FAMED for its glitzy parties and beautiful beaches, Dubai is a top tourist destination adored by influencers – but underneath the glamorous exterior lies a shameless open sex trade hidden in plain sight.
Shockingly, our undercover investigation reveals how one of the most popular dating apps used in the city, Tinder, is awash with prostitutes – with Brit expats splurging their tax-free cash on exploited young women, right under the noses of the city’s classy hotels and unsuspecting police.
Buying sex is illegal in the strictly Muslim UAE – and the nation generally takes a tough stance on sex, with public displays of affection banned.
Yet within just minutes of swiping on the app, it quickly becomes clear that sex is for sale at every turn.
The Sun, posing as an interested customer, has not identified any of the women who have provided information, but within minutes, we were offered a menu of sexual favours by several women.
One woman, who quickly moves the conversation to WhatsApp to send two suggestive snaps, offers a menu of sex acts for just £100 (500 Dirham).
It includes the dangerous option of oral sex with no condom, as well as a full-body massage, showering, specific sex positions and “hot foreplay”.
She invites us to a four-star hotel in a spot popular with British and Irish expats due to its cheap bars.
Here we’re told the staff not only turn a blind eye, but even get a cut of her fee.
The woman, who says she is from South Korea but communicates using a number registered in Vietnam, says: “The hotel staff are my friends. They allow sex and collect their money monthly.
“The hotel manager and receptionists allow sex at the hotel because they also benefit from it.
“They only take money from customers after 12am, which is 100 Dirham for the receptionist.
“Come before 11.30pm when it’s free entry. Everything is kept absolutely secret. The police don’t know.”
The woman, in her early 20s, then says she knows two other women staying at the same hotel, and they are available to join the action.
This costs just £200 (1,000 Dirham) for a threesome and £300 (1,500 Dirham) for a foursome with all three women, offering the same menu of services.
Images show the other women, who are also East Asian, posing by a pool in bikinis and at fancy restaurants and beach bars.
A second profile leads to a conversation with a woman who describes herself as a “manager”.
She instantly sends 27 images of prostitutes over WhatsApp wearing bikinis, underwear and low-cut tops.
A choice of different women is offered, described as Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian, Filipino and Estonian.
In one image, a woman is pictured in pink sweatpants and a revealing bra on a Dubai balcony.
‘You can come and choose a lady’
An image of a property with a link to its address in Jumeirah Village Circle, another popular spot for British and Irish expats, is then sent to us.
We’re told seven women reside at this brothel and are available for £120 (600 Dirham) each, or £160 (800 Dirham) for a “massage with sex”.
The brothel’s “manager” then says there is no risk of police finding out.
Asked if they care, she says: “No. In Dubai it’s no problem. It’s safe. It’s at my villa, or the lady can come to you.
“You can come and choose a lady. Do you want to come now?”
She then confirms that British expats are regular visitors to the brothel and also welcome the women into their own homes.
The woman says: “Of course we have many British clients. We have all countries.”
Clues on Tinder profiles seem to be a WhatsApp number displayed along with heavily edited, suggestive images.
A swipe through Tinder in the UK does not appear to present the same illegal service.
In response, Tinder said: “Solicitation of any kind is a violation of our Community Guidelines and could result in the profile being removed.
“If users encounter anyone violating our terms, we strongly encourage them to report it via the self-reporting tool in-app, and our team will take appropriate action.”
Dubai’s sex market scandal
Prostitution has been illegal in Dubai since its inception as part of the UAE in 1971, and is a criminal offence punishable by fines, imprisonment and deportation for expats.
The Sun previously spoke to a woman who was trafficked into the sinister world of sex markets and “porta potty” parties in the city.
Grace, 24, was promised a job in glamorous Dubai, along with a working visa – a chance for a fresh start, she thought.
But after stepping off the plane, it quickly became apparent that she had been sex-trafficked as part of a sick scam, and there was no escape.
Both soliciting and engaging in sexual acts for money or similar benefit are illegal, and there are strict laws against sex trafficking.
However, it has long been an issue.
Previously, in a report dated between 2001 and 2009, the US Department of State issued a damning report on the UAE’s lax approach to sex trafficking.
It read: “The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a destination country for men, women and children trafficked primarily from South and East Asia and the former Soviet Union for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation.
“A significant number of foreign women are lured to the UAE under false pretences and subsequently forced into sexual servitude, primarily by criminals of their own country who take advantage of the UAE’s openness.”
Then in 2023, it released another report saying that while it had increased efforts to stamp out human trafficking, it was still falling short.
The report read: “The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.”
It added that sex trafficking and labour trafficking carried penalties ranging from five years to life in prison, along with fines and deportation for non-citizens.
Despite its seedy underbelly, more than one million Brits continue to flock to Dubai every year on holiday – though this paints a stark warning to be vigilant when using dating apps in the city.
