Dating in Dubai can be a tricky activity if you do not understand the culture of Dubai, which is a mixture of many cultures even though it is based on Islamic or Arabic culture. Although there are almost 3.3 million people currently living in Dubai, 2.25 million of them are men and just more than 976,000 are women according to estimates in 2019. You would think this would make Dubai dating an absolute haven for women looking for a partner but it does not seem to be so. It is much more difficult to determine the correct protocols for dating in Dubai than what a mere glance at the codes of conduct would indicate.
The New Dubai Code of Conduct, updated in November, 2010 by the Executive Council under the direction of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoom, king and Chairman of the Council, attempts to clarify the expectations of social conduct, including the various aspects affecting dating in Dubai.
Obviously, the first order of business is to find someone you are interested in dating in Dubai if you are traveling without a partner. There are strict guidelines in the Islamic and Arabic traditions that you must adhere to right from the very beginning finding a date in Dubai, especially if you are a non-Islamic or non-Arabic man seeking to find a date with an Islamic or Arabic woman. A family is held in very high regards and is the cornerstone to Islamic and Arabic culture. This puts an entire new outlook on dating in Dubai. Dating is revered much more highly than it is in the West. In fact, conservative Islamic and Arabic families in Dubai require the man request permission from a woman’s father to date her. The father’s ultimate expectation if you are dating his daughter is that it will ultimately end in marriage. One way this tradition has actually been ‘westernized’ is through the vast majority of opportunities in meeting those of the opposite or same sex through online dating services provided in Dubai. These services provide a greater degree of latitude in finding someone to date. Once you have found that special someone you want to date in Dubai, it is very important for you to know the social etiquette within the culture in order for your date in Dubai to be an enjoyable time and not end disastrously.
The general rule of dating in Dubai is to always remember that the culture is based on behaving and treating others with respect, humility and courteously. Specifically, in dating someone in Dubai, it is important to maintain decency in everything you do. The acceptable dress code is business casual, avoid exposing any part of your body, avoid displaying any type of affection in a public place including holding hands unless you are married, avoid listening to loud music and dancing in public places. Under no condition, you can end your date in Dubai by driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Besides, alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited in Dubai, as it goes against their culture and traditions. They have a zero-tolerance policy that can ultimately end up in your deportation, incarceration or a stiff fine.
If you are planning to visit Dubai and want to explore the online dating options in Dubai, then make sure you conduct yourself with dignity and know all of the social etiquette of the culture. This will ensure your dating experiences in Dubai will be positive.
