Cohabitation of unmarried couples in the UAE is illegal under the Sharia Law, and is punishable by a minimum of one year in jail, followed by deportation.
The Sharia Law or the Islamic Law governs Dubai and the whole UAE. Under this law, living together with the opposite sex is only legal if the two are married or if they are family members. The same rule also applies when staying in a hotel room or being alone together, under the ‘Tawajed clause’.
In addition, Article 356 of the UAE Penal Code states that sex outside of marriage is prohibited. Anyone who is caught engaging in sex outside the bounds of marriage, even if consensual, is punishable.
Expats and tourists are also warned against public displays of affection as these are not tolerated in the UAE.
