Obviously I'm not telling people to 'pick up a bargain' in the UAE, but it is much easier to get to/from (5 Emirates flights a day from LHR alone). Plus the Filipina's you meet have already shown some gumption to get where they are, they're mostly not going to be layabouts just looking for a passport. Mind you, I feel sad when I see some cozying up to local Arab guys out there, it can only end badly for them...Originally Posted by Steve.r
Just go careful trying to date woman in the Middle East. As you have seen from news reports, public affection is not really allowed, so if you choose this option, do it behind closed doors.
The UAE is a strangely conflicted place sometimes. You are correct in general about public displays of affection, but we walk around hand-in-hand in Dubai, Sharjah, R-A-K with no issues. I have seen Emirati couples doing the same. Brits have a nasty habit of getting drunk and doing stupid things, things they would/should be arrested for in the UK, then the press make a meal of it. The same goes for customs/immigration - my passport has so many stamps they can never find my last UAE exit stamp and just look at me, then just stamp and new entry/exit stamp with no worries.
You also hear stories of people being caught with one poppy seed in their rucksack and put away for life. Well trust me, something must have set this off, the customs guys I've seen couldn't care less as I've exited custom many many times over the years without a glance.
