Distributors can face jail, deportation

Distributing dubious massage cards with pornographic images is punishable by law by not less than six months in jail, followed by deportation.

Also, anyone who “lures” customers into indecent activities can face up to maximum one year in prison, then deportation. Massage parlours in the UAE must have a health permit in order to continue operations. Distributors of massage cards should also have a permit. However, several distributors have been arrested in the past for breaking this law and for offering illicit services.

Earlier in March, a Bangladeshi man was arrested after he was caught placing massage cards on cars. An undercover official posing as a customer called the police after the Bangladeshi failed to show any identification or permits. The suspect also offered the undercover officer illegal services from women working in the parlour, according to a report by Khaleej Times.

“I was with my colleague in Al Nahda area when we spotted a man, who is the accused, putting massage business cards on the front of cars. The business apparently had no permit. We watched him and it turned out that the number on the cards belonged to him. I spoke to him as a potential customer. He told us that the massage centre is located in the same area and they have Chinese women and other nationalities working there. I told him I would meet him to take me there,” the undercover officer said at the time.

The Dubai Municipality led a campaign last year to clear out cards from the streets, seizing seven million in just a few days.