Bottoms up!

Welcome to Dubai, where drinking is The National Sport. I kid you not. And while you shake your head in awe at the thought of stumbling around this Muslim country completely off your knocker I assure you its not a joke. In fact they welcome you in at the Duty Free shop as you exit customs and immigration at DXB International Airport, where you can stock up on up to 4 bottles of booze or 4 cases of of beer if the fancy strikes you. All I can say is...let's get ready to partyyyy.

It is quite incongruous with a local population that claims to not drink due to their religious Muslim faith. Although even that claim varies from Muslim to Muslim and you'll realize within a day or two of being here that this rule is very loosely applied...in fact there's nothing that causes me more of a giggle than to see a regal looking Emirati man in a crisp white dishdash (the long white robe that is the national dress for men here) sat at the local pub enjoying a pint after work!

The next step in getting established in the Dubai lifestyle (that is after stocking up on emergency booze at Dubai Duty Free) was getting my very own "liquor license". It had to be one of the most surreal and funny experiences of my life. The size of my driver's license, its red and shiny and according to Dubai Police allows me to "purchase alcohol from legitimate retailers in Dubai, and to transport that alcohol to [my] residence" what a place I am now living in!

Once you have a stash of booze at home and the ability to buy more you will likely join the hordes of Brits, Aussies, South Africans and all the other expats getting right pissed at the infamous Barasti bar. If you are new to Dubai and have yet to meet any friends other than the nice real estate lady who set you up with your new serviced flat then head to this hugely popular beach bar and you will be sure to meet a whole new group of drinking buddies with whom you will now be able to stumble around Dubai's hectic party scene with.

Next you can join your new drinking buddies at an infamous Dubai Friday brunch. All inclusive bubbly and food is the draw here...as well as getting sloshed at 11am...and staying that way till 11 am the next day! This is the root of the Dubai drinking scene, you can smell the brunchers coming a mile away as they spill into bars and clubs at 4pm when the brunch comes to a close, as they frantically try to "keep their buzz". As a participant once myself I dare admit ;) I can tell you to make no plans as you will be drunk the whole entire day...and usually wake up still a bit drunk the next...until the hangover kicks in and you moan about your nasty headache and nausea while calling around to your friends to determine if it will be at Yalumba again next weekend or Al Qasr ;) Just remember to keep your knickers on as the infamous brunches have led to other infamous events....remember the lovely "sex on the beach" couple everyone giggled over a few months ago?!? I have a feeling Dubai jails aren't quite as fun as one would imagine... ahhh but that is one for the next post ladies and gents...join me again soon for more I hope...