Laws in the United Arab Emirates have again been thrust into the spotlight after an Indian citizen in Dubai was fined, sentenced and ordered to be deported from the country for stealing two mangoes, two years ago.
The Court of First Instance issued a deportation order to the 27-year-old airport worker and also asked him to pay Dh 5,000 penalty ($2,000 approx.) and sentenced him to a suspended three-month jail term on Monday, reported Khaleej Times.
During the trial, the man who worked at the Dubai airport was found guilty of stealing two mangoes worth Dh6 from a fruit box that was headed to India on August 11, 2017.
He told the court that he was working at Terminal 3 of the Dubai airport when he felt thirsty and was looking for water, which prompted him to steal the items from a container that belonged to a passenger. His duties included loading and offloading luggage from the conveyer belt.
He was summoned by the police in April 2018, following which he was arrested and his place of residence was searched.
CCTV footage of the worker opening the passenger’s luggage and stealing from the box was also reported to the court.
He has 15 days to appeal the decision.
Planning a trip to Dubai? Read this:
Dubai is home to the world’s third busiest airport, and a city known for its luxury shopping, hotels and space-age structures, it however, is also acknowledged as a destination with a watertight legal system that is binding on all, including tourists and expats.
While most laws around stealing, drugs, alcohol are pretty much about common sense, there are some regulations that are culturally appropriate to the region and must be adhered to, because even if some norms seem benign, if caught flouting, can land you with hefty fines, jail time and even deportation.
Here are some tips for a stress-free stay in Dubai:
-Public display of affection is illegal in Dubai. So if you’re thinking of as much as holding hands or kissing in public, think twice.
-Dress code: It is best to wear modest clothes while in the UAE. Avoid wearing transparent, skin-fitted clothes while holidaying in the glittering Emirati city.
-Swearing or making obscene gestures towards any member of the public can land you in hot water quite quickly, which includes hand gestures like flicking a finger or using offensive language.
-Social media activities have led to the arrests of many tourists in the recent past, including a case of a young American who was sentenced to nine months in jail for making a satirical video posing fun at Dubai’s younger generation in 2013. Also, mind your language before writing anything remotely slanderous on social media or review sites about people and organisations in your posts about Dubai.
-Photography without consent is also illegal in Dubai. So make sure you’re not featuring people, even in the background of your Instagram posts, particularly kids, without their consent.
-Travelling during Ramadan can expose you to greater legal risks in Dubai as you’re not allowed to eat or drink and play loud music in public during daylight hours.
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