The Ethical Debate Surrounding Call Girls in Dubai

Walking through Dubai’s glittering skyline, it’s easy to forget that beneath the luxury hotels and high-end malls, there’s a hidden world that breaks the law every day. Call girls in Dubai don’t operate in back alleys like in some cities-they work through private apartments, encrypted apps, and discreet referrals. But here’s the real question: if everyone knows it’s happening, why does it still feel so wrong?

It’s Illegal, But Everyone Knows It’s Happening

Dubai’s legal system is clear: prostitution is a criminal offense under UAE federal law. Anyone caught engaging in or facilitating sex work can face jail time, deportation, or heavy fines. That’s not a rumor. In 2023, Dubai police reported over 1,200 arrests related to prostitution, with nearly 70% of those arrested being foreign nationals. Yet, despite the crackdowns, demand hasn’t dropped. It’s shifted.

Instead of street-based solicitation, services now move online. Apps like Telegram and WhatsApp are used to arrange meetings. Profiles are coded-"spa visit," "companion for dinner," "private tour"-all understood by those in the know. The women involved are often from countries like Ukraine, Romania, the Philippines, and Nigeria, lured by promises of high-paying modeling or hospitality jobs. Many arrive with valid visas, only to find themselves trapped in situations they can’t escape.

So why does this persist? Because Dubai’s economy thrives on tourism, and tourism thrives on discretion. The city doesn’t want to admit it, but its luxury image depends on a shadow economy that caters to wealthy visitors who expect privacy, access, and silence.

The Human Cost Behind the Discretion

Most women working in this space didn’t choose it as a career. They were recruited by agencies that promised $5,000 a month as a personal assistant or hostess. Instead, they were told their duties included "companionship"-a word that, in this context, means sexual services. Their passports are taken. Their movements are monitored. They’re forced to meet a set number of clients daily. If they refuse, they’re threatened with deportation or violence.

One woman, known only as Lina, spoke anonymously to a human rights group in 2024. She was 22 when she arrived from Moldova. "I thought I was going to work in a hotel. I didn’t know I was being sold. They took my phone, my money, my passport. I had to work every night. If I cried, they said, ‘This is what you signed up for.’"

These aren’t isolated cases. NGOs estimate that between 1,500 and 3,000 women are currently trapped in forced sex work in the UAE, with Dubai accounting for the majority. Many are victims of human trafficking, not voluntary sex workers. The line between choice and coercion is thin-and often erased by debt, fear, and isolation.

Why the Ethical Debate Isn’t Black and White

Some argue that if these women were truly free to leave, and if they were paid fairly, then sex work should be decriminalized. They point to countries like New Zealand, where legalizing and regulating sex work reduced violence and improved health outcomes. In Dubai, there’s no such safety net. Women can’t report abuse without risking arrest. They can’t access healthcare without fear of being reported to immigration.

Others say legalizing prostitution in Dubai would only legitimize exploitation. They argue that the demand comes from a culture of entitlement-wealthy men who believe money buys access to women’s bodies. And in a city where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, the system protects the powerful, not the vulnerable.

There’s also a cultural layer. In the UAE, public morality is tied to religious values. Openly discussing sex work is taboo. But behind closed doors, it’s common knowledge. This hypocrisy fuels the debate. If the government truly wanted to stop it, they’d invest in border controls, victim support, and international cooperation. Instead, they focus on arrests-punishing the victims while ignoring the traffickers and clients.

The Role of Tourists and Expats

Who’s really driving this market? Tourists. Business travelers. Expats on short-term visas. Many come from countries where prostitution is legal or socially tolerated. They assume Dubai’s strict laws won’t apply to them-or that they won’t get caught.

But the consequences are real. In 2022, a British businessman was sentenced to six months in jail and deported after being caught with a woman in a hotel room. He claimed he didn’t know it was illegal. He was told by his hotel concierge that "they have girls here for everything." That’s not a joke. That’s a system that turns a blind eye.

And what about the men who pay? They rarely face public shame. No headlines. No social media backlash. Their names aren’t published. The women, however, are branded as criminals. Their stories disappear. Their voices are silenced.

What Could Change?

There are no easy answers. But real progress starts with acknowledging the truth: this isn’t about morality. It’s about power, profit, and who gets to decide who is protected and who is punished.

Here’s what could make a difference:

• Decriminalize sex workers, not clients. Treat women as victims, not criminals. Offer legal status, housing, and job training.
• Target traffickers and brokers. The real criminals aren’t the women-they’re the ones running the networks. Police resources should focus on them.
• Require hotels and agencies to report suspicious activity. If a guest pays in cash for a woman who never checks out, that’s a red flag. Hotels should be legally required to alert authorities.
• Create safe reporting channels. Women need a way to escape without fear of jail. Anonymous hotlines, legal aid, and refugee-style protections could save lives.

Some say Dubai isn’t ready. That it’s too conservative. Too proud. But Dubai didn’t become a global hub by ignoring reality. It adapted. It reinvented itself. Why can’t it do the same here?

It’s Not About Judgment-It’s About Justice

The ethical debate isn’t whether sex work is right or wrong. It’s about whether we care enough to protect the people caught in the middle. These women aren’t statistics. They’re mothers, daughters, sisters. Many are just trying to survive.

Calling them "call girls" makes it sound glamorous. It makes it sound like a choice. But for most, it’s a cage.

Until Dubai treats this as a human rights issue-not a moral scandal-nothing will change. And until we stop looking away, we’re all part of the problem.