Dubai is known for being lavish and luxurious, with high end resorts, malls, beach clubs and plenty of shopping, but is Dubai LGBTQ+ friendly?
LGBTQ+ Friendly: No
Location:
Where exactly is Dubai located? Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is a country in the Middle East. It is situated in the Southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Proximity:
Canada/USA: 13+ hour flight
Europe: 6+ hour flight
Australia: 14+ hour flight
You’re probably thinking to yourself; what’s so special about Dubai and why do so many people travel there? It is known for being luxurious and lavish with high end resorts, malls, beach clubs and shopping. Interestingly, it is also home to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Dubai’s International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world, in fact it’s the third largest in the world making it a common stop for layovers.
Dubai is a modern and luxurious city that was built in the desert basically from nothing. As a result, the weather is very hot and dry year round with the coolest months being from November to March. It can get quite dusty from sandstorms, as well as fog that creates low visibility.
We visited in February and the temperature was 24-28⁰C during the day and in the low 20s during the night. December to February is arguably the best time of year to visit if you prefer moderate weather with an average temperature of 25⁰C. If you’re planning a trip to Dubai in the summer months (June – August) it’s quite hot with the average temperature ranging around 40-45⁰C. If you decide to visit from September – November the climate is less humid than the summer months and ranges from 36-38⁰C.
The short answer is no. Dubai is located in the UAE which is a Muslim country where homosexuality is illegal. As a result homosexual acts are punishable by death (if you are Muslim), prison sentence, deportation and/or fines. For example, public displays of affection between same-sex partners are not allowed and subsequently can lead to dangerous consequences. If you are traveling to Dubai and identify as LGBTQ+ you are not legally protected. There are no anti-discrimination laws in place, and same-sex marriage is not recognized.
While we have heard and read several stories about two men having to share a hotel room with two single beds at some hotels in Dubai we did not experience this ourselves. We stayed at the Atlantis, the Palm and had a wonderful experience. As a matter of fact the staff was attentive, courteous and accommodating towards us and we even ordered room service with no issues.
Overall the culture in Dubai is conservative with certain cultural and religious values and rules in place. For example, swimwear is only allowed on private beaches and swimming pools, cross-dressing is not allowed, PDA of any kind is not allowed, and being drunk in public is a criminal offence. LGBTQ+ related websites and dating apps are blocked in the UAE. However, people use a VPN connection to get around it. We wouldn’t recommend doing this since police officers are known to use these apps to lure LGBTQ people in and fine them.
The gay scene in Dubai does exist but is discreet and only known about through word of mouth or social media. It is important to note that people in Dubai are private and do mind their own business. The police are going to come knocking at your door looking for you necessarily. With that being said we still recommend to tread with caution and make sure you are being smart and staying safe.
Despite all of this there is a large expat community in Dubai that tends to be more liberal. This makes Dubai slightly more tolerant to the LGBTQ+ community than other cities in the UAE. Unfortunately, Dubai is still not welcoming to homosexuality. All in all, thousands of LGBTQ+ travelers visit Dubai daily and live in Dubai without any issues.
In reality you can safely visit Dubai just as we did if you remain aware of your surroundings. Do not be visibly open about your sexuality and avoid PDA in public areas. If you choose to boycott countries like this that have little to no LGBTQ+ rights it is completely up to you and we respect that entirely. We chose to explore this country in spite of all of this and were able to enjoy ourselves. Dubai has a lot to offer and we would recommend traveling here if you’re considering it for your next trip. Always remember to respect the culture and protect yourself while having fun.
Dubai is known for being lavish and luxurious, with high end resorts, malls, beach clubs and plenty of shopping, but is it LGBTQ+ friendly?
