Strict rules tourists must follow as British teen jailed in Dubai after having sex with girl on holiday

Tourists travelling to Dubai must follow strict rules when visiting, as demonstrated by a British teen who was jailed today after having sex with a girl while on holiday in the Middle Eastern country.

Marcus Fakana, 18, was today sentenced to one year in a Dubai jail for a ‘holiday romance’ he had with a 17-year-old girl back in August of this year.

The 17-year-old was also a UK citizen.

The concern around the case will have raised questions among tourists looking to travel to Dubai, so here are some of the things you can’t do in Dubai.

Marcus Fakana will spend a year in prison after he had sex with a 17-year-old girl while on holiday in Dubai (Family Handout)

Dressing inappropriately

While there is no specific law around how to dress in Dubai, it is generally frowned upon to wear any revealing clothing.

According to Mohammed Talal Al Tamimi, a lawyer at Tamimi & Co told the Khaleej Times there is an article in the UAE’s penal code saying: “Indecent actions or anything that might be prejudicial to public morals made by a man or woman in public and could be considered as indecency would be punishable by six months to three years and deportation.”

In certain situations, this could be seen to cover not dressing modestly in a way that offends more conservative citizens.

The UK foreign office guidance on this states: “Women should dress modestly when in public areas like shopping malls. Clothes should cover the tops of the arms and legs, and underwear should not be visible.

“Swimming attire should be worn only on beaches or at swimming pools.”

While you don't necessarily have to wear a burqa or taqiyah, you must make sure to cover up as much as you can (Frédéric Soltan via Getty Images)

Drinking in public

Not only is drinking in public illegal in Dubai, but even being drunk in public in Dubai is illegal.

The legal drinking age is 21 and, in 2020, it became no longer a criminal offence to consume alcohol whatsoever. Previously, a license was required.

Now, however, it must be done in private.

According to ‘Expatriate Group’, an Expat (a term for people who live outside of the country they are born in) insurance group, it is an offence under UAE law to commit: “Behaviour that you may associate with being intoxicated, such as making rude gestures, swearing, and public displays of affection will also be punished if caught.”

Drunk driving, underage drinking, and public drunkenness are zero tolerance offences.

Any drinking offences can land you a hefty fine from authorities if caught.

Licensed places are permitted to sell alcohol, but you must avoid being visibly drunk in public (Justin Sullivan via Getty Images)

Poppy Seeds

You read that correctly, it is in fact illegal to carry poppy seeds, and it carries a much higher potential risk than any of the above.

Poppy seeds are illegal in the UAE, as they are in Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

A maximum sentence of 20 years can be imposed if you are caught with poppy seeds on you. This is due to the opiate content found within poppies.

Similarly, being found in the possession of any drugs can lead to up to four years in prison.

A Brit visiting Dubai was in 2022 jailed for a CBD vape. He was first given 25 years’ imprisonment, which was later reduced to ten years.

Carrying this on you could land you 20 years in prison (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Various other things that can land you in jail or with a hefty fine in the UAE

- Calling someone stupid – up to one year in prison

- Feeding stray cats – equivalent of a roughly £100 fine

- Taking videos or photos of an accident unless you want to seek reimbursement – six months in prison or the equivalent of a roughly £32,000 fine

- Washing a vehicle in public - equivalent of a roughly £100 fine

- Checking someone else’s phone - equivalent of a roughly £10,000 fine

Dubai comes with a huge host of rules to follow (Getty Stock Image)

What led to Marcus Fakana being imprisoned?

Fakana, from Tottenham, north London, was jailed for having sex with a girl he met while on a family holiday in his hotel.

Though sex outside of wedlock was recently made legal in the UAE, the age of consent is 18.

Despite the one year gap between Fakana and the girl he met, whose parents reported him to authorities, it was considered illegal and he was arrested at his hotel.

A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said to the BBC: "We are supporting a British man in the UAE and are in contact with his family."

Detained in Dubai called the judgement an 'utter disgrace' and said Fakana would appeal the 'unreasonable' sentence.