Foreign Office says Islamic holy month means that tourists in the Gulf emirate should be mindful of obeying local laws and customs

The Foreign Office has warned Britons holidaying in Dubai this summer that eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan could land them in prison.

In new guidance, published to coincide with the Islamic month of fasting that starts today, it says "failure to comply" with local laws "could result in arrest" and that "discretion should be exercised" even in the case of young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Dubai police have said that non-Muslims will receive one warning before arrest.

The Foreign Office advice reads: "Do not eat, drink or smoke in public view during the daytime (including in your car). This is considered highly disrespectful. It is also against the law and failure to comply could result in arrest. Pregnant, nursing women, and young children are exempt from the provisions, but discretion should be exercised.

"The majority of eating and drinking establishments will be closed during daylight hours, but you can find some coffee houses with screens that are intended to allow people to eat during the daytime away from public view.

"Be careful about your dress during Ramadan. Skimpy clothes should not be worn at any time in the UAE, but during Ramadan the standards may be policed even more carefully than usual."

Its "British Behaviour Abroad" report, based on consular statistics, found that of the 20 countries in the world with the largest British expatriate populations, Britons were more likely to be arrested in the UAE than in any other country covered in the report except Thailand.

"This is largely because the UAE laws and customs are very different to those in the UK. There may be serious penalties for doing something that might not be illegal in the UK," said the Foreign Office. Last month a British woman living in Dubai was fined AED3,000 - around £497 - for insulting Islam on Facebook.

Sean Tipton, from the Association of British Travel Agents, recommended that holidaymakers study the Foreign Office advice.

He said: "In addition, we will be reminding ABTA members who sell trips to the UAE to signpost their customers to this information. However, whilst we fully understand and appreciate the importance of Ramadan, we would strongly recommend that the Dubai authorities practise these enforcement measures with a degree of sensitivity and discretion so as to avoid causing unwarranted distress to foreign visitors and the risk of significant damage to their tourist industry."

Major hotels in Dubai are also working to help their guests stay within the law. The Jumeirah Group, which runs a number of properties including the distinctive Burj Al Arab, is issuing a new booklet "to communicate to non-Muslim guests the etiquette surrounding such an important religious time". The group said it normally issued guidelines but did not "actively promote" them as Ramadan was an annual event.

Although scorching temperatures of 45C (113F) and above will see a lull in Dubai's tourist trade during August, tens of thousands of Britons are still likely to flock to its beaches and shopping malls.