The rules are clear, says lawyer: no kissing allowed in Dubai


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DUBAI // High-profile court cases in which expatriates have been prosecuted for public displays of affection have created uncertainty about what constitutes unacceptable behaviour in the UAE.

But according to KK Sarachandra Bose, a lawyer, there is no excuse for such confusion because the rules are clearly written down.

"The code of conduct published by the Executive Council, Government of Dubai, clearly specifies acceptable behaviour in Dubai," he said in an interview with the Ministry of Interior's 999 Magazine.

“A similar code of conduct is applicable throughout the UAE with slight variations.”

One of the most widely reported cases involved two Britons, Charlotte Adams and Ayman Najafi, who were jailed for a month after an Emirati woman complained they had kissed in public in Dubai.

The code says displays of affection between couples – whether married or not – in public places does not fit local customs and culture.

“Holding hands for a married couple is tolerated but kissing and petting are considered an offence to public decency,” it adds.

“Public displays of affection, as well as sexual harassment or randomly addressing women in public places, is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.”

Mr Bose, a partner at the Dubai-based law firm Dar Al Adalah, said: “The code of behaviour basically reflects the Islamic traditions of the country. Public decency and morality laws throughout the UAE are very strict.

“While dancing with a few friends after a night out may not be considered offensive in several countries, dancing in public is considered indecent here.

“Unmarried couples are not permitted to live together or share a room in the UAE.”

The code of conduct also sets out styles of dress deemed acceptable.

“In public places such as streets, shopping malls and restaurants, shorts and skirts shall be of appropriate length,” it states.

“Clothing shall not indecently expose parts of the body, be transparent, or display obscene or offensive pictures and slogans.

“Swimwear shall not be worn outside the beach, as decent dress is the rule in the rest of the city.

“Nudity is strictly forbidden in every part of the city and is liable to be punished by imprisonment or deportation.”

The code says respect must be shown to the country’s leaders, flag and national emblem, and abuse of any of these is a crime.

Swearing is also illegal. “All kinds of aggressive or offensive gestures are considered a public offence,” the code says.

Mr Bose said foreign embassies and the UAE authorities should provide more information to help expatriates stay out of jail.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

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Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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Company name: Nybl 

Date started: November 2018

Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence

Initial investment: $500,000

Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)

Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up 

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