{"id":7744,"date":"2017-10-12T07:47:56","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T07:47:56","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2017-10-12T07:47:56","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T07:47:56","slug":"opinion-arrests-dubai-indecent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lovin.co\/dubai\/en\/feature\/opinion\/opinion-arrests-dubai-indecent\/","title":{"rendered":"OPINION: People Who Behave Indecently In Dubai Deserve Everything They Get"},"content":{"rendered":"
Another scandal in the international press, after a 27-year-old tourist was arrested for public indecency and drinking alcohol in the UAE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just a couple of weeks ago, a man was arrested for gesturing with his middle finger in Dubai.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both incidents gained international media attention, and ‘warnings to tourists’ coming to the UAE.\u00a0<\/p>\n
These incidents often see the press blaming the UAE policy, calling it a ‘strict country’ with harsh laws.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But the laws haven’t changed?\u00a0<\/p>\n
To enjoy the lavish lifestyle and the good weather, the tax-free life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tourists flock to the UAE for its affordable location – an ideal stopover on the way to somewhere else, drinking in the sunshine, the beautiful scenery, the stunning resorts, and often – far too much alcohol.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And often residents and tourists alike, behave like absolute animals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Grown men falling over into water fountains after brunch, swearing at service staff, getting into aggressive road-rage incidents and flagrantly assaulting people in bars.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If we don’t have these laws to regulate it – what’s to stop these people behaving badly, at the harm or demise of others?\u00a0<\/p>\n
It’s a Muslim country, and so with it come cultural sensitivities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pleading ignorance against straight-forward rules like no swearing, no assaulting people, no rude gestures – it can’t fly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
You are expected to behave according to a country’s cultural and religious stipulations – it’s standard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And it’s common sense to educate yourself against the laws in foreign countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It’s internationally known that Singapore doesn’t allow chewing gum.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Being drunk and disorderly in public is punishable in many countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It’s also known in what countries drug muling carries capital punishment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Knowing what is acceptable and not acceptable in foreign countries is your responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However I am saying, a little decorum goes a long way here.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It’s not even asking a lot in the UAE – you’re being asked not to swear, not to get in fights, not to use inappropriate gestures while driving, and not to show overt displays of public affection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How hard is it to treat people with respect, not swear, not assault people, and just be a generally decent person?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Have a bit of respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n