What are the most gay friendly Arab countries?

Being openly gay in the Arab world is certainly not an easy feat! If it doesn’t land you a jail sentence(!) or capital punishment(!!), the huge stigma attached to it will likely compromise your job prospects, alienate your family, or worse, make you the target of some pretty nasty homophobic violent crimes.

The point of this article is to show that despite being a very difficult place in the world for the LGBTQ community, there is a glimmer of hope for a better future. We are by no means saying these are gay havens in any way!

To be clear, being gay is illegal and difficult here full stop! What we are however saying is that despite the negative press we hear about gay rights in the Arab world, there does exist a local LGBTQ community in each of these countries fighting for recognition, acceptance, and the basic freedoms we take for granted. Our aim is to help celebrate and support them in any way we can!

Despite almost non-existent gay rights in the Arab world, there does exist a local LGBTQ community fighting for recognition and acceptance

We have traveled extensively around the Middle East as a gay couple and overall had a positive experience. For example, we climbed the world’s tallest building in Dubai, got lost in the rich culture of Jerusalem, wandered around the souks of Tunis, visited the impressive mosques in Abu Dhabi, and got lost in the messy cutesy streets of the Algier's Casbah in Algeria.

Of course, we were always cautious to avoid any public displays of affection and only booked a double bed in hotels we were certain were gay friendly. In short, for our safety, we had to go back into the closet.

In this article, we've set out the 5 most gay friendly Arab countries based on our first-hand experience and research. This only relates to the 22 Arab countries around the Middle East and North Africa, which are also member states of the Arab League, therefore this does not take into account Israel, Turkey, and Iran. Be sure to also check out our guide to what we think are the most dangerous countries for gay travelers.

5. Oman

Whilst the Gulf States are notorious for having some of the worst anti-gay laws in the world, Oman is another (slightly) more tolerant haven in the region. Ask anyone from the Middle East about gay Oman and they'll be quick to tell you about the country's former gay Sultan!

Yes, you read right! Oman, a proud Islamic country, with clear laws outlawing any form of homosexuality, had a (supposed!) gay ruler: Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said (1940-2020). Sadly, as far as the public press in Oman is concerned, this is just a rumor. It has never been confirmed by anyone, least of all by himself.

However, unofficially, in both Oman and throughout the Middle East, he is well-known as being gay, apparently leading a very lavish gay lifestyle in his palace. He divorced his first wife (who was also his first cousin) and did not father any children.

He is also rumored to have had an English lover. Sadly the fun ends there. Everything about the alleged gay Sultan of Oman is based on rumors and unconfirmed reports.

With regard to the gay scene in Oman, everything is underground, as is the case with most Arab countries. We advise using gay dating apps to connect with locals to discover more. Due to the strong censorship laws, you will need a decent VPN to do so.

LGBTQ rights in Oman

On the face of it, homosexuality is very illegal in Oman, punishable with a jail sentence of up to 3 years. However, cases rarely get to court unless there is a risk of a public scandal. In 2013, an article in an Omani newspaper called, “The Week”, suggested Oman was more tolerant of LGBTQ people compared to the other Gulf states.

The Omani government (mainly led by the influential Shura Council, Tawfiq al-Lawati) responded by threatening to shut down the paper unless it publicly apologized, which it subsequently did with an entire front-page article.

For the most part, Oman is a stunning country to visit. It’s extremely wealthy and neutral in foreign relations, which therefore makes it a very safe place to visit. The majority of Omanis are well-educated, civilized, and down to earth, which makes being gay in Oman slightly easier as long as you're discreet.

That being said, the country has very strict media censorship and a very influential religious sect, so any obvious/open acts of homosexuality will likely get you into trouble as was the case with The Week newspaper.

4. Bahrain

Bahrain is often considered to be one of the most tolerant of the Gulf States, in particular when compared to its giant neighbor, Saudi Arabia. So much so, that the Saudis nickname Bahrain “the Bar” because it’s where they can easily drive for a weekend trip to buy alcohol and meet people freely(!)

In the media, homosexual issues were discussed as early as 2001 in the Arabic language newspaper, “Al-Meethaq” and subsequently in the English language paper, “Gulf Daily News”.

LGBT rights in Bahrain

On the face of it, like Jordan, Bahrain appears to be another shining gay star in the Arab world, having legalized homosexuality as early as 1976. It also has an equal age of consent of 21 for both straight and gay couples.

Sadly, other sections of the Bahrain Penal Code relating to “public immorality”, “public indecency” and “immoral behavior” are used to crack down on the LGBTQ community in much the same way as it has been used in Jordan.

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3. Tunisia

Tunisia has gained a positive reputation amongst the LGBTQ community of the Arab world, particularly due to the strong activism of organizations like “Association Shams” and “Mawjoudin”, who have been campaigning hard for LGBTQ minorities' rights. On 18 May 2015, “Association Shams” even received government recognition as an official organization.

More recently, an openly gay man, Mounir Baatour, is seeking to run for President! Whether or not he'll succeed, the very fact that he is able to run says a lot!

In terms of gay events in Tunisia, small discreet Pride receptions have taken place in private, mainly in the capital, Tunis. Most impressive is the Mawjoudin’s Queer Film Festival, which successfully took place in January 2018. This was a big deal because it was the first-ever public film festival in Tunisia to celebrate the country's LGBTQ community.

Gay rights in Tunisia

Whilst homosexuality is illegal in Tunisia with up to 3 years imprisonment (Article 230 of the 1913 Penal Code), activism is so strong that there are signs that this is likely to change very soon. For example, in June 2018, a government-sponsored committee called the Individual Freedoms and Equality Committee (COLIBE), advised President Essebsi to decriminalize homosexuality in Tunisia.

In addition, in April 2020, one particular gay marriage was legally recognized in Tunisia for the first time. Whilst gay marriage and homosexuality both remain illegal in Tunisia, this is still a small win for the Tunisian LGBTQ community! But sadly, until the anti-gay law is overturned, the LGBTQ community will continue to be harassed and risk being arrested for being openly gay.

2. Lebanon

When it comes to gay life in the Arab world, Lebanon used to be the runaway winner in our opinion but sadly in the years during and after Covid, the LGBTQ community took a big hit by the authorities in Lebanon with iconic venues like Bardo closing their doors for good. However, by Arab standards, you just can't beat the gay scene of Beirut, even now! It has the largest gay club in the Arab world, called POSH. Lebanon has many LGBTQ movements like Helem and Meem, as well as annual gay events like the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Beirut Pride has always tried to surface since its inception in 2017, but sadly each year it has either been forced underground or canceled due to pressure from radical Islamists. For more about the gay scene of the Lebanese capital, check out our gay guide to Beirut.

LGBT rights in Lebanon

Homosexuality is technically not illegal in Lebanon. Article 534 of the 1943 Lebanese Penal Code, introduced during the French Colonial years, outlaws all relations that “contradict the laws of nature”, punishable by up to one year in prison. Although there is no direct reference to homosexuality in the Penal Code, Lebanese judges since the 1940s have sadly interpreted these Colonial laws as applying to homosexuals.

Fortunately for the LGBTQ community in Lebanon, Lebanese judges have very recently started to pass rulings determining that A.534 does not apply to homosexuality, thus paving the way for decriminalization. Read what it's like growing up gay in Lebanon in our interview with gay local Hadi from Beirut.

In addition, Lebanese politicians openly campaign for the decriminalization of homosexuality, which is a positive sign of changing times. For more, check out our article about gay travel in Lebanon and read about our traumatic experience of getting blacklisted by the Immigration Police at Beirut Airport.

1. Jordan

Jordan's draw as a huge tourist attraction in the Middle East has helped bolster its gay credentials. So much so, that LGBTQ tour companies often offer Jordan as an add-on for holidays to Israel. We can understand why, given that such a small country offers unique cultural gems like Petra, Wadi Rum, and even a slice of La Mer Morte.

In terms of public gay events in Jordan, there have been several over the years, mainly for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Whilst there is no obvious gay scene in Jordan, there is an underground scene, which you're likely to discover by befriending locals on Grindr. One well-known gay friendly bar in Amman is Books @ Cafe, which becomes a club on weekends. Read more in our gay guide to Amman.

LGBTQ rights in Jordan

On the one hand, Jordan appears to be one of the most progressive LGBTQ countries in the world for the simple reason that it decriminalized homosexuality in 1951, nearly 2 decades before the UK! At the same time, it also reduced the age of consensual relationships to 16, which is the same for heterosexuals. That already puts it miles ahead of all the other Arab countries!

Sadly, the LGBTQ community is victimized and prosecuted under laws relating to the disruption of “public morality”. For example, in 2017 the Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila was banned from performing in Jordan by the Ministry of Interior because their lead singer, Hamed Sino, is gay! Get inspired with our gay travel guide to Jordan.

The selection process

Our list of the most gay friendly Arab countries in the world is based on our first-hand experience as well as cross-referencing their LGBTQ laws, such as whether homosexuality is legal, or if proactive steps are being taken to legalize it. In addition, we were impressed by countries in the Arab world that have allowed any LGBTQ events to take place publicly.

With thanks to the handsome Zakar twins for the cover photo.

Click here to see more from these cute Arab twins on Instagram.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

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We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

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For more inspiration:

• Find out which are the most gay friendly countries around the world as well as in Asia
• Read what we think are the most gay friendly cities in Europe and the world.
• While you're at it, these are the biggest gay pride events in the world to check out
• If you're heading to pride, these ideas for fabulous gay pride outfits will inspire you
• And you will need these useful gay pride accessories too!
• If you're cruising in the Caribbean, read which Caribbean islands are safe for gay travelers
• Use our guide to learn more about which are the top LGBT-friendly vacation destinations in the world
• As well as why we love attending London Pride every year
• Speaking of, check out these excellent gay musicals and theatre shows in London

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