Traveling to Europe from Perth, I liked the stopover in Singapore. I like Singapore it's clean, safe I know my way around. Now QF has jumped in bed with Emirates and I understand why but I have to go via Dubai. I don't want to go to Dubai. I am not a racist or a bigot but I don't like a lot about the Arab world, their laws, their religion or their culture. The Odyssey by our Mods might shed some more light on the situation, but from what I read, I just don't like it.
United Arab Emirates - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From what I read, OP can still go to Europe via Singapore (exPerth) - have the stopover there, and look at other options.
I can't say I blame the OP for not wanting to stop in an Arab country - it's easy to jump down someone's throat and play the racist card, but having never been to UAE, and having read the link it would be easy for someone, especially a female to be hesitant to go there. 5 examples from the Wiki article, I'm sure someone will correct me if any of these points are wrong - I've never been there... yet:
1. In criminal matters a woman’s testimony is worth half of that of a man before a court.
2. Prospective foreign employees infected with
hepatitis,
tuberculosis, or
HIV will not be given work visas and have to leave the country.
3. The issue of
sexual abuse among female
domestic servants is an area of concern
4. The
Federal Supreme Court ruled that
domestic violence is not illegal, as long as it leaves no physical marks on the victim.
5. During the month of
Ramadan, between sunrise and sunset, it is illegal to publicly eat, drink (
even water), or smoke. Exceptions are made for pregnant or nursing women, as well as children. This applies to non-Muslims as well as Muslims, and failure to comply may result in arrest.
Personally I strongly disagree morally with the above laws, which cover OP's topics of religion, law and culture, and I doubt many westerners would morally support the above 5 practices... having said that I also morally disagree with Russia and China's Human Rights record, some of USA's foreign policy, the death penalty/lengthy prison sentences in a lot of countries for certain crimes, the French nuclear testing in the pacific... the list goes on. But it doesn't stop me visiting those countries and it has no bearing on the beauty of the country, and hospitality of the people.
Even if I disagree with the local customs and laws, I don't have to respect them but have to abide by them..