expat brits in dubai trying to find local LS scene, dont bother?

we've been in dubai 18 months on a work contract, miss our london LS life massively... heard mixed things about the scene here. some say theres a thriving underground expat circle, others say its all bullshit and youll get arrested if you so much as breathe wrong. anyone actually based here who can give us honest info, or do we just fly back to london every six weeks and treat it like a long holiday from the scene