Dubai, June 19: Female expatriates in Sharjah caught dressed immodestly will be told to go home and change, officials said.
Sharjah Police is launching an awareness campaign in the run-up to Ramadan to ensure that foreigners abide by the rules of the emirate.
The campaign follows new travel advice given to British nationals this week, which warns women against wearing skimpy outfits in public and sunbathing topless.
The advice urges particular caution about respecting local culture in emirates like Sharjah and Ajman.
However, a top official at Sharjah Police said that no one would be arrested for wearing immodest clothing. “We are launching an awareness campaign among women in malls and public places about the importance of respecting the religion, traditions and customs of the UAE,” the official said.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) revealed statistics that a quarter of British women have sunbathed topless on holiday and one in seven men have admitted to having had sex in a public place while abroad. One in six has admitted to kissing in public while on holiday.
“We want people to have an enjoyable and memorable visit to the UAE,” said Simon Goldsmith, spokesman for the British Consulate in Dubai. “But it is important people know the local customs before they go on their holidays.”
The advisory follows the scandal last year in which a British couple caught having sex in public on Jumeirah Beach. Since then, there have been three high-profile cases where British women have been arrested for sex outside of marriage.
The Know Before You Go campaign has been running for eight years and recommends that travellers check country travel advisory information on the FCO website.
The UAE page, which warns of the “vigorous enforcement” of Islamic law in Sharjah, was last updated on June 10.
Shaikh Ahmad Al Haddad, Head of Fatwa at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Affairs Department in Dubai, said that there was also an obligation on Arab women to set an example.
“Hijab is an obligation for all Muslim women going out in public all the time and in anywhere,” he said.
He said that foreigners who visit Muslim countries should respect local values and dress modestly.
-Agencies