79 uncouth sunbathers arrested in Dubai

by Rob Peters | July 14, 2008 at 06:01 pm | 1755 views | 23 comments

A clash of values concerning appropriate beachwear has lead to a rash of arrests and a decency campaign in Dubai.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Westerners were getting too racy on the beaches of this Persian Gulf tourist haven, and a police crackdown on topless sunbathing, nudity and other indecent behavior has resulted in 79 arrests in recent days.

Undercover officers are strolling the sand while others stand guard in new watchtowers to enforce the social mores of this Muslim city-state, which is a booming business center that is attracting growing hordes of foreign tourists.

Authorities said they began the decency campaign after police detained a British man and a woman who were allegedly having sex on one of Dubai's sprawling beaches earlier this month.

Over the past two weeks, police have detained a total of 79 people whose behavior was "disturbing families enjoying the beach," Zuhair Haroun, a spokesman for Dubai's Criminal Investigation Department, said Monday.

While pursuing the police crackdown, Dubai has embarked on a public awareness campaign to remind its Western visitors and foreign residents that the city may have flashy hotels and glitzy skyscrapers but it also is a Muslim country with traditionally conservative values.

The city is installing signs warning tourists in Arabic, English and several other languages not to sunbathe topless or change clothes in public, said Abdullah Mohammed Rafia, an official with the Dubai Municipality whose office is overseeing the public awareness campaign.

Flag this story

Upload

Make your good story a great story. Click here to add your photos & video to this story.

Crowd Power

Scan the web to add photos and videos to this story or add them from the NowPublic Archive.

rpshen

at 18:08 on July 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Tsk tsk what are people thinking nowadays? sex on the beach in the daylight?

SOLARLIFE

at 18:10 on July 14th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff. Living French riviera, the story makes me laugh. The rich Arab world comes since years to Cannes Beach to spot the "forbidden" pleasures. Give me a break....

so_much_love

at 03:58 on July 15th, 2008

I can't imagine putting my bare feet on that sand during the heat of the day, much less any other body part - unless I wanted the experience burned into more than just my memory...

apester71

at 04:24 on July 15th, 2008

i agree with so_much_love. that sand is scorching! that and it's totally wide open - as the photos show. it takes a really determined pair to do anything not for general viewing on that beach.

apester71 has contributed a photo to this story.

Xtensha

at 06:04 on July 15th, 2008

Jumeirah Beach, Dubai

Xtensha has contributed a photo to this story.

terrydonut

at 06:05 on July 15th, 2008

I visit Dubai 4 or 5 times a year since 2004. Never had a problem on the beach or anywhere.
Would this type of behaviour be acceptable in the UK? I dont think so, so why should there be such an uproar because it is in Dubai?

terrydonut has contributed a photo to this story.

guilleroa

at 06:17 on July 15th, 2008

I was in Dubai last february, and hadn'tt got any problem on the beach

guilleroa has contributed a photo to this story.

ludovic

at 07:04 on July 15th, 2008

Dubai beach: tourists and camels. Dubai Inc. needs to balance finely between wanting tourism dollars and applying the Shariah. Tough call..

ludovic has contributed a photo to this story.

guangjun

at 09:34 on July 15th, 2008

guangjun has contributed a photo to this story.

Jonmikel (not verified)

at 10:05 on July 15th, 2008

I don't think outlawing nudity in public is "shari'a". In the US, people would be arrested for nude sunbathing on MOST beaches, and I don't think you could say we apply shari'a here. I very much agree with TerryDonut that this behavior isn't acceptable most places outside of Europe, so why should it be any different there? The fact that it is a Muslim country is kind of moot in this case.

I've never encountered any problems swimming in a bikini or holding my fiance's and in public in Dubai. Things are getting a little blown out of proportion, and tourists are forgetting they aren't in Europe anymore. Dubai is not a conservative place, but they do ask that you respect their culture. I don't think that is unreasonable. And if you're unsure about a custom, either ask or just play it safe and don't do it.

jaydeepmensa

at 10:52 on July 15th, 2008

good stuff:

Rob Peters, I like this story. It's good stuff. Wish we had more of them here in Gibraltar, he he .

Shultzy65

at 12:43 on July 15th, 2008

It was at least 38celsius the day i took this photo and, as you can see, the Jumeirah beaches were pretty vacant. In sharing my pic, i have to agree with most of the comments that the type of activities being targeted by the Dubai authorities would not be acceptable on most western public beaches so I do not have a problem with any country upholding common decency.

Shultzy65 has contributed a photo to this story.

Ian Brown (not verified)

at 12:58 on July 15th, 2008

Who are these people? Don't they know where they are going when they book a holiday? You can enjoy all that Dubai has to offer very easily without offending your hosts.