Dubai - Flirting with Women can get you Jailed in the UAE
 

Flirting with Women in the UAE can get you Jail time

"...it should be noted that disrespecting women and any act against honour and dignity of women is not in accordance with the culture and tradition of the UAE. As per the provisions of Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 in issuance of the Penal Code of UAE (the 'Penal Code'), it is an offence to obstruct a woman which shall result in the violation of her prudence by word, deed or by using information technology or any other means. This is in accordance with Article 359 of the Penal Code..."

Always good to see where and when countries have their "morality" straight.

From Wikipedia:

United Arab Emirates

The WHO mentions a study that documents FGM in the United Arab Emirates, but does not provide data.[149][229] The practice is reportedly prevalent in rural and urban UAE.[230] In a 2011 survey, 34% of Emirati female respondents said FGM had been performed on them, and explained the practice to customs and tradition.[26] FGM is a controversial topic in UAE, and people argue about whether it is an Islamic requirement or a tribal tradition. A significant number of UAE nationals follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents without questioning the practice. A 2012 report published by UAE government scores UAE at 31% on prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation.[231]

Women I know from India feel far safer and less subject to sexual harassment -- and worse -- as a tourist on the streets of Dubai than in India or Mexico.

What some people may consider to be "flirting" can definitely feel intimidating to the target of the "flirting". This kind of UAE law may actually make some female tourists in the UAE feel safer than they do in the countries where they live or visit.

I don't see how FGM has anything to do with this UAE restriction, unless you're "flirting" includes asking the targets of your "flirting" about FGM while in the UAE. ;)

Mexico??? Unless I look like a 🐕 to every male on the streets of Mexico City, I've never ever been approached in the last two years I have lived here. However, I spent 3 months in Dubai this winter and was harassed by guys (Africans and Indians), that kept saying they just want to talk to me. I'm like go-away 😕

Mexico. Are you a woman I know of Indian background? Probably not.

If not a fan of being harassed anywhere, then wouldn't this kind of "retain the possibility to throw the book at them" approach possibly be a restraint against being harassed more?

Yes, I'm a woman, but not of Indian ethnicity.

That’s what I figured.

I've did a lot more things with women than just 'flirting' in Dubai before I got married outside well known hotels in Dubai, clubs and taxis and was definitely not arrested. Same applies for my friends and colleagues (and no, these women did not ask for money :) but more worked as cabin crew for EK); and I did not feel that this was anything uncommon for the girls.

As usual, there is a lots of drama in media around the UAE when it comes to things like that....

And not even talking about the working girls in big UAE hotels

While it is technically true that flirting with a woman in the UAE can get you jail time, the odds of that happening are probably lower than for jaywalking in NYC. Yes, the law about respecting the culture and tradition of the UAE is on the books, but there's no police force that's going to jump out of the bushes looking to enforce this law. And if you choose to go to one of the countless western-friendly nightclubs in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or to one of the countless hotels where escorts openly cruise the hotel bar, you can be your drooling, lascivious self without any fear whatsoever.

Is this true for all women, like even expats? Or just the native Emirati people?

Expats (fancy name for immigrants). Almost everybody living and working in the UAE are immigrants with temporary resident work permits. So, to answer your question, the law applies to every female, no matter if they're a citizen, immigrant, or tourist/visitor.

And before you ask, boy-on-boy flirting is officially out, too. Yes, even with expats :eek:

Some story a while back about a Scottish chap accidentally brushing against the leg of another guy in a bar. The other guy complained and the Scot was jailed then deported.

There's always a bit more to the story than the outrage in the UK press suggests, but still.....

wow. accidentally brushing. :confused:

indeed. funny old world :)

There you go... the full story from the UK's leading tabloid

"Brit, 27, faces three years in a Dubai jail for ‘public indecency’ after accidentally BUMPING INTO a man in a bar"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/462911...-into-man-bar/