Alcohol, dress and rules of conduct in Dubai

Dubai applies local customs more flexibly than the rest of the United Arab Emirates, but UAE law is the same there, and stricter than European law on several points: alcohol in public, displays of affection, insults, photography, drugs and some medicines. This guide separates what is allowed, what is frowned upon and what is punished, based on travel advice from several European foreign ministries.

The essentials in ten lines

• Alcohol is allowed for non-Muslims aged 21 and over, in licensed venues; being drunk in public is punished, and any alcohol at the wheel is illegal.
• Sharjah, the neighbouring emirate 30 km north of Dubai, bans alcohol entirely.
• In public places, cover shoulders and knees; swimwear is for the beach and the pool only.
• No public displays of affection: a kiss can lead to arrest.
• Swearing and rude gestures are offences, including online and on the road.
• Never photograph people without their consent, nor government buildings, airports or military sites.
• Photographing or sharing images of the security situation is a criminal offence.
• Zero tolerance for drugs, CBD included; traces in the blood count as possession.
• Some medicines need approval before you travel.
• During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public during the day.

Alcohol

Where to drink. Non-Muslims aged 21 and over may drink alcohol in licensed hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs.

Buying from a shop. Tourists can get a one-month temporary liquor licence in the stores of the two licensed distributors, MMI and African & Eastern, on presentation of their passport. It is valid in Dubai only. Alcohol bought this way is for drinking in private, at your hotel for example.

In public. Drinking or being drunk in any public place is illegal throughout the UAE: streets, public beaches, parks, taxis. Travellers have been charged, often after an incident linked to drunkenness.

Driving. No amount is tolerated. The fine is at least AED 2,000 (UAE dirhams), with up to three months in prison, and your insurance will not cover an accident. Our guide to getting around Dubai covers the rules of the road.

Sharjah. Drinking or possessing alcohol is illegal there. Worth remembering on an excursion.

During Ramadan, licensed venues generally continue to serve alcohol, often only in the evening; see our guide to Ramadan in Dubai.

Dress

• In public places, malls included, women should cover shoulders and knees; underwear should not be visible, and transparent clothing or clothes with offensive images or slogans are best avoided. Some venues and events set their own dress codes.
• At the beach and the pool, swimwear, bikinis included, is fine. Cover up as soon as you leave the sand. Topless sunbathing and nudity are strictly banned.
• In a mosque, arms and legs must be covered, and women wear a headscarf. Jumeirah Mosque, the only mosque in Dubai open to non-Muslims, can be visited every day except Friday, at 10 am and 2 pm local time, for AED 45, with the SMCCU (Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding). See our page on Jumeirah.
• Cross-dressing is illegal.

Behaviour in public

Displays of affection. Public displays of affection are prohibited and can lead to arrest, kissing included.

Swearing and rude gestures. They are treated as obscene acts, online too: an insulting message, or a rude gesture at another driver, can bring a fine, prison or deportation. Stay courteous, especially with police and officials.

Disputes. Any dispute can turn into a formal complaint. A complaint can lead to a travel ban lasting months while the case is dealt with, and your passport may be confiscated.

Music, dancing and noise in public are frowned upon, particularly during Ramadan.

Couples and private life

Same-sex relations are illegal in the UAE, and same-sex marriages are not recognised. Private life is generally respected, but people have been punished, especially for acts in public or after a complaint; this applies to tourists as well as residents.

Relationships outside marriage between adults over 18 are generally legal. However, if a spouse or parent files a complaint, both partners can face a prison sentence of six months or more.

Photos and social media

• People should only be photographed with their consent, women and children in particular. Men have been arrested for photographing women on beaches.
• Government buildings, palace façades, airports and military installations must not be photographed. Bird watching or plane spotting near such sites may be misunderstood.
• The security situation: photographing or sharing images of impact sites, fires, air-defence fire or debris is a criminal offence. This includes reposting on social media. Our guide to Dubai and the regional situation has the latest.
• Drones are banned in some areas and need prior authorisation.
• Social media: the UAE media law sets twenty content standards, with fines of up to AED 1 million; a share or a "like" can be enough. Online fundraising is also tightly regulated.
• A VPN (virtual private network) is punishable if used to commit another offence.

Medicines and drugs

Medicines. You can bring up to three months' supply. Controlled medicines, such as some codeine-based products, need prior approval from the UAE Ministry of Health, requested online before departure; processing takes about five working days. Keep the prescription and the medicines in their original packaging.

Drugs. There is zero tolerance, whatever the amount. Traces in blood or urine count as possession, even if the drug was taken before the trip. CBD, some "herbal highs", and e-cigarette refills or skincare products containing them are banned. Simple possession carries a minimum of three months in prison or a fine of AED 20,000 to 100,000, and sentences can be heavier. Transit luggage is also scanned.

Our guide to visas and entry to Dubai covers passport and customs rules.