Dubai: British couple arrested for kissing in public

Globalisation and all its good and bad points has been brought squarely into the public domain again in the last week.  Once again a flouting of country laws in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai specifically, has caused concern amongst the local Emiratis.

Dubai’s frenetic development in recent decades and the consequent influx of foreign visitors and foreign money has changed the demographics in the small kingdom to unrecognisable proportions.  One sociology professor at the UAE University claims that Arabic is no longer the first language in Dubai and the Emiratis have become a minority ethnic group in their own country.

There have been several cases in the last year or so, of foreigners flouting Sharia law in Dubai; the most recent is of a British couple found guilty of consuming alcohol and kissing in a Dubai restaurant.  This latest case has highlighted the growing unease amongst the local population who are traditionally very conservative.  The couple have had their passports confiscated and are awaiting their fate.

The population of Dubai is about 2 million only 5% of which are Emirati.  Many of these eschew the centre of the city as this is where most foreigners reside, and the open disregard towards what the locals consider to be respectful behaviour is making Emiratis feel uncomfortable in their own country.  The property boom in the last decade has altered the makeup of the country.  The consumption of alcohol is normally forbidden, apart from in the main tourist hotels;  however in a bid to attract yet more foreign dollars, alcohol is now being freely served in restaurants, albeit with the required licence. It is also a lot easier to purchase alcohol in the shops.

Foreigners are asked and advised to dress modestly, but in practice this does not happen, especially amongst holiday makers, and little is done to enforce the laws.  Permanent residents are a little more circumspect and make more effort to respect local custom.

Dubai nightclubs are pretty much the same as those anywhere; alcohol is served, as it is at the big sporting events, and the dress codes for women, in particular seem to have been waived.

In order to develop and progress, Dubai is aware that a fine balancing act is required between attracting foreign interest and preserving the ancient culture; but so far the balance is tipping the wrong way and causing a great deal of upset to the proud and traditional Emiratis.  However, this recent furore over the insensitive behaviour of. once again, some British tourists, is beginning to cause some serious disquiet. The anger felt by Emiratis towards the behaviour of some foreigners is being more widely expressed; they feel that the government needs to make a review of a strategy that develops the country financially at the cost of its culture and tradition.