The Bizarre Gum Law Tourists Need To Know Before Taking The Metro In Dubai

Like so much of Dubai, the city's metro system is sleek, modern, and user-friendly. This high-tech metropolis in the United Arab Emirates is home to more than 3 million people, and the metro system helps them get around with two lines and 49 stations, nine of them underground. Commuters can cross this forest of glittering skyscrapers on 46 miles of track, stepping on and off platforms that have all been built since 2009. Most astonishing, the metro trains are all driverless; in fact, the city's "red line" is the longest automated train line in the world.

Given how new and impressive this urban train is, we can understand that Dubai is attempting to keep its cars and stations clean. But if there's one thing the municipality despises, it's carelessly discarded chewing gum. Most of us know to put gum in a trash receptacle, but if you're caught spitting it onto the sidewalk, where anyone can step on it, you could receive a fine of about $136.

Most governments like to crack down on bad behavior, but it's sometimes startling what habits communities fuss over — leading to strict laws and painful consequences. In Panama, for example, it's illegal for men to walk around in public without shirts. Similarly, you could get a citation for public spitting in Singapore. In Greece, high heels are prohibited in certain heritage sites. Now that smartphones are basically ubiquitous, many destinations around the world have taken the trouble to ban selfies. Dubai's pet peeve happens to be gum, and they're clearly very serious about it.

Tossing gum on the metro line pavement is just one taboo in Dubai, joining many other persnickety laws. The UAE is extremely diverse, drawing migrants from around the world, and Dubai's design and infrastructure are downright futuristic. At the same time, the cultural foundations of the UAE are distinctly Arab, and Sharia law is widely observed. Visitors to Dubai are also prohibited from gambling, swearing, playing loud music in public, or wearing hems above the knee, regardless of gender. Westerners are wise to study up on proper behavior in Dubai before they arrive for the first time.

The fine may sound like overkill, but gum litter is a scourge all over the world, and Dubai is just one city that happens to take it seriously. To the surprise of many, chewing gum is largely made of polymers, and a single wad can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. By some estimates, 50 million pieces of gum are chewed every day, leading to 100,000 tons of waste each year, and up to 90% is not disposed of properly. Yes, gum sticks to shoes, but it can also be toxic to dogs and other animals. Some would argue that Dubai isn't being excessively punitive; they're just ahead of the curve. As interest in sustainable tourism becomes more and more popular, tossing your gum in the metro terminal trash is an easy way to improve the environment — and save 136 bucks.