UAE laws and etiquette for tourists: what you actually need to know in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Dubai and Abu Dhabi welcome visitors from all over the world and are safe, well-run, hospitable cities. The vast majority of tourists spend their entire holiday without any brush with the law, simply because they behave as they would as a guest in someone's home. This guide covers the handful of rules that genuinely differ from what you are used to in London, New York or Mumbai, so you can relax and enjoy the trip.

The UAE is a Muslim country with a largely expatriate population, and its laws reflect that balance. Daily life is relaxed and cosmopolitan, but there are firm lines around privacy, public offence, drugs and driving. The guiding principle is easy to remember: be discreet, respect other people's privacy and read the setting you are in.

A note on scope: this article is practical information, not legal advice. Laws and policies change, and the final word always rests with the UAE government, through the official portal u.ae, and with the authorities of each emirate. Where there is a real legal consequence, such as with controlled medicines or drones, take the conservative option and check before you go.

Non-Muslim visitors aged 21 and over can drink alcohol in the UAE. Drinking happens in licensed venues, meaning bars, restaurants and hotels that hold a licence, and in private spaces. What you will not see is a beer on a public beach, a can on the promenade or a bottle passed around in a car: drinking in public places is not permitted.

Being visibly drunk in public is the other thing to avoid. A lively evening at a rooftop bar is perfectly normal; stumbling down the street, shouting or getting into an argument outside can quickly become a police matter. Treat alcohol as part of an organised evening out rather than something you carry around the city.

Behind the wheel, the tolerance is zero: driving with any amount of alcohol in your blood is a criminal offence. If you plan to drink, use a taxi, a ride-hailing app or a private driver, and arrange it before the night begins. Rules can also differ between emirates. Sharjah, Dubai's immediate neighbour, has its own and much stricter policy, so do not assume Dubai's rules travel with you.

For couples, the simple rule is to save the more intimate moments for the hotel. Kissing and hugging in public are frowned upon and can have legal consequences, while holding hands is generally tolerated. A quick goodbye kiss at the airport is unlikely to draw attention; a lingering embrace in a mall full of families will.

The same discretion applies to loud conversations, playing music on your phone without headphones in public spaces and joking around with strangers. Social life here is polite and reserved, which is a large part of what makes the cities so pleasant. On the Dubai Metro, for instance, there are carriages or sections reserved for women and children, and courtesy towards older people and families is noticeable everywhere.

When greeting an Emirati, let them take the lead. Some Emirati men and women prefer not to shake hands with someone of the opposite sex, and a nod with your right hand on your chest is a gracious response. Use your right hand to give and receive things, and to eat at traditional meals.

You will take hundreds of photos, and the cities practically invite you to: the skyline, the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain, the heritage quarters. The care is needed with people. Do not photograph Emiratis in traditional dress without their consent, and be especially careful with women and children you do not know. Image and privacy are protected by law in the UAE.

Before taking a portrait or a video in which someone is clearly recognisable, ask. If they say no, smile and move on. The care continues after the click: the official UAE government portal notes that privacy, defamation and cybercrime rules apply to media and social media, so do not post images of other people that might embarrass them, and do not film or share arguments, accidents or police activity.

Avoid photographing government buildings, military installations, guarded official palaces and any area signposted as no photography. If in doubt, put the camera away. In museums, mosques and attractions, follow the signs at each site; the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, for example, has its own photography etiquette.

This is the point that surprises most British, American and Indian visitors. In the UAE, insulting someone, swearing at them or making an obscene gesture can be treated as a legal offence rather than simple bad manners. That applies to a moment of road rage, a row at a hotel front desk and, importantly, to what you write in a message or post online.

In practice: do not make rude gestures at other drivers, do not swear at staff even when the service is poor, and do not fire off an angry WhatsApp message to someone you have had a dispute with. If something goes wrong, ask for the manager, put your complaint in writing calmly or contact the police through official channels. A calm tone gets better results and carries no risk.

Online, avoid posting offensive comments about the country, its religion, its rulers or identifiable individuals. UAE media regulation requires respect for private life and applies rules against defamation and cybercrime to online content as well.

This is the item that deserves the most preparation. The UAE tightly controls some substances that are routine elsewhere, and some painkillers, antidepressants and other medicines that act on the nervous system can be restricted or banned. A prescription that is perfectly legal at home does not automatically mean the medicine can enter the UAE.

Check each medicine by its active ingredient, not its brand name, against the UAE's official list, and see whether it requires a permit before you travel. The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the federal medicines authority run the permit service for travellers carrying controlled medicines, and the u.ae portal explains the process. Do it weeks before departure, not the night before.

Carry the prescription, ideally with a doctor's letter stating the diagnosis, dose and length of treatment, and bring only the quantity you need for the trip. Keep medicines in their original packaging, and never carry medicines for someone else.

Are drones banned? Not exactly, but you cannot simply unpack one and fly. Drone use in the UAE requires registration and authorisation from the federal and local civil aviation authorities, and many areas are off-limits, including the surroundings of airports, government sites and much of the urban area. Flying without authorisation can lead to confiscation of the equipment and legal consequences.

For most tourists, the honest recommendation is to leave the drone at home. If aerial footage really matters, for an event or a professional shoot for example, hire a licensed local operator who handles the permissions. Many hotels, private beaches and attractions also ban drones under their own rules.

If you still decide to bring one, check the official channels of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the guidance on u.ae first, find out whether you can register the device as a visitor, and respect every area and time restriction.

Since January 2022 the official UAE weekend has been Saturday and Sunday, in line with most of the world. Friday is still special, though: it is the day of the midday congregational prayer, and mosques are full at that time. Some public services work shorter hours on Fridays, and traffic around mosques changes close to prayer time.

For visitors, this has practical effects. Friday brunch remains a Dubai institution and malls and attractions open as usual, but mosque visiting hours may differ on Fridays. At the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, always check visiting times for your chosen day on the Centre's official website. Saturdays and Sundays are when residents fill the beaches, parks and restaurants, so book ahead.

During Ramadan, non-Muslims are not expected to fast, but it is courteous not to eat, drink or smoke conspicuously in public during daylight hours. Many restaurants operate normally or in designated areas, and the cities come alive after iftar. Read our post on travelling during Ramadan for the details, and our guide on what to wear in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for outfits that suit each plan.

If you remember only one thing from this guide, make it this: be discreet, ask before photographing people, drink only in licensed venues and never drive afterwards, check your medicines before you fly and leave the drone at home. Everything else is the courtesy of any good guest.

When you plan your trip with High Class, Huda and our local team talk you through anything you are unsure about on WhatsApp: mosque visiting times, restaurant dress codes, how Ramadan affects your plans and a private driver to take you home after dinner. For anything that depends on the law, such as medicines and visas, we always point you to the official source, because the final word belongs to the UAE authorities.