Tourists travelling to Dubai must follow strict rules when visiting, as demonstrated by a British teen who was jailed today after having sex with a girl while on holiday in the Middle Eastern country.
Marcus Fakana, 18, was today sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for a ‘holiday romance’ he had with a 17-year-old girl back in August of this year.
The 17-year-old was also a UK citizen.
The concern around the case will have raised questions among tourists looking to travel to Dubai, so here are some of the things you can’t do in Dubai.
Marcus Fakana will spend a year in prison after he had sex with a 17-year-old girl while on holiday in Dubai (Family Handout)
Dressing inappropriately
While there is no specific law around how to dress in Dubai, it is generally frowned upon to wear any revealing clothing.
According to Mohammed Talal Al Tamimi, a lawyer at Tamimi & Co told the Khaleej Times there is an article in the UAE’s penal code saying: “Indecent actions or anything that might be prejudicial to public morals made by a man or woman in public and could be considered as indecency would be punishable by six months to three years and deportation.”
In certain situations, this could be seen to cover not dressing modestly in a way that offends more conservative citizens.
The UK foreign office guidance on this states: “Women should dress modestly when in public areas like shopping malls. Clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs, and underwear should not be visible.
“Swimming attire should be worn only on beaches or at swimming pools.”
