Dubai hotel issues etiquette guide after sex on the beach scandal

Ginny McGrath
One of Dubai’s most popular beach hotels has issued guests with an “etiquette guide” after two Britons were convicted for having sex on the beach near the hotel.

The etiquette guides, which suggest the hotel’s guests could be arrested for inappropriate public displays, are left on tables during the weekly brunch event at the Madinat Jumeirah hotel.

The guests should "employ discretion" in expressing affection publicly, says the hotel, with "anything more than a peck on the cheek" likely to result in police involvement.

The two Britons convicted last month of having sexual intercourse outside marriage and offending public decency, were Michelle Palmer and Vince Acors. They were arrested after attending brunch at a hotel near Dubai airport.

They were received three-month jail sentences, were fined £200 for drunkenness and ordered to be deported from Dubai on their release. More than 230 other Britons were arrested in the UAE last year.

Brunches take place across Dubai every Friday, the first day of the Dubai weekend, and are heavily promoted in Dubai's Time Out and enjoyed to the full by expatriates.

The lavish affairs last from late morning into the early evening when diners can enjoy unlimited food and alcohol for a fixed entry fee.

In the case of the Madinat Jumeirah the charge is £88, which includes bottomless champagne, cocktails and wine between 12:30pm and 4:30pm.

On the subject of drunkenness, the hotel’s etiquette guide warns: “Drinking is not a part of Muslim culture and alcohol is not served openly. Drunken behaviour, especially outside licensed premises in the hotel, is severely punished.”

On the subject of public displays off affection it says: “It is strongly recommended that you employ discretion when expressing affection in public. Anything more than a peck on the cheek could offend those around you and even possibly lead to police involvement.”

More than one million Britons visited Dubai last year, with twice as many expatriates now living in the Emirate.

The Madinah Jumeirah is one of Dubai's biggest and most popular beach hotels, next to the iconic seven-star Burj Al-Arab. More Britons visit than any other nationality - the hotel has 584 rooms in total, split between the Mina A'Salam and Al Qasr brands.

A spokeswoman for the hotel told Times Online: "Following the recent media attention surrounding etiquette in the Emirate, we have received additional enquiries from our guests. As a result, we have taken the initiative to produce information cards to inform our guests about local culture and customs here in Dubai.

“These cards are distributed throughout and advise our guests about driving around the Emirate, acceptable dress codes, public displays of affection, drinking and other responsible and respectful behaviour.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/news/article5132581.ece

Personally, I think when a person goes over to a foreign country, they are a guest & should behave like a guest. Dubai is a Muslim country & they are socially conservative in regards to expressions of physical affection. It seems to me that the two people who were caught trying to have sex on the beach were being very disrespectful to their hosts, who were the people of Dubai.

Well ya can mark Dubai off my list of possible vacation spots now *hrmph* lol