Atheist moving to the UAE

FullBeard · 15-08-2012 11:49am #1

So - any tips for me in this land where apostasy is punishable by death, where pork isn't available, where everyone has to obey the strictures of Ramadan in public, and where blasphemy is a serious offence?

Shenshen · 15-08-2012 11:53am

Watch what you eat and what you say?
In other words, watch your mouth?

Edit : Isn't Ramadan over on Friday? When are you going there?

FullBeard · 15-08-2012 11:58am

Shenshen wrote: »

Watch what you eat and what you say?
In other words, watch your mouth?

Edit : Isn't Ramadan over on Friday? When are you going there?

Going at the end of the month. It'll be over this year by the time I arrive but I'll be there for a few years at least.

robindch · 15-08-2012 12:00pm

Ok, rashers are hard to come by, but there are plenty of bars there and once you avoid mentioning your opinion of God, Allah, Krishna etc you shouldn't have any trouble there. Plenty of good restaurants too.

Anyhow, with a full-beard, you should fit right in with the Saudi lads

wexie · 15-08-2012 12:03pm

pork is actually quite available in UAE (as is alcohol)

and with regards to religion just be mindful of other people's beliefs and you'll be fine.

Dades · 15-08-2012 12:03pm

My brother lived there for a couple of years. Never heard of any untoward religious influence on his lifestyle (he had a home bar and BBQ!). Though he was part of a greater "Western" community out there that wouldn't see much mixing of cultures.

You might feel it more if you were a woman, though on the basis of your username you might be fine even if you were.

seamus · 15-08-2012 12:05pm

I'd be inclined to keep your mouth shut, go with the flow (i.e. avoid doing things which would offend the natives) and maybe see if there are some inoffensive ways to respond to religious greetings.

The last thing you want is for someone to greet you like, "Allah be with you" and to scoff and go, "Eh, yeah, whatever".

I gather the UAE is about as tolerant as Islamic states get.

I was going to say it might also be no harm to pretend to be Christian if someone presses you about it, but I suppose depending on where you are, christians may be more hated than atheists. A little historical reading about the area you're moving to might pay dividends for you.

Nodin · 15-08-2012 12:08pm

FullBeard wrote: »

So - any tips for me in this land where apostasy is punishable by death, where pork isn't available, where everyone has to obey the strictures of Ramadan in public, and where blasphemy is a serious offence?

You'd have to be a muslim before worrying about the apostasy thing.

It's not as bad as Saudi, but theres still a strong wahabi conservatism.

Lantus · 15-08-2012 1:31pm

You won be mixing with the local population anyway. You will have western friends and live in a typically western circle and lifestyle. going out to bars, restaurants and shopping centres and days out at the beach and other activites depending on what you can afford. The biggest danger is getting really fat (I put on 2 stone in 6 months) from excessive drink and food as its all there is to do unless you work at having meaningful hobbies and join a gym so you can stay fit (or at the very least prevnt yourself from dying before your time)

In terms of social nicities just avoid swearing and pointing in public which unless your a cretin shouldn't be hard for any normal well adjusted person.

Religous discussion should never come up in converstaion. (never did when I lived there.)

Ramadan is a pain but easily managed and the roads are really quiet which is great as so many are off or fasting. Most offices have spaces to eat away from anyone although choices are a bit limited. You have to wait until sunset before they will pour you a pint (which changes slightly every night.)

Enjoy it and live the life!!!!

bnt · 15-08-2012 10:24pm

Pork was definitely available in Dubai when I was there a few years ago e.g. in the big Carrefour supermarket we went to, there was a separate "Pork Shop", staffed by non-Muslims that sold all the non-Halaal stuff. Alcohol was harder once you left the airport and the drink shop in the baggage claim area.

Lantus · 15-08-2012 11:11pm

bnt wrote: »

Pork was definitely available in Dubai when I was there a few years ago e.g. in the big Carrefour supermarket we went to, there was a separate "Pork Shop", staffed by non-Muslims that sold all the non-Halaal stuff. Alcohol was harder once you left the airport and the drink shop in the baggage claim area.

alcholol is only hard to buy to take home. Its on every street corner in every hotel. There are some less than legal areas to purchase but if you get a residency card you can buy at an approved vendor.

On the whole virtually all your drinking will be social and out and about living the life. dont worry about it.

(I did laugh at the newbies buying wine in carrifour who had clearly just landed and didn't realise it was all alcohol free!!!)

robindch · 16-08-2012 12:23am

Here's what a minibar looks like in Riyadh(*) -- that brown bottle on the right contains an acrid, warm + sticky fluid derived from dealcoholized hop-extract:

(*) Am only including this piccy coz it's lying around and you lot should know that attempting to lay down one's liver for one's country isn't always a barrel of laughs.

Gbear · 16-08-2012 12:56am

A friend of my Dad's drank some quasi-moonshine when he was in Saudi. Nearly killed him and he hasn't been able to touch drink in the 20 years since. I'd say avoid that **** like the plague.

Hotblack Desiato · 16-08-2012 11:25pm

robindch wrote: »

Here's what a minibar looks like in Riyadh(*) -- that brown bottle on the right contains an acrid, warm + sticky fluid derived from dealcoholized hop-extract:

Maybe plug the fridge in next time?

Hotblack Desiato · 16-08-2012 11:27pm

Gbear wrote: »

A friend of my Dad's drank some quasi-moonshine when he was in Saudi. Nearly killed him and he hasn't been able to touch drink in the 20 years since. I'd say avoid that **** like the plague.

A lot of the myths about moonshine etc. are just that.
Distilling is quite safe, adulterating the end product with cheap industrial alcohol/methylated spirits isn't. This seems to happen at Indian wedding parties fairly regularly...

Hotblack Desiato · 16-08-2012 11:39pm

seamus wrote: »

I was going to say it might also be no harm to pretend to be Christian if someone presses you about it

Bring the baptismal cert? Accordiing to the RCC it's irrevocable, so that'd be me sorted...

Atheist moving to the UAE

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