DUBAI , United Arab Emirates ( CNN ) -- A court in Dubai has sentenced two Britons to three months in prison for having sex on a public beach in the Muslim country . File image of one of the co-accused -- Vince Acors -- arriving at court in Dubai in September . After they complete their sentence , the pair will be deported . They also have to pay a 1,000 dirhams ( $ 367 ) fine for public indecency . Police charged Michelle Palmer , 36 , and Vincent Acors , 34 , with illicit relations , public indecency and public intoxication after their arrest at a beach shortly after midnight on July 5 . Both denied that they had intercourse . `` The public ( prosecutor ) failed to produce corroborative evidence against my clients concerning having consensual sex and committing indecent gestures in public , '' said the pair 's lawyer , Hasan Mattar . He said the pair will appeal the verdict . Watch how case stirs up Dubai 's bar scene » . The United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) -- where Dubai is located -- is home to thousands of expatriates and is among the most moderate Gulf states . Still , the oil-rich Gulf kingdom adheres to certain Islamic rules . More than a million British visitors traveled to the UAE in 2006 , and more than 100,000 British nationals live there , according to the British Foreign Office . The country is in the midst of a building boom to position itself as one of the world 's premier tourist destinations . It is already home to the world 's largest mall , the world 's largest tower , and -- despite being in the Middle East -- boasts the largest indoor snow park in the world . -- CNN 's Caroline Faraj contributed to this report .
The two Britons will be deported after they complete their sentence . The pair were arrested at a Dubai beach shortly after midnight on July 5 . They were charged with with illicit relations , public indecency , public intoxication . Although a relatively moderate Gulf state , Dubai adheres to certain Islamic rules .