been told by person after person how amazing TLV is, how hot and friendly the men are, and that the beaches are stunning. I'm trying to make it there but there never seems like enough time to do it all. Also, since my airline of status (AA) does not and may never fly there (old TWA issue) I'd have to fly coach. A long way in coach.

I've been told by person after person how amazing TLV is, how hot and friendly the men are, and that the beaches are stunning. I'm trying to make it there but there never seems like enough time to do it all. Also, since my airline of status (AA) does not and may never fly there (old TWA issue) I'd have to fly coach. A long way in coach.

Can't you book a loyalty codeshare on BA? They fly nonstop from LHR.

The dirty little secret about Muslim countries is that there is at least as much sexual deviancy there as you will find in any western country. It is just a matter of knowing where to look. They just don't parade it around in public. As long as you don't, whatever you choose to do behind closed doors shouldn't be a problem for them.

The dirty little secret about Muslim countries is that there is at least as much sexual deviancy there as you will find in any western country. It is just a matter of knowing where to look. They just don't parade it around in public. As long as you don't, whatever you choose to do behind closed doors shouldn't be a problem for them.

It's really not that much of a secret, if I read the same thing in Spartacus 20+ years ago, as well as on Flyertalk. ;) :D

The dirty little secret about Muslim countries is that there is at least as much sexual deviancy there as you will find in any western country. It is just a matter of knowing where to look. They just don't parade it around in public. As long as you don't, whatever you choose to do behind closed doors shouldn't be a problem for them.
I don't consider homosexuality to be sexually deviant. Perhaps you might wish to rephrase. :)

It's really not that much of a secret, if I read the same thing in Spartacus 20+ years ago, as well as on Flyertalk. ;) :D

I know it isn't a secret - to us. Going back in history, the Persians were :ahem: creative in their sexual activities in ways that would shock most modern people.

It's just that they THINK it's still a secret, so they operate under the illusion that it still is. ;) Sort of like the TSA thinking they make us more secure. :p

I really wouldnt recommend going there. There's really nothing to see or do that's really that extraordinary. yes, there are some nice hotels, yes there are some thing like indoor skiing... but at the end of the day, it's expensive, it's basically like another Vegas, just happens to be in the Middle East. nothing really special about the place. Probably fine enough as a stopover for a day or two going somewhere else, but I wouldnt go out of my way to go there from the US, or Europe for that matter. too far and too many better places that are closer and more authentic.

I met an Israeli last night - beautiful guy, and very outgoing, good-natured. I'm not sure which town he's from, but if there's more like him there, that's my next international trip.
There were tons of gay couples walking around Rothchild Blvd last night... (I am lucky enough to be on a side trip in TLV at the moment)..

Lots of hot guys all over the place... :)

I've been told by person after person how amazing TLV is, how hot and friendly the men are, and that the beaches are stunning. I'm trying to make it there but there never seems like enough time to do it all. Also, since my airline of status (AA) does not and may never fly there (old TWA issue) I'd have to fly coach. A long way in coach.
You can use AA miles (earn or burn) to fly BA, IB, RJ, or LY (or AA metal across the pond and connecting to LY from there..).

You can probably visit without a problem, just don't do anything obviously gay... if you want to go to the middle east and be openly gay, go to Tel Aviv, you can hold hands and kiss in public there... I'm kinda sad I missed the parade a few weeks a few weeks ago
Went to TLV pride with my partner a few weeks ago and we really enjoyed it. Great parties, top notch food, hot guys, can't ask for more. TLV is a completely liberal and secular city so no one thinks twice when you say that you are a couple. Funny story is that when we entered the country, the officer at passport control asked if we were visiting for "the parade" and said that it was "going to be crazy". Just like US customs agents at JFK during Pride week... :rolleyes:

Back to the OP, I agree with all the assessments that Dubai is a man-made Vegas of the East, but, nonetheless, it is interesting and I think it's good to experience *once* (I've been more on business and it doesn't appeal to me anymore).

Yes, be discreet, but it should also be known that there is a small underground gay scene (do a search in this forum- there are a few threads). Remember that there are tons of male EK FAs, all of which are Dubai-based :p And if you can get to it through the national firewall, you'll find a ton of guys on Gayromeo... (You can use a proxy or, some hotels manage to get around it, such as the Grand Hyatt)