The expat population in the UAE makes up close to 90%, which means you will be living in a vibrant international community with lots of opportunities to make friends and more. As modern as some emirates may be, it is essential that you are aware of the local customs and traditions, even when it comes to dating.
Dating don'ts in the UAE
As the concept of dating is not widely accepted in the Emirati culture, you'll find that most locals do not openly date. Thus, there is no local dating culture in the UAE. As an expat, however, you don't have to strictly follow local traditions. With that, it's important to be respectful of social norms and rules.
Excessive public displays of affection are generally frowned upon across the country. You'd be fine with hand-holding in more lenient emirates, like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but it would be best to avoid this in more conservative emirates like Sharjah. Touching and kissing in public is not appropriate regardless of which emirate you are in, and could possibly land you in trouble with the police.
Avoid talking about romance, dating, and your relationship with the Emiratis (unless you have developed a personal and friendly relationship with them), as these topics are not considered appropriate.
Where to meet people in the UAE
If you are living in a big city like Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you will have access to restaurants, bars, clubs, and hotels that are used to serving expats. This means that you will have no problem inviting your date over for cocktails. Note, however, that while you can enjoy your drink at the hotel or restaurant, drinking in public is strictly forbidden.
While there are offline dating options in the UAE, online dating remains very popular in the expat community. The online dating scene is constantly changing, and many dating apps are actually banned in the UAE. With that, Tinder and Bumble do work on occasion — note that you might need a VPN to access these. It's best to ask your fellow expats about what apps or websites they are using, as they will have the most up-to-date information.
When meeting someone online, do remember that dating and sex before marriage (while not illegal) are frowned upon. Do your best to respect local rules so as not to get into trouble.
Expat forums, meetings and clubs can also be good locations for meeting new people in the UAE. Websites like Meetup are very popular in the UAE, and you should have no problem finding expat groups from your home country.
Joining an interest club (sports, books, cooking, etc.) can also be a great way to expand your circle and, perhaps, even find love.
Same-sex dating also exists in the UAE – but, as you can imagine, it can be very risky. You will have to exercise extra caution when planning your meetings and keep your relationship discreet. Same-sex dating apps like Grindr are banned in the UAE – but can sometimes be accessible via a VPN.
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