Dubai's strict legal framework has once again come under scrutiny after a British citizen was arrested for sharing a charity post on Facebook. While the emirate is well known for its tough stance on drugs, alcohol consumption, and public indecency, there are several lesser-known laws that can land tourists in serious trouble.
Drug offences are treated with zero tolerance. In 2008, British tourist Keith Brown was sentenced to four years in prison after customs officers found a speck of cannabis weighing just 0.003g stuck to his shoe. The UK Foreign Office warns that authorities may also prosecute if traces of illegal drugs are found in a person's blood or urine. Additionally, bringing certain prescribed medicines containing psychotropic substances into the country is forbidden without prior approval.
Other surprising legal pitfalls include the criminalisation of non-repayment of debt. Bounced cheques and unpaid bills, including hotel bills, can result in imprisonment. Public displays of affection, such as kissing and hugging, are strictly prohibited, and even married couples holding hands is only 'tolerated'. Dancing in public is forbidden, and swearing or making rude gestures can lead to fines or jail time.
Social media use is heavily regulated under a strict cybercrimes law introduced in 2012. Sharing footage of a crime, posting offensive content, or failing to obtain permission for fundraising activities—as in the case of Scott Richards—can result in arrest. In 2013, an American was jailed for making a spoof video about Dubai youth culture, and a man who filmed a government official attacking a van driver was arrested for sharing the footage.
Visitors should also be aware that living together or sharing a hotel room with someone of the opposite sex while unmarried is technically illegal, though rarely prosecuted. Rape victims have occasionally faced charges themselves, as happened to Norwegian woman Marte Deborah Dalelv in 2013, who was convicted of extra-marital sex and illegal alcohol consumption after reporting an assault. The Foreign Office advises showing respect for religious beliefs and avoiding photography of women without consent, as such actions can lead to heavy fines or imprisonment.
