If you don't like it....leave

This week the Dubai government reissued its rules of conduct, in which playing loud music, dancing, nudity, kissing and holding hands in public is considered inappropriate behaviour.

These guidelines are not new - just a reminder of the society we live in - but for some reason they have sparked endless debate in the media.

Driving back from a meeting today I heard the topic discussed for the third time on Dubai Eye (and that's just the ones I have caught on one radio station!), which seemed to conclude with 'if you don't like it, leave'.

So if all the people who didn't agree with the dress code, moral code, behavioural code and attitudes of the Emirate towards drugs, alcohol and public indecency did leave town, what would that mean for Dubai?

Well for starters, Barasti would close down! Closely followed by Alpha, Yalumba, Chi and the IV. Expat haven events such as the Dubai World Cup racing, Rugby 7's (x2) and polo would have to rethink their allure, and Friday 'all you can drink' brunches would be a thing of the past.

I do love rugby (but drove to the last one and had a great time, thereby disproving the link between alcohol and fun at the 7's) and enjoy the odd night a Barasti (cocktails on a sun lounger, sunset over the Arabian Gulf and good sheesha, what's not to like?!), but I like to think that I've adjusted enough to life here to enjoy an Arabic tea and sheesha with friends as much as a few bevvies down the Dhow Palace!

All in all, I agree that culture needs preserving and these guidelines are a good clear statement of that. As long as they are applied with common sense to curb extremities - and therein may lie the biggest problem! I also think that restating the rule book at a point where people are considering whether to stay or go brings this into sharper focus. You never know, it might rid the place of some of the leering money-grabbing eejits that spoil a perfectly enjoyable, and not necessarily too drunkard, Thursday night on the dancefloor.

As an interesting aside - the guidelines were not published to the media, but sent to government departments and private companies. It was leaked through an Arabic newspaper, Emarat Al Youm ...which has since removed the story from its website.