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Pinoy Abroad

PHL execs remind Pinoys on do's and don'ts in UAE


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Philippine officials recently held a symposium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to remind Filipinos about the do's and don'ts in their host country.   The event, organized by the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Dubai and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, was held on February 10 at the Al Safa Gymnasium in Dubai.   In a news release, the PCG said “The event served as an eye-opener especially with the prevalent cases challenging the moral standard of many expatriates living away from their families.”    The theme of the symposium was “Be A Cause:  Recapturing the Cultural and Historical Values of the Past and Promoting them in the Future.” During the symposium, Grand mufti Dr. Mohammed Ayada Al Khobaisi tackled:

  • the do’s and don’ts of the host country,
  • the laws and traditions of UAE, and
  • the obligations and expectations from the Filipino workers and expatriates.
  “His lecture also touched on the morality that must be observed by men and women, the appropriate behavior of couples in public spaces, and good manners and right conduct in general," the PCG said. "He also emphasized that there is nothing extraordinary in what is generally observed in the UAE and that most of these are plain common sense,” it added.   Responsibilities to families   Meanwhile, Father Tom Veneracion talked about a person’s moral and spiritual responsibilities. Veneracion also reminded Filipinos about their responsibilities to their families left in the Philippines. After the symposium, covenant was signed by the youth promote and protect the image of the Filipino woman. Do's and Don'ts

According to the blogsite "We Know Dubai," 80% of the population of the UAE is made up of non-UAE nationals. However, it reminded residents that UAE "is a Muslim country and local traditions and customs should be respected."  

Some of the do's and don'ts posted on the blogsite were:  

  • Bikinis: Wear a bikini at the beach or swimming pool but, out of respect for local culture, cover up in public areas.
  • Tipping: Tip in restaurants if you wish. If a service charge was not added to the bill, the usual tip is 15% of the bill. 
  • Photos: Avoid military sites and ask permission to photograph a local person (ladies in particular). 
  • Censorship: International magazines and newspaper sold in Dubai are censored. "Anything deemed risqué (ie: pictures of scantily clad women) will be marked out in black and intimate scenes in films shown in Dubai will be cut out. Bear this in mind when bringing magazines into the country," the site suggested.
  • Drugs: There is a zero tolerance of drug use in Dubai. Violators may get a four-year prison sentence. 
  • Kissing: Avoid being too passionate in public. "UAE is a Muslim country and when it comes to public displays of affection – anything more than a kiss on the cheek may offend those around you and may get you in trouble with the police," the site said.
  • Alcohol: Do not drink and do not be seen drunk outside of licensed premises in hotels. "Drinking alcohol is not a part of Muslim culture and drunken behavior in the street and drunk driving are both punishable offences which could lead to a jail sentence," it said.
  • Hand gestures: Do not make rude hand gestures. "Venting your frustrations either physically or verbally can result in your arrest," the site said. - VVP, GMA News
Tags: unitedarabemirates, pinoysinuae
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