Hold Hands, Go to Jail

Talk about mixed messages. Dubai has been steadily attempting to become the Las Vegas of the Middle East and up until the global recession struck it was doing a pretty good job of being another party capital in the desert.

Now a country where more than 3,000 cars have been abandoned at the airport because people are high-tailing it out of there in order to avoid going to debtors prison for defaulting on their mortgage has just gone and made hand holding and dancing criminal offenses.

Go figure. So much for that Las Vegas dream.

From The Page (Australia)...

The rules, which apply to all public places, include a ban on all forms of nudity, playing music loudly and dancing, exchange of kisses between men and women -- and even on unmarried couples holding hands.

Any breach of the guidelines, by nationals or expatriates, carries a possible prison penalty, the paper said.

It cautioned guests that drunken behavior in public is punished severely and recommended tourists be discreet with public displays of affection. Anything more than a "peck on the cheek could offend those around you and even possibly lead to police involvement," the advisory said.

I know where we won't be going on my next vacation.