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Living with girlfriend


Ansa I am scheduled to be in Dubai early next year and I plan to ask my girlfriend to come as well. I know that it is illegal for an unmarried couple to be living together, however are there any arrangements that would overcome this law, eg subleasing a room to her? Or am I over-worried with this regulation? How would this law be enforced? Some insights into this would be appreciated.
Concord
Get a new girlfriend. Problem solved. If you get one with a ninja suit even better. bushra21 Dont go to Sharjah... sage & onion
You get caught living in the same place with a woman that is not related to you, you are in trouble, prison followed by deportation for both of you.
My advice, get married, end of problem. Concord
No need to get married just so you won't get deprted. Think about it, if you get deported then you are "status quo" (back in UK, etc.). In fact, they only seem to harrass the "defenseless". Never read a story of an "caucasian" expat being jailed or deproted for it. asc_26
Come to Dubai, see the situation, evaluate and decide if your girlfriend can follow you & live together in Dubai. :wink: sage & onion
Just because you never read a story does not make the problem go away, I know of 3 couples in the last 10 years that have been caught under various circumstances, jailed and deported for living together without being married. 2 couples from UK, 1 couple from Lebanon asc_26
Arabs have brain, skills and power as well. Westerners don't always make someone's dream come true. Your simple fact is CONCEITED. Brilliant yet low profile people are much appreciated in this land.
Anyway, back to the topic guys. :D Smelly_Melly This is a real debatable topic i feel. As i come from a country where we respect people from all walks of life and their beliefs. Simple fact is that the westerners are needed over there to make the crazy dreams of crazy men come true. I think its time they started respecting the beliefs of others also. Im not christian, actually im not religious at all. there is no place for it in my life. Ive been made an offer to come work there. i dont want to get married. simply said to me could be 'well dont come then'. but if none of us came then the place would turn back to sand again!! sage & onion
Smelly,
You want to come here to a foreign land, and take their money, why wouldn't you respect their culture and religeon?
I would say best you don't come, because when you get caught doing something that is against the law you will be the first one looking for sympathy.
If I come to Australia, I would most certainly respect the laws and traditions, and you would expect nothing less right???

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Ansa I can appreciate that it is a debatbale topic. As unreasonable as it seems, I still prefer to comply with the regulations, but the way of which the law is enforced appears to be unclear. For example, how do they define "living"? If a female friend visits me at my apartment and there is no one else, is that in breach of the law even thought the female friend has her own place? I have been told that many expats like to share apartments, so is it against the law if a guy and a girl shares an apartment? Thanks Concord
Great "know-it-all" :roll: :roll: :roll: Reading comprehension courses still available.... bschmidt
Maybe it happened some long time ago, but if they stay together in Dubai now, they will not have any problems.
There was a very large article in the Gulf News some months ago (maybe someone finds it in the archive?), that stated, that although living together unmarried is considered a sin, this offence will not be prosecuted in Dubai any more (opposed to Ajman, Sharjah, Fujairah and AD). sage & onion
You are wrong and you have been warned. bschmidt
So Gulf News and chief of police, who was interviewed in that article are wrong, sure... only sage & onion is right.... of course.
:roll: :roll: :roll: sage & onion
The law is the law, neither the Chief of Police nor Gulf News make the laws, if you are caught and refered to the Shariah Court you will most certainly be prosecuted and convicted.
As for who is right and wrong, advice is asked for and advice (based on many years experience in UAE) is given, your's is to take it or leave it. scarlet S&O you are overly pedantic at times. Yes you can state the law, but the law is not always enforced here. i/e. driving alongside a policeman at 150km in a 120 zone. Same goes for living together - it happens and its ignored. bushra21 yup, scarlet is right some police guys wanted to race me once....police! and they wanted to race...thats illegal... Smelly_Melly You want to come here to a foreign land, and take their money, why wouldn't you respect their culture and religeon?
I would say best you don't come, because when you get caught doing something that is against the law you will be the first one looking for sympathy.
If I come to Australia, I would most certainly respect the laws and traditions, and you would expect nothing less right???
Settle down tiger!!
Australia is extremely multicultural. Especially here in melbourne. In the city there would be more asians etc than white folk. But we are all equal. they have their ways and i have mine. what makes the place so special is that i can see all facets of life living in their own desired way and living peacefully (note im in melbourne not sydney).
Secondly, I said this topic was debatable, i never claimed to be right.
Thirdly, do you really think that all you westerners would be so welcome there if you werent needed there? Which is evident in the fact that if you cant be sponsored to come then your not welcome!!
Fourthly, just because I am not religious, dont mean I dont respect the rights of others who choose religion. Their business.
Fifthly, Take their money?? Do you save 100% of what you earn? I certainly dont. What i do is spend it on other services which is all part of creating an actively healthy economy. Which is why you all are needed there.
Finally, i will never live in Dubai not married cos it is against the law and I dont want to end up in some crazy arab prison. But my point in a 'debate' was to point out that in order for a multicultural society to work will be to accept people from all walks of life. And I was curious to hear what others opinions were on this matter.
Dont go assuming anything and suggesting that I dont come there when the reality is that you know nothing about me and probably never will.
Hey IM curious....Do you think its respectful to the locals to have a picture of obviously an arab with the facial features of mr bean? Dont get me wrong, i think its a funny picture. Just curious as to your opinion.
Smelly_Melly Anyway, i dont wish to argue with anyone on here. Its a forum so opinions are what its all about. And im just curious to hear those of others on the topic. Like i said, i dont claim to be right, i dont even claim to strongly beleive for or against my original statement. I just like to know how people who are there and are exposed to this style of living feel about it. sage & onion
Scarlet, if that was the case I wouldn't advise against it, you are wrong when you say it is ignored, better to state that it is for the most point overlooked. If you get any kind of trouble with the Authorities and you are living together without being married, you will be in more serious trouble, thats a fact which cannot be ignored. ^ian^
If they enforced this law half of Jumeirah would be packing their bags and heading home. Again, simply not enough resources to apply this one. sage & onion
That's why I put it the way I did, you simply can't say it doesn't exist. It's never a problem until it's a problem, and then its a big one. ^ian^
I think the Department of Conservatism are realising slowly they need to bend a few rules and turn a few blind eyes to keep the people coming. arniegang boths sides have a point. However, its akin to drinking and driving. You may always get away with it, there again you may not, because one day you, or someone else will slip up. However, in the scenareo that one of these couples may one day piss someone off, and they phone the Police to shaft them, or you have a loud party and someone complains, then i am affraid Sage and Onion is totally correct, its adios DXB. This is also relevant to people on here in that situation, it means keeping certain elements of your situation private, or one day some nutcase poster is going to dial DP. We have already had a situation at a DF Meet and the subsequent "fall out". Lessons learnt i hope and please remember this is a Public Forum. asc_26 Mostly expats are reading this forum and inquiring on the pros & cons. At least sage is there to give informations & of course prevention of worst thing that might happened. Whether the law is strictly implemented or not, it is still the law and no one is above it. It's not about being conservative and law abiding expats, I think sage's point is to let the expats know that there are laws, which we find a little odd. At the end of day, you'll be the one who will take the consequences of your actions. At least, DF as whole didn't failed to let the person knows the pros & cons. Remember: Ignorance of law excuses no one. Alright mate? :wink: sage & onion Arnie & ASC in a nutshell, thanks. jabbajabba There is no getting away from the fact that it is the law - but I do have to say in a country with over 80% expats (correct me if wrong) its seems rather backward to have such a law in effect - but at the same time as it's a islamic country and it's therefore under sharia law, they are hardly going to change it. I would have thought to at least make an amendment where it applys to only muslims would be more effective, but I am hardly inline for a seat in the UAE council to push such a motion. But laws are laws - there is still a law in england where if you see a welshmen in hereford market on a Saturday you are fully in the law to shoot them with a bow and arrow - not that many do mind you :) I don't really feel eye to eye with folk not questioning aspects of Dubai Law and Culture. The UK gets a fair share of bashing in here and all over the interweb, I remember not so long ago the veil debate and the anger and outrage posted here and on other forums - if any had said 'you don't like it get out' there would have been a great backlash and claims religous descrimination. Granted un-married couples may not be of any religous denomintation - but that does not lesser there right to lead there life how they feel is right and honest for them to do so. But i am back to the beginning now and 'law is the law' has come back again and blubering a bit. jabbajabba Was just thinking how do they prove that you are BF and GF - is it the four witnesses thing? Or is it illegal full stop for two different sexs to live in the same property - which leads me to ask if anyone knows if a non-couple have been evicted for co-habiting but not co-bed sharing?? jabbajabba Hey - just worked out why the word 'fun' keeps popping up :) You learn something new everyday and its time i went to bed - on me own ;) XPClone I've got 2 gay guys living next to me! Its a one bed apartment too! :shock: sage & onion
Keep your back to the wall when you pass them :wink: ^ian^
Nope, it's the accommodation thing.

A male and a female that aren't related either through blood or marriage are not allowed to co-habitate. As I said, half of Jumeirah would be in the shit if they enforced this, in fact... half of Dubai. iurca so finally what should 2 people do, I mean a boy & girl, if they are not married yet? To get married? ^ian^
Well you have 4 options as far as I see it:
(1) Don't come
(2) Break the law (you and thousands of others)
(3) Live separately
(4) Get married
I would advise against #4 just to come to Dubai, you need better reasons than that to get married. asc_26
3.) Live Separately but you can still see your beau, men know the way (by hook or by crook) even if the law will be strictly implemented. :wink: Ansa how is "co-habitation" defined? does sharing a flat by a guy and a girl fall under this definition? with the amount of prostitution that's going on in dubai, wouldn't / shouldn't the government be more focused on tackling that rather than cracking down on decent "non-married" couples whose only crime is living under one roof? arniegang
you dont actually know that because, you dont know how many take the option of voluntary deportation
% wise its all a risk and is of no relevance at the end of the day, there maybe only one next year Ian, and it may be you or one of your close friends or colleagues
:P iurca I get it. at the end everyone decides for himself to take or not a risk. thanks for information. ^ian^
The government is definitely not focused on cracking down on decent "non-married" couples. arniegang
and dont bend over when putting out the garbage
:lol: :lol: :lol: arniegang
You are correct Ian, but someone could easily phone 911 and tell them. Then it would no longer be a case of "focus", more akin to "will you please come with us sir, you can collect your belongings later". asc_26 +1 most unmarried couples went to jail and got deported not because they were caught, somebody dialled 911 & lodge a complain. So be careful. arniegang and the reason it isnt in the papers generally, is that they are given an option 1/ stay and face the music of court appearance, 1 months jail then deportation 2/ Deport yourselves tommmorow Most take option 2 surprisingly enough :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ^ian^ And yet % wise more people die on Sheikh Zayed Road every year. asc_26 Reality check. :D ^ian^
And in that I would say complete bollocks and totally unlikely. iurca ok I got the situation, but,but... if I say that this is my cousine??? what then? will they ask me for any papers???or what??? ^ian^
Then you're screwed. That's the risk you take.
Of course, I have stacks of friends I know that are co-habitating or sharing villas with people of the opposite sex. Not a single one has EVER reported a problem.
Stacks of real life, living, breathing, non-cyber buddy, human friends, living in Dubai, sharing with the opposite sex, not married, and have NEVER had a problem.
Make up your own mind. rossbaku Right, having read the whole topic, I (and guaranteed some others) am still confused. Most people in Dubai have maids/servants, correct? If they are female (which 99.9% of them are), is it illegal for them to live together? Because I know of lots of families who let their maids live with them. Also, if you (a male) and a female friend live together in a house owned by a couple who are married, is this illegal? Please, enlighten me. Ross PS Don't flame me, I'm not trying to be s.e.x.i.s.t., I'm just stating the facts. iurca [quote="rossbaku"]Right, having read the whole topic, I (and guaranteed some others) am still confused.
I agree with that.
Still yet this is a forum everyone gives his information and opinion, and u should take the decision by yourself.
That's it! kanelli Well, once again I have to agree with Sage & Onion. Currently our landlord is trying to screw us over on a new lease for next year. We are likely headed to the rent committee. If hubby and I were not married, and the landlord knew it - he could blackmail us to pay his price or he'd report us. If it came out in the rent committee hearing that we are unmarried, we would likely be screwed as well. This is just one example of a situation where cohabitating while unmarried can cause some grief. iurca that is a real situation and I have to admit it might be quite common. And as I feel it might happen also to me and my girlfriend, so...I'l have to make some moves 8) thanks for example. cheers arniegang a great example K arniegang
Its not bollox at all Ian, anyone on these forums could dob you or anyone else that is known to co-habit, or any 1 of your friends outside of this forum. It does happen mate, may not as yet in your small circle, but it will always remain a possibility. Burken What about hanging out in public? I don't mean like touching each other or crap like that. I don't like people doing that no matter in what country they are in. But I mean like hanging out; doing lunch, take a walk, go to the cinema, hang out in the city and stores as friends and etc, what about those stuff? kanelli Burken, you can do that kind of stuff in public, that isn't illegal here. Concord Man oh man, "free" time is a great thing (I suppose). Male and female living together, unmarried, unrelated = illegal. Killing someone else = illegal. Trafficking drugs = illegal. Exceeding the speed limit = illegal. Overstaying your visa = illegal. Public Drunknessness = illegal. Stealing = illegal, etc. etc. Your choice! It's alll relative (unless she is not then...) sage & onion
What is your point here Concs? ^ian^
They'd be a complete wanker if they did, since I don't co-habitate. sage & onion
Good point Ian :lol: ^ian^
In Kanelli's case she makes a good point, and something to take into account with respect to 'bargaining' and dealing with landlords, but there are still tons of Villas in Jumeirah, USQ, Al Barsha etc. that had 4 people of mingled s.e.x and totally unrelated. I imagine they just shutup and pay the rent (or move to another villa). sage & onion
Good point indeed ^ian^
good point! Ansa then what about if the girlfriend has her own place, but she hangs around the boyfriend's place quite often, is it illegal for a male and female to be alone in an apartment or house even though they are not co-habitating? Concord
If making a point were a requirement of this forum then I would hate to see you go. [Just kidding, I wouldn't miss you for a second] Concord
good point about it being a good point? get my point? asc_26 Thread is getting longer. get that point? :!: Concord
its pointless from my point of view (without pointing fingers). sage & onion
Point taken ^ian^
Yes! Good point! Glad you noticed! asc_26
Pointing fingers are pointless from your point of view :!: sage & onion
But who is pointing pointless fingers? asc_26 Those pointing fingers that have pointless point to point. :lol: sage & onion
Thats a cery pointed remark :lol: asc_26
Ansa, I would suggest you to come to dubai, work and see what's happening here. By that time, you have more answers than questions. :D Smelly_Melly Ive forgotten what the point was now!! asc_26
Then we may go UP, the points are just there. :D tomtom69l7 Im prob. gonna move to Dubai with in the next 4 months. The living together unmarried thing does not really surprise me that much. It seems like you really have nothing to worry about if the law is not enforced. Form example, in this one place in the world, it is illegal and punishable by death if a white christan girl had sex with a man of another race or religion. This law is still technically on the books but has not been enforced for abour 100 years. Guess which place had this law..... Drum Roll The fine state of GEORGIA, in the good old USA!!!!!!!! Many states in the US have laws o\n the books reguarding living together unmarried however, none of them are ever inforced. asc_26 :x :x :x gtmash
I lived in Georgia. They hung my male roommate for tunneling my other male roommate. Or was that on TV? tomtom69l7
My law professor was showing the calss old and rediculous state laws that have not been enforced in about a 100 years. Did you know that until the 1960's and in some cases as late as the 1980's there were laws about marring some one of a diffrent race. And those laws were enforced as late as the 1970's! Theres also 7 states in America (North Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, Florida, Idaho and Michigan) where cohabitation is still technically a crime! Some people have been put on trial and given a $3000 fine for it as late as the 1990's! However, the supreme court has ruled that all of those laws are illegal and unconstutional so they really can not be enforced. scot1870
It can very well be enforced though, it's nothing like the old laws on the books of the US and many other countries. Sure, not everyone gets found out but I've seen a couple of friends undergo shotgun marriages here already in my short time. tomtom69l7 I looked into it a little bit more and the anti cohabitation laws in dubai are much diffrent then the ones in America. The laws in America have not been enforced in over 60 years. In fact a fairly recent supreme court decision officially legalized any form of cohabitation or sex between gay or straight couples. Although there was really no reason for the case b/c no one has ever been prosecuted for a sex position or cohabitation in America for about 60 years.



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