Travelling through the Middle East when Transgender

[Danniella]

Hey all!

So I'm travelling to Thailand this June for SRS, but due to the flight paths I'm having to take, I will most likely need to make a 2 hour stop over in Abu Dhabi International Airport...a middle eastern country...where being gay/queer/trans is illegal. ^^*

As you can imagine upon realizing this I shat a small mountain of bricks, and I am now terrified of being arrested or detained in Abu Dhabi if it is found out that I am trans.

My passport is all sorted out at least, with the correct picture and gender marker listed...and I think I pass okay in the grand scheme of things, but I'm still worried.

Has anybody else had any experience travelling through the middle east as a trans person? How do international airports work in terms of anti lgbt laws etc? Should I cancel my flights and get a more round about route to avoid the area? Or am I worrying over nothing?

Any help/insight would be appreciated!

[AnonyMs]

Don't forget that on the way back you may be carrying "illegal" drugs like painkillers, and that doesn't just mean in your luggage but in your blood.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/middle-east/topics/important-dubai-and-drugs-prescription-drugs

Personally I've been avoiding flying though the Middle East for years. I'd rather pay extra and fly another route.

[stephaniec]

I wouldn't go near those places , but you can probably find out about it from the US embassy.

[purplewuggybird]

Hey,  so I can't give you any info about specifically trans but I can give you an LGBTQIA experience. My great friends parents are a same sex couple, and they traveled to Southern Africa last summer via Dubai and seemed to have no issues. Now, these people are not the kind to "act like friends." How does this relate to trans? Well, the airline wants to get you from A to B with as little trouble as possible. The UAE is one of the largest growing airline markets and let me tell you, it looks really bad for the country to arrest a trans person IN THE TRANSFER AREA of an airport. So me personally I think you will have no problems as long as you stick with your own business and just make the quick connection while doing nothing to separate you from anyone else. Just don't fly Saudia!!!!
Best,
Purple



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[KathyLauren]

In most international airports, as long as are just transiting and you remain in the international area (i.e. don't go through immigration/customs check) they will treat you like you never entered the country.

It's not an area of the world I would want to go to/through even presenting as cis-male, but you will most likely be fine.  The recommendation to check with your embassy there is a good one.