pdh:

 

> What are the laws you are referring to?

 

Well, without trying for the correct garment names, a large portion of the locals (less-so the immigrant workers) find it good to wear a form of all-encompassing robe, with varying amount of head covering. As a visitor, there's a code of compliance for men and women in public (more so in mosques) that mentions cleavage, sleeves, shorts length, etc.
The tone of visitor info is that you could (eg) go to jail for too skimpy a top.
(If you were female... I wasn't personally worried, as I'm male and past wearing skimpy tops ;-).

 

Certainly we were aware that a public kiss or hug (of a married, hetro couple) could well land you in handcuffs.

 

A long way from the Spanish Inquisition, and not insufferable... I just wouldn't care to live in a society with those norms.  

 

My point was that for many people in the world, that's a norm.
A 'proper-behaviour' norm.
But it seems to me it's not a firmware norm - it's a more superficial cultural norm.
Just like many of ours - eg: the lady who's offended by G-strings.

 

So you can't cite any laws about dress just your own assumptions. That would be because those "laws" don't exist. You can't go nude but you can pretty much wear what you like in Dubai. Certainly if you go to any of the major malls you will see a wide variety of dress, Dubai is an expat city with a wide variety of cultures.

We've lived here for six years and my wife and daughters wear what they would wear in New Zealand, mostly t-shirts, singlets and shorts. Some women wear abayas and the hijab, some don't. It's not a legal requirement, it's a cultural norm. Equally some men wear a Kandura, some don't.

What you are citing as a "code of compliance" is a request that shoulders are covered in many public places. There is zero enforcement of this as it is a request not a law. The only exception is mosques and government buildings where you won't get arrested, you just just get asked to cover up before you can enter.

If you would like to cite the law that giving your partner a hug or a kiss will get put in jail that would be great. I've regularly hugged and kissed my wife in public for the last six years I've lived in Dubai and no one has arrested me. I don't know anyone who has even been talked for such a heinous offence.

It's all fun to make claims about in another country but it'd be nice if it came from a place that wasn't ignorant of the actual laws and customs.