TGFKASE

Saudi now has you sign a form when applying for an entry visa, stating that you know all the reasons they can execute you, jail you etc...

Jeeper

How can you sign a form that says you will abide by all laws and regs when you don't know all the laws and regs.

I know, common sense will tell you to not do anything dopey (no pun).....but (as in the UAE) sometimes you think you're abiding by the law when in fact you aren't.

Jeeper

HOw can you sign a form that says you will abide by all laws and regs when you don't know all the laws and regs.

I know, common sense will tell you to not do anything dopey (no pun).....but (as in the UAE) sometimes you think you're abiding by the law when in fact you aren't.

ctfc

The form is irrelevant.

On sovereign territory you are subject to the laws of that territory whether you like it or not, and it's a basic legal principle that ignorance of the law is never a valid defence.

The issue in the UAE seems to be more that even when you do know the laws they seem to be applied in a very inconsistent way which is confusing.

Making the assumption that just because other people break the rules then it's OK for everyone to do so is clearly slightly ropey logic, but in the UK with a common law and therefore precedent system it can be a valid defence. Subconsciously, a lot of Brits (and US and other Commonwealth countries with similar legal systems) think this way so it defines our concept of 'fairness'.

The UAE has a civil law system which doesn't take any precedent into account, only what is written down (and that is based primarily on Sharia with a bit of Roman law thrown in).

Autonomy

"The UAE has a civil law system which doesn't take any precedent into account, only what is written down"

And that is the nub of my issue here - what is written down? Where can we read this, and other, laws? Even in Arabic?

NorthernLad

They can't even get the spelling right. Does this make the form void?

Arcadia

What would happen if someone were to call police if they are witnessing a local inside a bar sitting beside some woman who clearly isnt his wife? We have all saw this before.
I have seen lots of locals in Abu Dhabi Bars drinking alcohol, I never once felt ''offended'' or felt the need to call the police(just silently thought..hypocrite)...just wondering what might happen If we did, He wouldnt have a liecence to drink and also I would assume he is breaking Sharia law.

Roadking

He'd probably be the guy answering the phone!

mikeleavingoz

haha gold!

mikeleavingoz

one thing i have learnt, no matter how comfortable you feel living here, clubbing, drinking, if the sh*t were to go down, and the finger is pointed at you, and you are an expat, bad luck. we walk a fine line, but sometimes forget it.

shiva

they really are trying to commit pr suicide these days

Dubai kiss row shows that the emirate can no longer have its cake and eat it
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...nd-eat-it.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_498980.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...sing-case.html
"The Daily Telegraph understands that the prosecution service rang her three times to clear up the discrepancy, but on each occasion her telephone was either disconnected or not answered.

"The public prosecutor wanted to complete their investigation," Mr Hosany said. "They wanted her to bring her children to be questioned but she did not answer. We are using this as part of our defence.""

Meow

Primitive. Just bloody primitive.

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Hello.Kitty

so they didn't take her address then? Seriously credible audit trails going on!

co durham boy

Seriously , do we actually expect anything more? Sometimes you have just got to put your hands up and say "That's the way it is and that's the way it's always gonna be"

This is how third world regimes work. Criminal and unjust but sadly a major part of life here in this region.

These people will never ever change .

Bahtatboy

Is it really that much better back home? My 18-year old son playing football with his mates at lunchtime yesterday, one kid goes down screaming in agony--they thought he was taking the piss at first, only to discover his kneecap at the back and not the front. After numerous 999 calls--"Is he breathing? Yes? OK, we're on our way"--took 1 full hour for the amublance to arrive, but only with the driver, so my son and his friends had to help lift the kid onto the stretcher. And last weekend son's friend got jumped by some locals, luckily the ground broke his fall and his nose; he's now on bail, can't go to the planned 18th birthday piss-up in Edinburgh because hte reporting officer is on holiday and nothing can be done till she returns next week.

OK, minor incidents, but would you feel safer on the piss in Dubai / AD or in Leeds, Bradford, Glasgow, London etc etc?

"These people will never change." Trouble is its changing in the UK, and all for the worse.