Arabic Advice

What do you mean?

Well, its like this! I was walking back to my car the other night, and I passed a well known drinking venue. It was throwing out time, well past midnight, and there was a group of westerners behaving in a manner typical after a long night of boozing. They were singing, laughing, shouting, jeering and cajoling a reluctant taxi driver; almost falling over each other. Harmless fun and a bit of a laugh but if you do it in the Middle East and you get stopped by the police, you will be in big trouble. They were lucky that night and probably for many more nights to come, but one day their luck will change and there will be no one to help them..... Yes! Even in Dubai, where a lot of people think anything goes. And indeed it does, because you will be more than surprised by what you can do in a place like Dubai, but do it in a blatant and obvious manner for all to witness and no doubt there will be serious consequences. There is many a westerner languishing in a jail cell wondering what on earth happened to them; justice and punishment can be swift in the Middle East.

Indeed, it's not all about how you should conduct yourself but how to look after yourself too in a climate and culture that is very different from back home.

Discretion, a little knowledge with a dash of common sense is all you need to enjoy a great and safe social life in the Middle East without getting yourself into any bother.

Useful Documents

Teachanywhere has a selection of documents, some of which, or all, address the matter of behaviour and conduct in the Middle East. We have a series of location reports that touch on this issue but not in great detail. A recommended read is 'Teachanywhere Special Features: Avoiding Cultural Gaffes in the Middle East'; this document provides guidance on how to bridge the gap between two very different cultures. Another one, 'Teachanywhere Special Features: Transport in Dubai' advises you how to survive on Middle Eastern roads! However, the purpose of these documents is to consolidate the more serious warnings related to activities, in one place, without distraction, that are considered the norm back home but could end you up in jail or in hospital or result in a moment of unwelcome embarrassment. So take warning!

Airport Arrival

'There is zero drug tolerance in the Middle East'

Drugs - Having medication in your travel bag is second nature to most people, but if you are not careful, those medicines, to relieve a cough or treat painful gastric ulcers, can land you in jail. Some medicines, which are over-the-counter in other countries, are also considered controlled items in the UAE as they produce effects that contravene local laws. To bring medicines in, residents must have a medical prescription from a UAE licensed physician. For those who receive treatment abroad, they must show a medical report from a doctor detailing their illness and the reason for taking the medicine. There are 365 banned substances, too many to mention here, but you will find a useful document outlining the whole list (with brand and chemical names) at www.pharmauae.com/controlleddrugs.pdf. One popular example is Codeine. So Nurofen is not banned; Nurofen + is! When it is working you can also check the local government website www.moh.gov.ae. You can also double check with the UAE/other embassy in your home country. Be warned, travel agents and immigration halls do not have banned substance warnings. If in doubt leave drugs you can get in the Middle East at home. Do not even think about taking a risk to purposely bring in recreational drugs. If you are caught there is no trial; just an automatic prison sentence of 4 years, minimum.

Heat and Humidity

'Drink plenty of water at all times to avoid dehydration!'

Drinking water – Many people new to the Middle East drastically underestimate the rapid debilitating effect of the intense heat and humidity, particularly in the height of summer. Dehydration can set in rapidly so as a preventative measure it is recommended to drink at least 8 pints of water a day. Always carry water with you or have money on you to buy it. If you venture to a remote location you must ensure that you have more than a sufficient supply of water to last you for the duration; and prepare for the unpleasant experience of breaking down or getting lost. When you are exposed to the sun, try to keep you head covered. This part of the body is very sensitive to the sun and sun burns rapidly. Try to use protective creams of good quality if you are not used to the sun. It is recommended that you stay in the shade where possible. Many expatriates suffer from heat stroke when they first arrive not realising just how hot the sun is in the Middle East.

Criminal Co-Habitation

'It is illegal to live together if you are not married'

Co-habitation – Living together as unmarried partners is strictly illegal. Some employers may turn a blind eye to it, but will not accept any responsibility for your actions if you are discovered. Many couples do live together without having any problems; they are willing to run the risk. If you are living amongst friends and colleagues, you should be fine, but if you live in an area or apartment block housing people not known to you, how do you know how they are reacting to your activities? You need to be cautious, as it only takes one small incident to develop into a major situation. Take this one as an example. A small car accident on the road; nothing major, but of course with every accident you need a police report. The driver did not have his documents on him; that in itself is inadvisable but the police were fine with it and accompanied the man back to his home so they could see the paperwork. The unmarried woman with whom he was living, for some reason, started to make an unnecessary fuss. The police lost their patience, asked for their documents; discovered that they were not married and even had a child out of wedlock. The whole family was deported instantly. Who would have imagined that such a small incident would have escalated to the deportation of a whole family? They decided to run with the risk and lost.

Outrageous Outbursts!

'Gesticulating in public is against the law!'

Driving in the Middle East is an experience in itself and can bring the worst out of people. Normal, polite and sane individuals amazingly transform into abnormal, rude and insane individuals once they are behind the wheel of a vehicle (well almost everyone). As well as frequent congested roads, you will witness startling acts of lunacy that will leave you gaping in wonder as to how these people actually survive their journey to the office! Almost every country in the world is represented in the Middle East and that means a major clash of different cultures, attitudes, experiences and competencies on the road system, every driver believing that their motoring skills are the best, driving as they would do back home without any thought of adapting their style to accommodate others. Middle East drivers do not work as a coherent team; it is everyone for themselves as they battle to move forward in yet another frustrating traffic jam. And unfortunately many western drivers pick up these bad habits all too quickly. Be careful; don't add to the statistics! And this is the moment of our warning. In addition to driving carefully, with confidence and assertiveness, alert at all times to avoid the mad drivers out there, do not succumb to the temptation to react to bad driving with a gesticulation or an outburst of colourful language. Please contain your anger; even if they are in the wrong they could take offence to your anger and actually report you. Many a westerner is languishing in jail for giving the finger! Simply shrug your shoulders safe in the knowledge that sooner or later the offending motorist will eventually get caught out, hopefully without injuring other innocent people. So stay out of hospital and prison!

Dressing Dangerously

'It is recommended not to dress provocatively!'

Conservative dress is not a major concern but in some areas, even in Dubai, if you dress baring all you could be stopped, questioned and cautioned – a moment of embarrassment one would rather avoid. On the hotel beaches and around their pools you will be fine; on public beaches (outside of Sharjah) you will be okay but the ladies will be stared at by the labourers. This is an activity that is being addressed by the police; it is harmless but it is intrusive. Dress code in the local community should be conservative particularly on Fridays, near mosques and during religious festivals such as Ramadan. At all other times try to dress sensibly. Men and women are fine in shorts and T-shirts, but revealing outfits and swimwear could be considered offensive. In Dubai you will witness all manner of clothing and wonder what the big fuss is all about; the authorities don't seem to mind, but just be careful.

Affectionate Actions!

'Heavy kissing in public is illegal!'

The expression of affection in public needs to be conducted with a romantic touch of common sense. Remember you are in an Islamic country and regardless of how cosmopolitan and international the local community appears to be, even in Dubai where everyone mistakenly believes anything goes, extreme passionate moments of romance could result in an embarrassing situation or worse. Holding hands, a hug or a quick peck on the lips or cheek as a greeting are fine; we mean deep and meaningful embracing and kissing. If you do this in public you could end up in trouble, even more so in more conservative areas such as Sharjah or Fujairah. And even if you are married too. One of Dubai's most popular shopping malls, the Mall of the Emirates, has now posted signage warning expatriates and tourists to contain their romantic outbursts to a private moment behind closed doors! Gay and lesbian behaviour is strictly illegal. If you are caught you will be imprisoned.

Political Politeness!

'Striking is against the law!'

If you are politically active and hold very strong views that you are keen to express, then the Middle East is not the place for you. It is not a democratic society and there are many laws and regulations with which you may disagree. Cross the law and you may be shocked by the lack of legal representation and severity of punishment. Keep your views and opinions to yourself. This is the way it is over here and though times are changing to keep pace with the western world, there are some aspects of life that are going to be around for a long time to come. Equal opportunities and human rights are two strong areas of controversy, but to bring this out into the open could bring you into a much closed situation! Leave your soap box at home!

Drunk and Disorderly!

'Drunken behaviour will land you in jail!'

The consumption of alcohol is allowed in certain Middle East countries. It is forbidden in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and certain emirates in the United Arab Emirates, such as Sharjah. To purchase alcohol for private consumption you must have a liquor licence; Muslims are not allowed to have one. To transport alcohol you need a liquor licence but even if you do have one you are not allowed to carry it across areas that are dry. For example if you decide to avoid the heavily taxed alcohol shops in Dubai to buy it from the tax-free outlet in Umm Al Quwain you need to travel across Sharjah. If you are caught you could end up in trouble; so you run the risk to buy cheap booze!

In a place like Dubai there are many bars and clubs but if you take drunken behaviour outside there could be severe consequences if you are caught. The authorities do not tolerate public acts of drunkenness including singing, fighting, throwing up in the back of taxis, and anything else like that. In fact any public disorder related to alcohol will probably land you in jail. Even if you get yourself in a fight and you claim to be the innocent party, if they think you have been drinking, you will probably end up in jail as well. The authorities act first then ask questions later. This is one of the reasons why the streets of the Middle East are very safe at night. There are no marauding gangs of drunken youths. The streets are full of families enjoying the cool evening air.

Drink driving is even worse. There is zero tolerance. The consequences are most severe including instant imprisonment and deportation. Considering how cheap taxis are it is not worth the risk.