Amid complaints among locals about loud music, prostitution, road accidents, late night fighting and that the emirate was “morally denigrating;” the tiny emirate of Umm al Qaiwain has decided that it will more strictly regulate bars and nightclubs.

Venues that serve alcohol, play loud music and stay open past midnight have been ordered to shut down by May 1. Parties hosted on beach villas will also be restricted. And alcohol at hotels may no longer be served to local Muslims.

Many locals celebrated the news. They worried about what their city was turning into. But many of the foreigners who come to party resented the new rules. They want Umm al Qaiwain to be like Dubai with its “anything goes” culturally attitude.

This new move will certainly undermine tourism in the area. But one official has proudly stated that if it is the tourism of alcohol and late-night brawls, then Umm al Qaiwain can do without it.

Personally, I think in one regard Umm al Qaiwain is doing itself a great service here. Not every single emirate should look like Dubai, which is often over-the-top.

But at the same time it is possible to have late-night drinking more properly regulated without restricting people’s freedom to drink. The number of bars may be reduced, for instance. There should be more police around such bars to limit fighting. Prostitution should be curbed. And the police should set up checkpoints to see if people are drinking and drive, and if they are they should be arrested. Such action would work as a disincentive to heavy and reckless drinking.

This way Umm al Qaiwain can maintain the fun without the negative aspects, or at least greatly limit them so they are not much of a bother.