Although not a big deal for a Saturday night in Bromley, the fact that they ignored a Police warning and carried on regardless pretty much sealed their fate. No doubt they will return to the UK and sell their 'horror' story to The Sun.

Sex-on-beach trial Britons guilty


Vince Acors was in Dubai on holiday when he met Michelle Palmer

A British man and woman have been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after being found guilty of having sex on a beach.
Michelle Palmer, 36, of Oakham, Rutland, and Vince Acors, 34, of Bromley, south-east London, were arrested on 5 July. The pair had denied charges of public indecency and having unmarried sex. They were fined 1,000 dirhams (£160;$350) and will be deported after serving their sentences.

full story

I think they got off lightly for such a wanton disregard for local customs and decency.

Are they residents (which is why the post is titled expats) or just tourists?

There are other cases where tourists behave badly. Did anyone see the story about the naked swimmer in the moat surrounding the Imperial Palace in Japan?

http://www.japantoday.com/category/c...al-palace-moat

The lady in question was an Expat, and the guy was a visitor:

Mr Acors, a telecoms firm director who has a seven-year-old son, is known by friends as "Vince Charming" for his success with the opposite sex. He was in Dubai visiting a friend at a house known as the "Playboy Mansion" because of its wild parties.

Miss Palmer, 36, from Oakham, Leicestershire, who has been sacked from her job in Dubai as a publishing executive with ITP Publishing Group

Source - London Evening Standard

Does it really matter in the larger scheme of things? Was anyone killed or tortured? Someone had sex on the beach...big deal.

I find "local custom" in Dubai of abusing poor workers from Asia more offensive than someone having sex in public.

Is it a local custom? or is it global construction companies (British, French, German, Middle-Eastern, US etc..) demanding the cheapest labour in order to make the biggest buck? Don't forget that a lot of these companies have diversified into the Emirates from their home market due to the crippling costs, regulations etc..

The authorities in the Emirates have already taken steps to introduce a minimum wage for nannies and domestic servants. This will eventually filter down to construction and other services, but I think the lack of progress is not necesserily the fault of the authorities.

An interesting article on expat life in Dubai: Carole Cadwalladr explores the dark side of Dubai. Superficially all you could ask for, but at a cost: Gulliver, The Economist's business-travel blogger, summarizes it for those in a hurry: Dubai's Secret.

I see your point but unfortunately it's lot deeper than that