I'm currently talking to someone about a possible move to UAE, outside Dubai. I'm very tempted even though it will mean leaving my partner behind for a couple of years. I have no experience of the UAE (apart from a five day visit to Dubai six years ago) or of living away from home.
My question is this - how big a deal would the fact that I am an 'out' gay man be, within the local community, and within the expat community. By 'out' I don't mean I'm a flag waving, protesting, all-I-ever-talk-about type but that I refuse to deny who I am and, more importantly, lie about my home set up or my partner. So, if you, or someone at work asked me if I was married, I wouldn't lie.
Would that be an issue?

Errrrr Yes..it is illegal to be gay here. Although there are gays here they keep it very quiet. A couple of gay friends of mine who live together keep some clothes and toiletries in the spare room to "show" that they only share an apartment NOT a bedroom.
Having said that I also know gay single guys here who have a great time..but declaring you are gay to work collegues etc..NO! xx

If you are going to be out of Dubai its probably going to be even tougher as its alot less liberal in the other Emirates and dont even think about Sharja.

basically, homosexuality is so taboo that *it doesn't even exist*... and if it did, it's illegal.

pretty much what Patsy says is 100% spot on - in Dubai you'll be fine as long as reasonably under the radar. Outside of Dubai - where on earth are you considering? Sharjah - suburb of Riyadh effectively. Abu Dhabi?

You can, and many gay people do, have a top time here, but I'd say err on the side of caution with too much disclosure...

Ta Auto I think I will send you some Karma, I seem to have loads of it, I keep forgetting to send it to people xxx

Yes, Quite a big one depending on who you work for and where you work.

Read and understand:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_ri..._Arab_Emirates

don't even think about it.

Hey, Auto....

Did you consider he may be the 'bottom' half of the relationship????

I know one western gay guy here; he keeps things low key, and so far so good. However, he works for a western company and there's a fair amount of tolerance. Not sure what it would be like if he worked for locals, or with them--might be different.

There are some outrageously camp gay filiipinos, who flaunt it in a couple of the filipino bars but I haven't seem them mincing down Electra St on a Friday afternoon.

So long as you don't shout it from the rooftops you should be ok.

There's the thing though BB, he wants to be honest about his relationship, he wants to tell people that he has a male partner..we are just saying that it is a complete NO No for him to do that. Flying under the radar is fine but coming out is a recipe for disaster.

Yep, fair comment. Just pointing out options for him... (and he should bring some clingfilm).

Being gay in the UAE is completely fine as long as you follow these rules:

• Don't tell anyone unless you can trust them completely.
• Really avoid even hinting you are gay to any Muslims and/or Arabs.
• Officially you are a single straight man working hard and perhaps looking to find a nice girl to marry one day.
• Oh and if you're coming from the UK be prepared to adopt religion based on your ethnic identity and/or family name.
• And don't tell anyone unless you can trust them...can't stress that enough. There's a number of localised expats here as well who are more than happy to use the local system to rat on their own - I've seen it happen with straight people reporting marital affairs in the past...charming.

So basically you're going to be living a lie to certain extent...

N.

Don't agree with that: I always put a dash in the religion box--never any problem, and I've travelled extensively throughout the region.