...for people who have been there, what do you think of Dubai? Honestly please. Is it worth visiting? My boyfriend wants to go there for holiday. But I am not sure. I guess it's because I always prefer a "real" city like Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Stockholm, and even London (I love London).
Is Dubai worth visiting?
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It's illegal for you and your boyfriend to share a hotel room while you stay there.
They're quite conservative.
They're quite conservative.
Originally Posted by Axist:
“It's illegal for you and your boyfriend to share a hotel room while you stay there.
They're quite conservative.”
“It's illegal for you and your boyfriend to share a hotel room while you stay there.
They're quite conservative.”
are you serious?
Wasn't it in Dubai a few years ago that the couple on the beach were arrested for kissing when they weren't married?
Originally Posted by capekdeh:
“...for people who have been there, what do you think of Dubai? Honestly please. Is it worth visiting? My boyfriend wants to go there for holiday. But I am not sure. I guess it's because I always prefer a "real" city like Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Stockholm, and even London (I love London).”
“...for people who have been there, what do you think of Dubai? Honestly please. Is it worth visiting? My boyfriend wants to go there for holiday. But I am not sure. I guess it's because I always prefer a "real" city like Paris, Rome, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Stockholm, and even London (I love London).”
I've been a couple of times, but for work, not a holiday. It's quite interesting to see all the new buildings, and the souks, but people go mostly to shop in the malls, and that's not my sort of holiday.
There's plenty to be aware of....
(snip) Rules for Unmarried Couples Staying in Dubai Hotels
Checking into a Hotel in Dubai
It is technically a violation of Sharia, Islamic law, for an unmarried couple to share a private room, a car, or a hotel room. However this rule, the Tawajed clause, is routinely overlooked in Dubai where foreigners outnumber the natives nine to one. Hotel clerks only ask for one passport and never ask for a marriage certificate. Since Arab women in the United Arab Emirates keep their surnames when they get married, different names on passports mean little. To avoid complications and hard feelings, couples should refer to one another from the moment of check-in as husband and wife.
More here:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5279275_ru...ai-hotels.html
(snip) Rules for Unmarried Couples Staying in Dubai Hotels
Checking into a Hotel in Dubai
It is technically a violation of Sharia, Islamic law, for an unmarried couple to share a private room, a car, or a hotel room. However this rule, the Tawajed clause, is routinely overlooked in Dubai where foreigners outnumber the natives nine to one. Hotel clerks only ask for one passport and never ask for a marriage certificate. Since Arab women in the United Arab Emirates keep their surnames when they get married, different names on passports mean little. To avoid complications and hard feelings, couples should refer to one another from the moment of check-in as husband and wife.
More here:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5279275_ru...ai-hotels.html
I was over in Dubai about 4 years ago and never had any problems. I was with my then girlfriend and no one asked any questions. We held hands in shopping malls and no one looked in our direction.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.
Originally Posted by Axist:
“It's illegal for you and your boyfriend to share a hotel room while you stay there.
They're quite conservative.”
“It's illegal for you and your boyfriend to share a hotel room while you stay there.
They're quite conservative.”
That is total rubbish. No problems with a unmarried couple sharing a hotel room.
I have been several times, and I think its a great city to visit. Last time, I went was last October. Have never had a bad holiday there yet. The hospitality in Dubai is second to none. Although its not as good as when I first went, its still way better than what I have experienced in other countries.
Dubai is one of the most popular destinations at the moment for holiday makers. If you havent been, I would go.
We visited friends who were living there a dozen years ago. It was (at the time) a city with seemingly boundless enthusiasm and the will to build any mad project they could think of (The Palm, the World islands, an indoor ski-slope...)
We had a great time, without doing the whole 'spend all day at the mall' thing, but I can understand how it's not for everyone. certainly, it seemed sanitised compared to other Arab countries I've visited.
It is (or was) brash, shiny and all about the new.
We had a great time, without doing the whole 'spend all day at the mall' thing, but I can understand how it's not for everyone. certainly, it seemed sanitised compared to other Arab countries I've visited.
It is (or was) brash, shiny and all about the new.
I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.
Originally Posted by fefster:
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
Were you alone or travelling with girls only? My friends had the same experience in Egypt and Morocco.
Originally Posted by Super_Steve:
“I was over in Dubai about 4 years ago and never had any problems. I was with my then girlfriend and no one asked any questions. We held hands in shopping malls and no one looked in our direction.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.”
“I was over in Dubai about 4 years ago and never had any problems. I was with my then girlfriend and no one asked any questions. We held hands in shopping malls and no one looked in our direction.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.”
I noticed that on last night episode. Some people that the contestants talked to and negotiated with, they seem to be Filipinas and Indians.
Dubai is incredible for what they have created there, but whether a holiday or not is a good idea really depends on your interests. If you like shopping and sport and luxurious hotels/eateries then you'll love it, if you want histiry and culture then I fear it may not be for you!
Originally Posted by capekdeh:
“
I noticed that on last night episode. Some people that the contestants talked to and negotiated with, they seem to be Filipinas and Indians.”
“
Originally Posted by Super_Steve:
“I was over in Dubai about 4 years ago and never had any problems. I was with my then girlfriend and no one asked any questions. We held hands in shopping malls and no one looked in our direction.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.”
“I was over in Dubai about 4 years ago and never had any problems. I was with my then girlfriend and no one asked any questions. We held hands in shopping malls and no one looked in our direction.
People may try and scare you with stories but I honestly never encountered anything like it. People were lovely. I was "assumed" to be the husband by market stall holders but the hotel didn't say a word. But then I'm not sure I actually encountered any locals in there. Plenty of people from Far East and places like Sri Lanka.”
I noticed that on last night episode. Some people that the contestants talked to and negotiated with, they seem to be Filipinas and Indians.”
I recently flew through Dubai airport and the vast majority of the people working there were either Asian (south and east) or European. As another poster said, local Emiratis are a minority in Dubai (17% according to Wikipedia).
Me and my boyfriend lived there- I would recommend it if you like city breaks but it can get a bit samey after a week
Yes, I have been four times. It's great fun. Prices are about the same as England, in some cases, cheaper.
Ignore the nonsense post above about unmarried couples not being able to share hotel rooms.
Ignore the nonsense post above about unmarried couples not being able to share hotel rooms.
Originally Posted by Peter Venkman:
“Yes, I have been four times. It's great fun. Prices are about the same as England, in some cases, cheaper.
Ignore the nonsense post above about unmarried couples not being able to share hotel rooms.”
“Yes, I have been four times. It's great fun. Prices are about the same as England, in some cases, cheaper.
Ignore the nonsense post above about unmarried couples not being able to share hotel rooms.”
They just warned people to be careful about it. Anyone who goes there on holiday needs to be fully aware of local customs and laws, like that English bloke who got arrested for swearing in his hotel and died in jail there. You can't behave there like you might behave in Spain or Greece. Also it's not cheap compared to other holiday destinations, especially if you want to enjoy things like the indoor ski slope.
It certainly doesn't appeal to me for a holiday. It's too fake, like an enormous theme park. If all you want is fun in the sea and sun you can get that cheaper in the Med, and the nightlife is better. If you want to experience Arabian culture there are much better places to go. I'd no more want to go there on holiday than I would Las Vegas, but I realise other people see things differently.
Originally Posted by fefster:
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
Jeez..........I got that in Paris but I'm surprised about Dubai.
Originally Posted by allafix:
“They just warned people to be careful about it. Anyone who goes there on holiday needs to be fully aware of local customs and laws, like that English bloke who got arrested for swearing in his hotel and died in jail there. You can't behave there like you might behave in Spain or Greece. Also it's not cheap compared to other holiday destinations, especially if you want to enjoy things like the indoor ski slope.
It certainly doesn't appeal to me for a holiday. It's too fake, like an enormous theme park. If all you want is fun in the sea and sun you can get that cheaper in the Med, and the nightlife is better. If you want to experience Arabian culture there are much better places to go. I'd no more want to go there on holiday than I would Las Vegas, but I realise other people see things differently.”
“They just warned people to be careful about it. Anyone who goes there on holiday needs to be fully aware of local customs and laws, like that English bloke who got arrested for swearing in his hotel and died in jail there. You can't behave there like you might behave in Spain or Greece. Also it's not cheap compared to other holiday destinations, especially if you want to enjoy things like the indoor ski slope.
It certainly doesn't appeal to me for a holiday. It's too fake, like an enormous theme park. If all you want is fun in the sea and sun you can get that cheaper in the Med, and the nightlife is better. If you want to experience Arabian culture there are much better places to go. I'd no more want to go there on holiday than I would Las Vegas, but I realise other people see things differently.”
I was reading your post and immediately though of Las Vegas way before you mentioned it.
Originally Posted by fefster:
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
“I really liked Dubai. It was super opulent and exciting to visit. Great food, no problem getting alcohol and fantastic places to visit.
I did get severely groped in the souk though - right in between the legs and 'under' if you know what I mean. It was a bit shocking.”
Under? The mind boggles.
Such places can very be intimidating for women. Went to a souk in Morocco, my teenage daughter hated the very direct reaction she got, though fortunately she wasn't groped, just leered at.
dubai is fine for gay or straight couples sharing. just respect the local laws and you'll be fine. we are a gay couple who always request a double room in dubai and have just returned from a relaxing week. we will return to dubai later this year to top up our tans. don't listen to the gossip from people who have never travelled there. have a great time.
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