ABU DHABI -- The police-issued brochure entitled Advice to Tourists appears not to have reached much of its target audience.| Check the pic at the link, and count the wimmins adhering to the Tourist Code. It's a 'file photo', mean that the AP was adraid of offending His Enormity for some reason... |
When asked, a number of hotel guests said they had not been given the pamphlets at any stage of their trip. But in spite of not receiving any information from the authorities, tourists still felt relatively informed and unworried on the subject of appropriate behaviour in the UAE.
The 14-point guide, available in 12 different languages, was created "to ensure that tourists adhere to local rules and regulations, and do not upset the traditional and cultural values [of the UAE]," said Brigadier Omeir Al Muhairi, Deputy Director of Abu Dhabi Police Operations, last month. Some of the brochure's warnings are clear-cut, such as the illegality of drug possession or alcohol consumption in unlicensed locations. Others are less so, notably the recommendation to "wear respectful clothing".