🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

No. The United Arab Emirates is Tier 4 and the death penalty is in law. Death penalty a legal possibility; prison in practice. Dubai tolerates tourists who stay discreet; the law has not changed. Avoid open conduct and any public affection. In death-penalty jurisdictions do not travel openly as a couple, and check FCDO or State Department advice before any trip.

No. Same-sex activity is criminalized in the United Arab Emirates, with the death penalty in law. Death penalty a legal possibility; prison in practice. Read more →

No. The United Arab Emirates has no legal recognition of same-sex couples, and being gay itself is a crime.

In law, yes. In practice prison, which is not the same as safe: keep everything private and do not travel openly as a couple.

People do, every day, and the law makes no exception for them. Nobody is checked for being gay at the border; what gets travelers into trouble is being open: the apps, public affection and, in some countries, what is on your phone.

No. Public affection between men is exactly what gets travelers into trouble here. Criminalized or dangerous. Not as a couple, not openly.

No. Where being gay is criminalized or persecuted, police have used dating apps to entrap and arrest gay men. Keep them off your phone in the United Arab Emirates.

Sharing a room is normal in the United Arab Emirates and is not, by itself, what gets people into trouble. Book twin beds, keep affection private and keep the apps off your phone.

Tier 4, don't go, means same-sex activity illegal in law or in practice, or severe persecution. Death-penalty jurisdictions are flagged separately. Where two tiers are plausible we choose the more cautious one. Read more →

Nothing open. Dubai tolerates tourists who stay discreet; the law has not changed. A scene that has to stay hidden: same-sex activity is criminalized or dangerous in this country, so anything that exists runs on private parties, word of mouth and closed apps. Do not look for a scene. Keep affection private, use apps with care, and check FCDO or State Department advice before you book.

Tier 4 also holds Guyana, Iran, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Jamaica and 62 more. Criminalized or dangerous. Not as a couple, not openly. Read more →

Confidence is high. The tier comes from ILGA World, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Dignity Trust, the Williams Institute, Pew, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Equaldex and court rulings, last reviewed September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us and it moves. Read more →