The authorities in the Gulf state of Dubai have launched a campaign to fight indecent behaviour by tourists. This was prompted by the arrest of a British couple who were 'having sex' on a beach.

Dubai's booming tourist industry is increasingly colliding with the conservative customs of the Gulf state's indigenous population. The 'sex on the beach incident' has touched a raw nerve in Dubai. Thirty-year old Michelle Palmer, working for a British company in Dubai, and a British man named Vince were caught by a policeman in July when they were drunk and having sex on the beach.

Caution
In the first instance they were let off with a caution. But when the policeman returned and found the couple in exactly the same situation, he had no choice but to arrest them. In protest at her arrest Ms Palmer kicked the policeman with one of her stiletto heels and abused him.

There is little in Dubai to remind visitors that they are in a deeply conservative Muslim country. Some 80 percent of the 1.2 million inhabitants of the small state are expats from Asia and Western countries.

Dubai is also the main tourist destination of the Arab world. Its heavenly beaches and luxury hotels attract over a million mainly Western tourists to the country and the neighbouring Emirates. For many years the call to prayer has been drowned in the disco music of partying holiday guests.

Women are tanning on the beach wearing bikinis or even being topless, tourists are parading through the city in shorts, and the alcohol flows freely in the many hotel bars and restaurants.

Irritation
The indecent behaviour of the party-loving tourists is a growing source of irritation among the indigenous population, most of whom are conservative Sunni Muslims. People in the surrounding Gulf states, which are equally conservative, are also gnashing their teeth.

Undercover
The sex incident on the beach turned out to be the straw that broke the camel's back. The Dubai authorities have begun a huge publicity campaign to teach tourists and expats some respect for local customs. Signs are being put up all over the place warning beachgoers not to change clothes in public or to sunbathe topless. Undercover policemen are patrolling the beaches to spot tourists that are behaving improperly, such as kissing in public or showing affection in any other way.

A first transgression leads to a cautioning, but the second time will irrevocably lead to prosecution. No less than 79 people are reported to have been arrested over the past few days because they were behaving in a way 'that disturbs people who are enjoying a day on the beach'.

Marriage
Michelle Palmer and her lover Vince have been charged with having sex without being married, indecent behaviour, being drunk in public and, in Palmer's case, assaulting a policeman. They are facing a three to six month jail sentence, or expulsion.

Married
In an interview with the British tabloid newspaper The Sun Ms Palmer has apologised profusely, and she asked the judge to show mercy. But she also says she fears that the authorities will call for severe punishment to act as a deterrent to others. In order to reduce, or even avoid, their punishment, Ms Palmer and her lover quickly got married.

*RNW translation (rk)