Alcohol in the UAE for tourists

The United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country in which locals and tourists who profess Islam do not have the right to consume alcohol. On the other travelers this rule does not apply, but laws on drinking alcohol in public places are rather strict.

Features of legislation in the UAE

To get an answer to the popular question about where you can drink alcohol in the Emirates, you should know the following rules:

  1. Alcohol can not be used while driving, and it is forbidden to drive a car when drunk. For this you can be deported, imprisoned and even beat with a stick.
  2. Tourists should not appear drunk in public places, on the street or on the beach, and even more so they can not drink alcohol.
  3. If you decide to try on kandur (national Arab clothing), then do it only in a sober manner, otherwise you will inflict a serious insult to the indigenous people.

To consume alcohol in the UAE, tourists can only in specially designated places where there is a license, or:

If you drank in a catering establishment and drunk into a hotel, nobody will touch you. True, provided that you will behave calmly and observe the norms of decency. Otherwise, they will take you to the police and, depending on the situation, they will be punished.

How much alcohol can be imported into the United Arab Emirates?

Before you go to rest in this country, many travelers are wondering whether it is possible to bring alcohol to the UAE. Under the laws of the state, every adult tourist is allowed to carry 2 liters of wine and 2 liters of stronger drinks. You can buy alcohol at duty-free shops that are at the airport, or in advance, at home.

Usually the average tourist has enough of this volume for recreation. If for you this amount is small, then you can pour alcohol into plastic bottles and put the container in your pocket. Personal search in the Emirates is extremely rare, but it's better not to take risks.

Where in the UAE is alcohol officially permitted for tourists?

In order not to get trapped and not to violate local laws, tourists should know in which emirates alcohol is allowed and where you can drink alcohol. The northern regions are considered the most loyal regions. They are located an hour's drive from Dubai .

There are shops where you can officially buy alcohol in the UAE. In these institutions there is a special license, so the amount of alcohol is unlimited, and it is sold at reasonable prices. The most famous networks are MMI and African & Eastern.

Alcohol for tourists in the UAE is sold in the following regions:

The stores have a fairly wide range, which is represented by world brands. Here they sell champagne, vermouth, cognac, beer, wine, whiskey and real Russian vodka, for example, Stolichnaya or Moscow.

In some establishments it is most convenient to drive up and name the alcohol you want to buy. You will be offered the goods at affordable prices. If you go through the main entrance, the cost of the goods will rise to the restaurant.

According to the laws of the country, it is prohibited to transport alcohol from one emirate to another. These shops are open from 15:00 until 23:00 and are on the outskirts. They do not have identification marks, so finding them is not so easy.

The most stringent emirate in the UAE is considered Sharjah , because alcohol is banned throughout the territory, including for tourists. It is not sold in restaurants and hotels, so you can drink only in your own room. True, the airport here is quite strict orders, and it is not easy to carry a bottle.

Alcohol in the hotels of the United Arab Emirates

Before choosing a holiday home in the UAE, tourists should know that alcohol is not sold in every institution, but in most hotels there are bars. Here you can enjoy a variety of drinks and cocktails at fairly high prices. In some hotels there is even a separate entrance, so that foreign guests can go only for a drink. Take out alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Very often tourists are interested in the question of whether or not alcohol is included in the cost of an all-inclusive hotel in the UAE. In this country, the All Inclusive system differs from Turkish or Egyptian and more like a full board. Usually visitors are provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner, when they serve alcoholic beverages. In the rest of the time they will have to pay extra.

The most popular hotels in the UAE with the type of food "all inclusive" and with alcohol are:

Where to buy alcohol in Dubai?

You can buy alcoholic beverages in restaurants and nightclubs after 18:00, located on the territory of hotels. For example, in the institutions of the networks Byblos and Citymax. You can come here only for night entertainment. Alcohol is also sold in large supermarkets. In this case, buyers will have to pay 30% tax.