Travel And Laws

[Nahcomence]

------------------------- Followup To - Hope, thanks so much for your response. Here are some more specific questions that may help you tell me what you know. Or maybe you could ask someone else. I don't expect lawyer-expert answers, just someone familiar with everyday life in UAE.

Many mideast nations take great pride in their cultural and archeological objects; therefore, they have pretty strict laws on what to do if you find something. I don't know if UAE has many objects like that. Turkey, Iraq, Iran, etc. have some very ancient history and don't want people taking those things out of the country. Do you know of any UAE rules on that? What are the penalties?

How strict are the laws against illegal drugs? What's the worst sentence one can get for importing cocaine, for example. Don't worry, I am not intending to do such a thing. I am preparing a paper that will warn others of what to do and not do in UAE when they visit there. Are there strict rules about drinking alcohol? Smoking in public? Possessing pornography? How strict? Fines? Imprisonment? Death penalty? Sex with a single Muslim woman? Sex with a married Muslim woman?

I understand that it is not wise to say rude, disrespectful things in public, but are there any laws against saying, for example, that you think that Sheik ________ is a big pig? What about speaking disrespectfully of Mohammed? Any laws against such things? What is the punishment?

Could a visiting American adopt a UAE orphan and then return with that child to raise it in the U.S.? If allowed, what are the conditions for such an adoption? Must they raise it as a Muslim? What type of costs are involved?

Are there criminal laws against saying something false about someone else? We have what we call libel and slander laws, whereby someone can be sued for saying something negative and false about someone else, but we do not have criminal laws against it. In other words, someone could sue someone who said something false about them and get money, but the person would not be arrested by the government for saying something libelous or slanderous about another person. I'm talking also about average citizens now, not famous people or government officials only.

Maybe these more specific questions will spark your memory.

Hope,

I am interested in finding out unfamiliar laws that a traveler from the United States might encounter in U.A.E. In other words, are there restrictions - cultural and legal - that a U.S. traveler might not expect while traveling in U.A.E.? I assume that country has certain laws that differ from ours. Can you e-mail me a description of these restrictions? For example, what are the laws regarding sex outside of marriage, sex and age, alcohol, historical and cultural artifacts, illegal drugs, religion and converting others to a different religion, adoption of children, marriage by an American to a native, negative comments about the government, government officials, historic figures, Mohammed, etc.? I'm interested in any laws or customs that an American would be surprised to encounter when traveling in U.A.E. Thank you very much.

[Hy]

Hey Win,

Ok I will try to answer your questions one by one .

Have some very ancient history and don't want people taking those things out of the country. Do you know of any UAE rules on that? What are the penalties? Well we are not supposed to take anything that is found, and the found things are secured..etc , UAE cares a lot about the history of the land , so no you can not take or sell and buy anything that is not legalized. I think there is the risk of being jailed.

How strict are the laws against illegal drugs? What's the worst sentence one can get for importing cocaine, for example?

Well cocaine or any other illegal drug is not permitted to use in the UAE, if you are found selling it death penalty is the worst that could happen, and had happened to Iranian drug dealers. UAE is very strict about this issue. If you are found using it, then you are going to be jailed.

Are there strict rules about drinking alcohol?

Yes you cannot consume it publicly or else you will be jailed and there is a fine I think, if u buy it and drink it in your home(no party of course) I think that¡¦s ok . There are bars in some fancy restaurants in UAE that offer alcohol. But again you cannot drink it in the public or drive under the influence of it . Smoking :

Well you can smoke , but there is a law in Dubai  about not smoking in public places such as shopping malls etc , but the  rest of the emirates there is no such thing .

Possessing pornography? How strict? Fines? Imprisonment? well if you are smart you wouldn't want to have these things with you in UAE :) the people are soo sensitive to these things , the least I can say is that you are going to face lots of problems if found practicing this illegal act , yes there are fines , risk of being jailed and even being sent to your country. Sex with a single Muslim woman? Sex with a married Muslim woman? Depends on the case but the consequence are severe.

Sheik ________ is a big pig? What about speaking disrespectfully of Mohammed? Any laws against such things? What is the punishment? There is a law about not speaking badly or writing about them(sheikhs) , if you talk to someone ..Like private talk then its ok , but if you go to a mall and shout these rude words in the middle of it, I think you are going to stay in the police station for a while :) if not sent to your country on the first place to it . About our prophet you are not allowed to speak rudely about him, if you do so and a Muslim hears you , boy you will be lucky if you live , we really really respect other religions and expect others to do so with us . See UAE is not like US where you can say anything rude you like , people here are very sensitive about words and never swear publicly in front of ppl that they don¡¦t know . So you can have strong opinions and even hate our prophet!, but you cannot hurt the feelings of others ƒº people like talking about religion , but you have to do it with respectƒº

Could a visiting American adopt a UAE orphan?

Adopting is not allowed in UAE since that it is not permitted in Islam, you can help raise a child and make him/her live in your house..etc , but you cannot change the name of the father and make yourself the father .. Like for example in the west if you want to adopt you give the child your name, this is not allowed in Islam , the child should keep the father's name . Now if the father is not known, then we call him lets say Mohammah ABDALLAH , the fathers name should be a name combined with Allah. So adopting is a bit different from the west. Anyway adopting is not allowed in UAE.

Are there criminal laws against saying something false about someone else?

It is the same in UAE as it is in US we the person can be sued but we do not have criminal laws against it either.

Could you send me a copy of this paper when you finish . I would like to read it :)

Good luck  

[Ranger]

- Hello Win ,

Thanks for the interesting question, I will try to give you an outline of the laws in UAE , but unfortunately I'm not a lawyer so I wouldn't know much about the actual laws that differ from urs in US .

What I can tell you though is that illegal sex, drugs , alcohol(if consumed publicly) is a big issue in UAE. You have to read about the culture here so that you will have a clear idea about this country. Most of not all of our laws come from our religion Islam, other religions are respected in UAE, but you cannot ask a local or any other Muslim to change to your religion because I guess there is a law about that. We expect others to respect our faith as we respect theirs. what else you asked about! yeah marriage by American to native women is ok(not common though :)) but depends on the religion of the American , see Muslim women cannot marry but Muslim regardless the nationality , so you have to convert to Islam if you are not one to marry a Muslim women(generally speaking). You cannot talk about Israel in a way that may provoke anger here in UAE and Middle East; also I would advice you not to speak about Iraq :). People here are friendly so nothing to worry about unless you break one of the rules, you can speak about religion, politics ...etc but you have to do that with respect. People here don't hate Americans, but do have a strong feeling about the government of US.

"I'm interested in any laws or customs that an American would be surprised to encounter "again you have to do some preparation because this culture is totally different from yours , you can ask other American who have been to UAE , get a book ..etc its always better to have an idea before traveling to another country. It would be a lot easier for me if you give me an area to tell you about, instead of talking generally :).

Hope that i have helped you with something at least; here is a link that you might find usefulhttp://travel.state.gov/uae.html

Please don't hesitate to write me again if you have another question.

Good luck , Hope.