3:48pm Tuesday 2nd September 2008
Resentment over the invasion of western values into eastern culture could make Dubai a terrorist target, an academic has said.
Christopher Davidson, a Durham University lecturer who lived in the emirate and wrote a book about it, warned the behaviour of expatriates could "fuel radical sentiments".
He was speaking as Britons Michelle Palmer, 36, and Vince Acors, 34, faced charges of having drunken sex on a Dubai beach.
Dr Davidson said such incidents were examples of cultural clashes between the East and West.
"The economy in Dubai is bringing in people who are culturally incompatible, either as tourists, residents or job seekers," he said.
"There has been a fault line drawn between them and the national population.
"Local norms and values are gradually being eroded and many people don't like it.
"The danger is this can fuel radical sentiments among the indigenous population and other Muslims. It really makes Dubai vulnerable to acts of individual terrorism."
One of the biggest contrasts in customs in Dubai surrounds the end of the week - Friday for Muslims is a holy day set aside for the family and prayer, while it is often the cue for a drinking binge for exiled Britons.
Miss Palmer and Mr Acors met at a £60 all-you-can-drink champagne brunch held at the Le Meridien Hotel on the first Friday of July.
Dr Davidson said he believed much of the problem was down to the way modern Dubai was presented.
"It's being marketed in a way that people forget they're in a Gulf state, in the Middle East close to Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with an essentially conservative Muslim population," he said.
"People think they can behave how they like and this group massively outnumbers the more culturally aware visitors."
British columnist Claire Sharrock, writing in the 7DAYS Dubai daily newspaper, agreed with Dr Davidson.
"I have been here seven years and Dubai has become bigger, flashier and has more expats living in it than ever before," she said.
"There are more outlets selling us booze and there are more people who think that it's okay to behave as if they're in Ibiza, rather than the Middle East.
"Showing some respect to the local culture doesn't mean you have to suddenly stop having fun."
Construction worker David Went, 33, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has spent the past five weeks in employment in the state.
He said: "There are lots of Brits and it seems like we outnumber the locals.
"Any problems are just down to misunderstandings mostly. Perhaps people should be a bit more clued up before they come out here?"
Taxi driver Maqsood Khalid, 30, who moved to Dubai from Pakistan five years ago, said ethnic relations were mostly harmonious.
"This is a safe country - we have no bombs, no corruption and, if you obey the laws, you won't get into trouble," he said.
"The majority of foreigners are from the UK and local people get on well with them.
"They do drink a lot but they must remember to do this at discos and not in the street. There are not many problems."
By Mark Bulstrode
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