The UAE has increasingly become a charm of the Middle-Eastern region, raking an annual +/- USD 43.3 billion from tourism alone and most importantly, attracting foreigner settlement. This diversity is slowly imprinting on the country's cultural fabric- with the UK and US embassies flying pride flags in 2021. Though they receieved backlash, the UAE's conversative culture is often tested by its desire to be included in the global economy. Will this eventually push them to legalizing homosexuality?
The UAE, like many middle-eastern countries values governance based on islamic religion. Legalizing homosexuality would not only undermine the governance system but the religion and the overall cultural blueprint the UAE. it seems unlikely that they would ever.
They legalized abortion, alcohol, usury, gambling, Western dress code, pork consumption, cohabitation of unmarried couples, and interfaith marriages. All are forbidden in Islam. They could decriminalize homosexuality for non-Muslims without undermining their governance system.