"Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

_MuNiYa · December 29, 2011, 4:46pm

I dont know what section to put this under; I really want to put in the Culture Section (if the mods deem fit PLEASE move). I thought this article to be very interesting in the sense that if I today put on a Hijab wouldnt be any different then I was yesterday; and I get her about wanting to go into such a developement. On the same hand I’d feel very out of place.

So it turns out, I cannot enter a nightclub in Dubai.

To those who haven’t ever visited the city, Dubai is a place where there are more nightclubs than mosques. Here, alcohol is a ready consolation for all and sundry. When I was visiting, I was forced to put a pillow over my head in a desperate attempt to drown out the noise from the clubs nearby. In Dubai, according to the Emirati who drove our Land Cruiser over sand dunes for the desert safari earlier in the day:

“We Dubai people, we do this every day. We get tired of clubbing and partying, we take our cars over the sand and have some desert fun.”

However, I, a hijabi was denied entrance in a club in Dubai.

To put it in the words of the huge bouncer who refused me entry, while encircling his head with his hand to imitate the Palestinian checkered scarf on my head:

“You can’t go where there is free distribution of alcohol with that thing on.”

So astounded was I, that the only comeback that came to my mind was:

“So you think hijabis don’t party eh?”

In hindsight, this was probably not the best retort considering he knows we’re neither allowed, nor is it really our cup of tea – pun intended.

I left Dubai wondering that if I was treated like this here, I might as well forget about going to Europe.

You might think that I over-reacted or got unnecessarily stung. You might even be wondering why in the world a hijabi girl would want to get into a nightclub in any case.

Well, we’re curious too, you know. We were in Dubai, we didn’t want to sleep, and I was itching to see what the hype about clubbing actually was. I don’t drink and dance – yes, I know this defeats the actual purpose of going to a club – but what if I did? What if I wore a hijab and enjoyed swaying to some trance? Or what if I didn’t wear a hijab and still didn’t dance or drink? How would they know not to let me in? And what about the boys? Why is it that all boys, devout or not, have the freedom of entering a club, but not all girls? Would the bouncer exercise the same discrimination on a man whose pants were above his ankles? Would this bouncer even be able to differentiate these men in a sea of sweaty bandanas and bermudas? Why did they let me enter the desert safari camp for dinner and allow me to see a belly dance? There was the dance and bottles of Jack went around, but no one said, “Hey, get that covered one out from the camp first”.

I know an entire debate can ensue on how a Muslim simply should not be in a club to begin with; I do not want to indulge in this debate. This is not the point of my post. I am no fan of nightclubs, and I probably would have made my way out in less than five minutes. In fact, if granted entry, I might not have availed it. But that’s completely beside the point. It’s the funny rule that baffles me; it is just the really pointless segmented enforcement. I mean, if you’re a girl and cover your head, you can’t do anything else, but if you’re anything besides that, then the world’s your oyster. Next time a gypsy head-band might do the trick for me, just for the heck of saying, “Gotcha!”

I wonder if this rule stems from the concern of protecting Islamic values. If this is the case, then here’s an idea: do away with the clubs and the alcohol? Oh no, but then how will people make money? How will Dubai be the city of gold if there is no place to celebrate its overflowing opulence? Where would my Emirati friend go if he gets tired of trampling the dunes under his four wheels? Turns out you also need a license to buy and consume alcohol, but not one to sell it. Because, of course you don’t want to let your Muslim brothers touch the liquor, but selling to the others, that’s just business.

I think more than anything, Dubai has confused and amused me.

PS Please share YOUR views; don’t get nasty with anyone for THIER views. Gracias in advance.

Deeba1234 · December 29, 2011, 5:10pm

Re: “Dubai: Confused and Amused Me”

Agree with these two:

Sara516 · December 29, 2011, 5:24pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

I know she covered it already but I can't get around why would she as a hijabi want to go to a nightclub...and then complain about it?

wonder if she'd complain if a woman wearing shorts or revealing clothes wasn't allowed in a masjid.

Paheli00 · December 29, 2011, 5:32pm

Re: “Dubai: Confused and Amused Me”

I also agree with the above. After all…the nightclub is a privately owned business and the owners have imposed a “code of conduct” and have every right to do so. There are many restaurants/clubs/bars where you can’t go in with jeans/sneakers…or with visible tattoos/body piercings etc. Many high-end restaurants require men to wear a jacket in order to dine there.

I imagine that particular nightclub would deny entry to a Christian or Hindu woman who wraps her head in a scarf. I don’t see this as them denying entry to a “Muslim” woman. I see them as denying entry to a woman with a headscarf on (and theorhetically, that woman could be of any religion).

Another thing I found interesting. Unless I missed it…does the author state how many clubs she tried getting into? If it was just one club…then its ridiculous for her to generalize the entire country based on that. I know there are clubs here that’re racist…when black/desis etc. (anyone non-white) tries to get in…they’ll give all type of excuses (usually the club is maxxed out) to prevent them from going on. But that doesn’t mean the ALL clubs in the U.S. are racist. If the author is interested in clubbing experience of hijabis in Dubai…then she really needs to visit more than just one club.

NomiCA · December 29, 2011, 5:50pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

waiting for some hijaaban to confirm that she was allowed in a club

_MuNiYa · December 29, 2011, 6:05pm

Re: “Dubai: Confused and Amused Me”

^^ Stop it!!!

How are we comparing a masjid (an honorable place of worship) to a club - not a place of worship.
(playing devil’s advocate here, I can’t decide what side I stand on here).

PS Paheli I do wonder what would happen if she tried multiple clubs. Maybe we should make a Dubai Guppan do a little social expierement.

LucyMay · December 29, 2011, 6:11pm

Re: “Dubai: Confused and Amused Me”

Agreed. Even though I think most clubs are over-hyped and over priced, they’re a private business and can enforce their own rules. It’s not discriminatory as long as the rules are applied the same way to everyone.

Paheli00 · December 29, 2011, 6:27pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Please note I personally am not comparing the club to a masjid. BUT....I think I can make an argument on to how they can be compared in this situation.

If a woman tries to get into a masjid wearing slutty clothing....the main reason she will not be let in is b/c she will "offend" Muslims who have chosen to go to that mosque. Similarly, if a hijabi woman tries to enter a club, the owner/manager can argue that her appearance will "offend" club-goes who have chosen to go to that club. And unlike the masjid, the club owner can actually lose profit/income if the club-goers are offended and choose to spend their $$$ at another club.

** Disclaimer: I'm certainly not an expert in Islamic rulings. I know the guidelines for women in Islam when it comes to their attire. However, is there actually anything in Islam that states without a doubt that women MUST cover up according to those guidelines when entering a masjid? Does anything in Islam specifically state that women should be barred from entering a masjid if they're not following those guidelines?

Paheli00 · December 29, 2011, 6:31pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Looking at the article, it seems that the author only tried 1 club and choose to make a HUGE generalization based on that 1 experience.

I have a good friend that lives in Dubai. I know he's quite familiar with the "night life" there. Next time catch him online...I'll def. ask him if he has ever seen hijabis in clubs...lol. But yes, I'd be curious to hear from others who live in (or HAS lived in) Dubai.....someone who's familiar with the nightlife there.

Mehnaz · December 29, 2011, 6:33pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

It sounded like the bouncer was trying to protect her ....

kaun · December 29, 2011, 7:03pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

well i dont think the author should have taken offence to that, I agree with mehnaz!!

Pepsi_ki_Botal · December 29, 2011, 8:22pm

Re: “Dubai: Confused and Amused Me”

I see her point, I don’t agree with it.

No wonder hijabans have the reputation they have. What’s the need to go to a night club and then sulk.

Does she think just because she’s a hijaban her presence and actions in a night club are still islamic and halal? and if any non-hijaban goes they’re of course bad girls. But her being a hijaban just wanted to see what it’s about.

Mad_Hatter · December 29, 2011, 9:00pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Errr. If she was gonna go clubbing what did she think was going to happen, everyone sits down and read Qu'ran? Most girls just take off their headscarves and go in, Perhaps not the right thing to do, but surely it's better than giving hijabis a bad name? I dunno.

Iconoclast · December 29, 2011, 9:13pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Some people just love to complain.

devilish_angel · December 29, 2011, 9:24pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

i m in dubai i dont like one thing who says there r more clubs than mosques this is not correct every corner u can see mosque in every mall there r prayer rooms i never went 2 club so cant say anything about tht but i love dubai :)

kaun · December 29, 2011, 9:27pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

well i wanted to say that too but did not want to derail the thread, however that is true that this is a skewed fact, and plus no Night club in Dubai has that loud of music that would disturb you in your home, traffic maybe but not music from night club.

goddamniamsoawesome · December 29, 2011, 9:42pm

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Ahahaha! That's a load of bollocks!

Dubai has a Masjid on every other corner.
Alcohol is freely available in bars and licensed hotels.
No where in Dubai will you even notice the sound from a club unless you're inside it.

She's complaining that she wasn't allowed inside a place of business which has a dress code and she's blatantly lying about Dubai at the beginning of her little rant? Errr sorry sister, you can't honestly think people will believe you there. Some people are so hypocritical.

CM · December 30, 2011, 2:44am

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Its an Express Tribune blog. Have you read the drivel posted there? Its a bunch of Pakistanis who think they are more american than Pakistani only because they got a BA in the US. Reading those blogs is like insulting any form of intellectual discussion ever had.

partyslims · December 30, 2011, 2:51am

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

I just saw MI4 and just wanted to say that building in Dubai is really tall. And they also have really good shawarma there, oh and hummos, and baklava. But I digress...

^^^

Obvious post is obvious!

CM · December 30, 2011, 2:52am

Re: "Dubai: Confused and Amused Me"

Recommend the movie? And the Shawarma?