They did exactly that in Bangkok until Saudi Arabia banned it’s citizens from travel to Thailand in the wake of the Blue Diamond Affair. But plenty of Muslims from other countries come here to party hardy as well.
It takes all sorts; Saudi isn’t a monoculture (although there is some homogeneity in some of the practices, amongst the locals) just as every other country’s population isn’t either.
Not that I’ve seen, although they might be doing it behind closed doors. Mostly, the attitude is that Westerners can do what they want (within reason), but Muslims are held to a higher standard. Even among the Westerners there are some expectations, there have been some arrests of expats for pushing the boundaries. There was British couple that were arrested for lewd behavior on a beach, they appear to had received a warning, but were too drunk to take heed. http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/crime/expat-couple-arrested-in-dubai-for-public-indecency-1.71290
I lived in Abu Dhabi (1999-2003) and frequently visited Dubai and have been back to both cities on business since then. I pretty much echo what others have said, as long as you are not passionately making out or more in public, you shouldn’t have any problems.
You may have to get used to the guys holding hands in public, though.
I never went in a Church/Mosque while I was there and never had any problems. Pretty much a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ when it comes to expats from the West.
Would strongly concur that while drinking is allowed in hotel bars, DO NOT drink in public and never appear drunk in public. Knew a guy who not only got drunk, he went driving and had an accident. Spent six days (IIRC) in jail until he was bailed out, fined, and put on a plane home.
As for things to do besides shopping, there are desert excursions by Land Cruiser, the Arabian Wildlife Center in Sharjah, Musuems in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and Water Parks in Dubai (Wild Wadi). Not to mention the ski slopes inside the Mall of the Emirates.
The UAE has a pretty hard (though informal) caste system.
At the top are Emiraties alongwith white Euros, Americans and Aussies. At the bottom are Blacks, with S Asian just above them. with Chinese above them It requires a lot for a Westerner to get into trouble, Daily Mail Headlines nothwithstanding. With some exceptions, it takes misbehaviour far in excess of what would get you arrested at home to even get the attention of the police. While if you are black or S Asian anything you do can get you into trouble, including doing nothing,
Having money helps with your status. Dubai is better then the other Emirates in this regard although Abi Dhabi has a far larger professional class these days.
Why Dubai?
I mean, if you have to go there on business, sure, you can find stuff to do, but as a Canadian?
…because my husband works for an airline and they just started flying there.