Upon arriving in Dubai we have heard the sea only referred to as the Arabian Sea or Gulf...not the Persian Gulf that we were accustomed to. Even though the rest of the world, and the UN disagree all of the Arab Gulf countries only refer to it as the Arabian Gulf and take it offensively when it is referred to as the Persian Gulf. According to a travel guide, the term is banned in Dubai. It is ripped out of school text books and crossed out on maps (as is the word Israel) and any newspaper or magazine using these words by mistake can be reprimanded. Even historical maps in the city's museums have been altered so the original inscription of "Persian Gulf" isn't legible.
Regardless, the Arabian Gulf is beautiful!
There is other censorship visible in Dubai. US and UK magazines are readily available in bookstores and supermarkets but magazines that display "to much skin"are "blacked out" with marker, even fashion magazines. There was also recently an unfavorable article about Dubai published in Vanity Fair. While you could still purchase the magazine here...the article was torn out.
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