Alcohol in Dubai and the UAE

Despite what some people may think, alcohol is relatively freely available in Dubai (a very stark contrast to Saudi
Arabia). Almost all 4 and 5 star hotels have restaurants and or bars where alcohol is served, and many sports clubs
have restaurant and bar facilities for example the Aviation Club, the Country Club.

Nightlife in Dubai

Restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Dubai have improved significantly since around 2000 and compare well to most big
cities around the world although licensing laws mean that clubs close at 3 am. It's not quite Ibiza, London, Amsterdam,
New York, or Berlin, but Gordon Ramsey now has a restaurant here and you'll find top DJs playing in Dubai on a
regular basis - Paul Oakenfold did a New Year bash at the end of 2006 for example.

Duty Free

Arriving tourists (and expats) can buy alcohol at Dubai Duty Free after passport control. There are the usual limits but it
seems that customs are relatively tolerant as long as what you bring is not excessive. Expat residents of Dubai and the
UAE should probably have a licence but it seems it's never asked for at customs. Muslims are not supposed to bring
alcohol in to the country.

Don't bring drugs, and check your medicine bag for banned substances (people have ended up in jail for bringing in
codeine for example). Here's a more detailed list of Dubai duty free allowances. And on a similar topic, don't bring
drugs to Dubai.

Where to buy alcohol in Dubai and the UAE

A&E (African & Eastern) and MMI (Maritime Mecantile International) are the two companies in Dubai with bottle shops.
Usually next to Spinneys or Choithrams/Choitrams supermarkets. Window displays do not exist. You will have to
present your alcohol license (or possibly one from your spouse - check with the shop first on the procedure for making
that possible) to buy alcohol. Using a friend's license is no longer possible. The Dubai shops usually stay open during
Ramadan but check with the shop for opening hours - may vary between branches.

• There's an MMI shop next to the Dubai Carrefour at Mall of the Emirates.
• A&E and MMI also have shops in other emirates including Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain.
• Umm Al Quwain also has a couple more shops in town, next to hotels.
• Ajman has a bottle shop / 'hole in the wall' near the Kempinksi Hotel where you can also make alcohol
purchases. Closer to Dubai but range and prices not as good as Barracuda.
• The Sharjah booze souk has been closed since 1996.
• Abu Dhabi Spinneys have several alcohol shops.

The Barracuda Umm Al Quwain

• The Barracuda (not baracuda) Beach Resort next to Dreamland Water Park on the main coastal road to Ras
Al Khaimah after the Um Al Quwain turnoff is a well known liquor store where you can purchase alcohol. It's
possible, and common, but illegal to buy alcohol there without a license.
• Main shop is open 0800 to midnight, there is also a 24 hour window around the back. Closed during Ramadan
(closes a day or two before Ramadan starts) - and is very busy in the week before Ramadan.
• Good range of wines and spirits including a fine selection of single malt whisky from Scotland.
• To get there, drive up the new Emirates Road towards RAK, take the Dreamland (signposted) exit, turn right
when you get to the coast road T-junction, do a U-turn when you get to Dreamland (just after the Umm Al
Quwain airstrip - a large white plane is permanently parked there).
• If doing a booze run from Dubai, drive back on the 611 Road to avoid driving through Sharjah with a boot full
of bootleg alcohol. The road still runs through Sharjah but is less congested than other routes.
• The Khaleej Times reported 22 April 2009 that Umm Al Quwain bars and nightclubs would be closing, but did
not include the Barracuda bottle shop.
• Contact telephone +971-6-7681124? Or Barracuda Beach Resort tel +971-6-7681555.

Barracuda car accident hijacking alcohol blackmail scam or con

Since around 2006, there have been reports of Barracuda and Ajman alcohol customers on their way home being
encouraged to stop by strangers after their alcohol purchase, and had payment demanded in return for not being
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 reported to the police with illegal alcohol.

• Usually this method of blackmail starts with an unknown car having a minor (deliberate) accident with you,
forcing you to stop. Or alternatively just waving at you to stop.
• This normally happens in Sharjah because it is more restrictive with regard to laws related to alcohol.
• The other car might have followed your car, or possibly a lookout or sentry at the Barracuda phones ahead to
a mate in Sharjah with a description of your car.
• Unless the alcohol purchaser has used their alcohol licence at the Barracuda, and lives in Sharjah, they are
probably breaking the law.
• It would be unusual for police called to the scence of an accident in the UAE to start searching the vehicles,
unless they had good reason to. Of course, in their eyes, a good reason might be one of the parties involved
in the accident claiming that the other party was drunk and/or was transporting alcohol illegally.
• The extortion attempts seem to be in the range of AED 2,000 to 10,000, and might depend on how expensive
the vehicle looks.
• To avoid this scenario, the obvious option is not to buy your alcohol illegally. But if you do, and are returning to
Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you could use the 611 Dubai Bypass Road. It still crosses the emirate of Sharjah but the
hijackers don't seem to be as prevalent there, and it's harder to deliberately have a minor accident on the road
or flag someone down.
• Unknown what happens if you call their bluff and tell them to call the police, or call them yourself. Some
reports say the hijackers run away.
• A possible counter-bluff is to claim you live in Sharjah, and have an alcohol licence. If that's true, then you
shouldn't be in trouble with the police if they're called (but we wouldn't like to test that theory). If that's not true,
and the blackmailers decide to call your bluff, then you might be in trouble once the police arrive, probably
depending on their mood more than anything else.
• If it appears that one way or another the police are going to be called, it's probably better that you call them
yourself from your own phone. That at least lessens the risk that the hijackers might be calling a police official
that they have on their side already (through wasta or bribery), or an impersonator (we've not heard of a case
like that but it could be possible - police have been impersonated in the UAE in other situations).
• A Gulf News report said An official at Ajman Police told Gulf News that non-Muslims can buy alcohol for
personal use only from outlets in Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Dubai and Abu Dhabi if they have a liquor licence.
He added that non-Muslims who have legally bought alcohol are allowed to transport it for personal use only in
their vehicles through any emirate, although they must not be under the influence of alcohol behind the wheel.
• The statement that non-Muslims can transport alcohol through any emirate if they have an alcohol licence
seems to contradict our understanding that an alcohol license only gives the holder permission to transport
alcohol within the emirate in which they live (read the fine print in your licence carefully), with the exception of
Sharjah residents who are permitted to transport alcohol from another emirate. It is not uncommon for
newspapers to obtain statements from various officials that seem to contradict each other, especially in
different emirates. Be wary of assuming that what a policeman says in Ajman is applicable in Sharjah or
Dubai. And of course, rules can and do change. And of course, they can be applied inconsistently resulting in
having to go through a court case to straighten things out. Or not if you're unlucky.

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) bottle shops and alcohol stores

Mixed reports about whether an alcohol licence is needed at Ras Al Khaimah booze shops, and whether taxes are
paid. Might be the same as UAQ - you pay tax if you show a licence, you don't if you don't (but then become an illegal
alcohol purchaser or trader if caught).

• Al Hamra Cellar / The Cellar, operated by MMI, next to Spinneys Al Hamra, on main Dubai-RAK coast road
(turn left at the RAK end of Emirates Road if coming from Dubai). Tel +971-7-2447403.
• Al Hamra Fort Hotel, MMI shop?
• Bin Majid Hotel?
• Centaurus International - website www.centaurusint.biz (www.centaurusint.net given in some sources appears
to be incorrect, www.centaurusint.com forwards to www.centaurusint.biz). Online ordering, delivery? Might be
a question mark about legality of delivery to customers in emirates other than RAK.
• RAK Hotel?
• Saqr Port bottle shop - near the Hilton Beach Club, and the power station.

Transporting alcohol in Dubai

• Obviously if you buy alcohol at an A&E or MMI shop in Dubai, then you are going to have to trolley it home
somehow. Your alcohol licence gives you permission to do that but it would be advisable to do so with your
own private vehicle. The alcohol license only permits you to transport your purchase from the shop to your
home.
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 • Alcohol transport on the Dubai Metro is not permitted and you should probably assume that it's the same for
other forms of public transport.
• If going by Dubai taxi to a function which involves bringing alcohol, it's hardly likely that the taxi driver is going
to ask you what you're carrying but on the assumption that you're not supposed to do so, don't make it obvious
- put it in a bag.
• Problems can occur if the taxi, or private car, is involved in an accident, and the alcohol in the vehicle
becomes obvious.

Transporting alcohol in Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and other emirates except Sharjah

• Similar rules apply as for Dubai i.e. if you have an alcohol licence, then you are permitted to transport your
purchase from the bottle shop in the emirate in which you live, to your home.

Transporting alcohol between emirates

• As you are supposed to only buy alcohol in the emirate which issued you with a liquor licence, the question of
transporting alcohol to a different emirate should be moot.
• However, it is well known that many expats from Dubai and other emirates buy alcohol at the Barracuda in
Umm Al Quwain and the booze shop in Ajman without a licence. Since the purchase is made without a
licence, they'll be in trouble if caught with alcohol no matter where they are.
• It is more likely to be a serious problem in Sharjah. You're unlikely to be stopped for a booze check but if you
have an accident and the police happen to see alcohol in the car, it might result in fines and/or jail. Even if you
have an alcohol licence from an emirate other than Sharjah.

Transporting alcohol for Sharjah residents

• As Sharjah does not have any alcohol shops, Sharjah residents are permitted to buy alcohol in another
emirate and transport it home, if they have an alcohol licence issued by the Sharjah authorities, as far as we
know. But Sharjah rules can be flaky enough at the best of times so drive carefully.

Drinking and Being Drunk in Public

Don't. It's illegal and if you get caught it's taken fairly seriously. Having said that, beer with your BBQ down on the
beach seems to be ok if imbibed discretely. However, there are signs on most beaches saying that fires are not
permitted - you may or may not get away with having a BBQ depending on how busy the beach is and how far out of
Dubai you are.

People who are obviously drunk in public run the risk of being escorted to alternative accommodation for the rest of the
evening by the local constabulary. It doesn't end there either. Prison sentences and deportation are available for those
wobbling about under the influence in public. If you do get sloshed and pour yourself into a taxicab, be polite to your
taxi driver - it has been known for argumentative passengers to find themselves ferried to the Police Station by
understandably annoyed taxi drivers.

Even if you're not obviously drunk, don't hang around too much - there are stories around of people randomly being
picked up by the police in the early hours outside bars/hotels for being drunk. One drink is probably enough to put you
in that category under UAE laws.

Some press reports of people with alcohol related trouble in the UAE

• 19 September 2010: Craig Moore, a previous captain of the Socceroos, the Australian football team, had an
argument with a taxi driver about a 50 dirham fare which resulted in the police being called. He was reportedly
drunk, and the police arrested him after he "shoved one of the officers," according to The National newspaper.
Mr Moore was released on bail after a brief period of R&R at the local penitentiary. Outcome still pending.
• 30 April 2008: Gulf News reported that alcohol purchases in Ajman by those without a licence would stop,
quoting an unnamed official saying "People must be non-Muslims, aged over 21 years and must show their
liquor licence to buy alcohol,"
• 18 February 2008 report: A Briton was charged with consuming alcohol, and attempted rape of a Dutch
woman. Police got called to her apartment where the two of them had gone after meeting by the pool (Gulf
News).
• 31 January 2008 report: The Dubai Court of First Instance sentenced several people with jail and deportation
for alcohol and sex related charges (Gulf News).

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 o Saudi male 1 - 6 months in jail for having sex (against her will, while under the influence of
alcohol?)
o Egyptian female - 6 months in jail for having sex (unknown if there was an alcohol related
conviction)
o Saudi male 2 - 13 months in jail for beating and having sex with the woman against her will, while
under the influence of alcohol (unknown if the alcohol meant a shorter or longer sentence)
o Saudi male 3 - same as #2
• November 2006: A Briton was acquitted by the Dubai Court of First Instance of the charge of drinking alcohol
in a pub in Bur Dubai (name unknown). Police officer said permit only allowed him to drink at home. Court
accepted the defense that permit allowed him to consume liquor in the pub (Gulf News).
• July 2006: An Indian was fined 3000 dhs for drinking alcohol in public in Ras Al Khaimah. Police arrested him
after a phoned in complaint (Gulf News).
• July 2006: reports of conmen following people who bought alcohol in Ajman and stopping them in Sharjah,
then demanding money (several thousand dhs) to avoid being reported to police. Ajman police said to the Gulf
News that non-Muslims with a liquor license could buy alcohol in Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAQ, and
transport it through other emirates to their home, if it was for personal use (Gulf News).
• March 2006: An Estonian was arrested at Sharjah airport for consuming alcohol and harrassing a female
police officer. He said he was in transit, got drunk, didn't know he wasn't allowed to drink during transit, was
tired, went looking for the toilet, entered the wrong room by mistake. She said she was sleeping and woke up
to find a man touching her. Outcome unknown (Khaleej Times 19 March 2006 ).
• November 2005: An Indian was sentenced to jail for a month (followed by deportation) by the Dubai Court of
First Instance for possesion of 95 bottles of whisky and 80 cans of beer. Police nabbed him because they
were tipped off that he was selling bootleg booze.

Drinking and Driving

Don't. The limit is 0 (of whatever units you care to use) and the consequences of being caught are jail time, deportation,
loss of driving licence, and no insurance if you've crashed your car. If you've injured a passenger or pedestrian then
you probably won't be getting a sun tan for a long time.

During 2004-2006 there were rumours and press reports of the Dubai police introducing random breath testing and
you'll sometimes hear stories of actual checkpoints appearing outside popular drinking establishments, but at present, a
sentence seems to depend more usually on a blood test taken after an accident.

Penalties for drink driving were revised in March 2008 to driving licence confiscation for at least one year, jail sentence
between 1 month and 3 years, and/or a fine of AED 20,000-30,000. Deportation (of non-UAE nationals) is a possibility,
especially in serious accident cases. Drunk drivers who injure someone in a crash can be jailed up to 2 years, and if
someone is killed as a result of a drink driving incident, jail sentence is 1-3 years plus a fine.

• In 2010 from 01 January to 13 May, the Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP) referred 394 drivers to the
traffic court for driving under the influence of alcohol according to Salah Bu Farousha, head of the Dubai TPP
(Gulf News report 16 May 2010).
• In 2009, there were 1,188 traffic related incidents involving people driving under the influence of alcohol,
according to Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution. About 0.5% of them were female
drivers. Drunk drivers caused 422 accidents resulting in 147 injuries and 16 deaths. From an Xpress report 18
February 2010.
• In 2007, 1,042 drinking drivers were prosecuted
• In 2006, 934 drunken drivers were prosecuted

Safedrive / Saferdrive / Safedriver / Saferdriver chauffer service

Saferdriver is an organisation that will come and pick up you and your car if you've been out drinking, and bring both
items home, for a fee of course, but cheaper than a fine and avoids the unpleasantness of jail. Safer Driver started
operations in January 2007. You phone them after getting boozed up, a motorcycle comes with a spare driver who
drives you home in your own car. The motorcycle then takes the chauffer to find another plastered expat.

• Telephone +971-4-2688797 or mobile +971-50-4888181

• Fees about 100-200 dhs in Dubai and Sharjah
• Operating hours 9am-4am (might be 24 hours after May 2007)
• Service can be utilised by non-drinkers also.

SaferDriver is the correct name of the Drive-the-Drinker-Home organisation, and is different from SafeDrive, which is an

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 international organisation that promotes safe driving techniques. SafeDrive have an office in Dubai, tel +971-4-
2045650, but as far as we know, they don't offer a chauffer service for drinkers.

Ramadan

• During Ramadan, bars and restaurants are more subdued. In Dubai you can still drink alcohol but dancing,
loud music and live music are forbidden so night clubs usually close and all the bands go on holiday.
• If you're caught breaking any drink related laws, you may be thrown in jail until the end of Ramadan at which
time it all gets sorted out. Expect stiffer punishments than for the same offence outside Ramadan.

Other Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujeirah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain

• Much the same applies in the other Emirates regarding drinking although expect less tolerance than in Dubai if
you are skating close to the edge of the law with any drinking related activities, especially in Sharjah.
• Alcohol availability might vary in other Emirates also - Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi will still serve alcohol
mostly. And in RAK bands might even continue to play as usual.

Sharjah

• Sharjah is a dry emirate meaning you cannot buy alcohol anywhere with two exceptions - the Sharjah
Wanderers Club and Sharjah International Airport. The airport sells alcohol at Duty Free and also in a
business class lounge after passport control on departure (not during Ramadan though). You are permitted to
have alcohol at home if you have an alcohol licence - which allows you to buy alcohol in another emirate and
transport it back to your house.
• Anyone caught in violation of drinking laws (driving, drinking in public and/or without a license, etc) should
expect to be treated more harshly than for the same offence in another emirate.

Alcohol Licence - obtaining one and why you should have one

An Alcohol Licence (or License) gives expats in Dubai and the UAE permission to drink alcohol - they need a residence
visa before applying for an alcohol license. It is shown at off-licences or liquor stores in Dubai when making purchases.
In theory it could be asked for at a bar or club but in practice it almost never is. Apparently the law says that only hotel
guests may drink at hotel bars but it's unheard of for that to be enforced.

• 14 Nov 2006 news. A court case acquitted a resident for drinking in a bar because he did have an alcohol
license, although the police arrested him because they claimed the license only allowed residents to drink
alcohol at home.
• Tourists do not need an alcohol licence since they are not in Dubai on a resident's visa.
• Muslims are not permitted to have an alcohol licence (the application form asks what religion the applicant is).
• Alcohol licenses are a legal requirement when buying alcohol from bottle shops like MMI, and A&E, and
Spinneys in Abu Dhabi. How often it is asked for varies depending on emirate. Almost always in Dubai,
sometimes not in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, and rarely, if ever, in Umm Al Quwain and Ajman.

Alcohol purchases can be made without a licence (illegally) at several establishments in Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
Or you can present your license and buy alcohol legally. Where you're likely to get into trouble is if you have an
accident between shop and home, and the alcohol is found in your car. Sharjah especially would be more risky as it is a
dry emirate. Checkpoints with car searches are a possibility but very rare. If you do have a license then you are
permitted to transport alcohol for personal use between shop and home. However, for those living in Dubai, you would
be expected to buy alcohol in Dubai.

On 03 July 2006 there was a report in the Gulf News of alcohol purchasers being followed from Ajman into Sharjah by
conmen, made to pull over and threatened with being reported to the police unless a ransom was paid. Figures were
reported as being 2000 dhs to 10,000 dhs. An Ajman police official apparently told the reporter that non-Muslims were
allowed to transport legally purchased alcohol through any emirate to their home. Note that you need to present your
alcohol license in these 'hole-in-the-wall' establishments in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, etc to become a legal alcohol
purchaser.

The licence shows a monthly limit for purchases which depends on the applicants salary. Usually the limit is
somewhere between 500 dhs and 1500 dhs per month.

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Tax on Alcohol

There is a 30% tax added to all alcohol purchases made when presenting an alcohol licence (last confirmed June
2006).

Procedure

1. Your company obtains one for you. There'll be fees of around 200 dhs per year to pay, and you'll need the usual
paperwork (passport with residence visa, photos).
2. You apply for one yourself. The easiest way to do this is through one of the alcohol shops in Dubai - A & E or
MMI. They have the forms and will obtain the license for you (about 200 dhs per year).

Last update Thursday 23-Sep-2010

Related pages

• Dubai alcohol - forum topic with updates and comments

• Dubai alcohol laws - from the Dubai Code of Conduct
• Drugs in Dubai - if you really want to get into trouble, ignore this advice
• Duty free limits in Dubai - what you can bring with you or buy on arrival
• Hotels in Dubai - a list with some comments
• Nightclubs in Dubai - a list of some worth visiting (or avoiding)

Related websites (new window)

• www.saferdriver.ae - they'll take you and your car home after a night out
• Dubai directory - add your link free

www.dubaifaqs.com/alcohol-licence.php

Abu Dhabi AUH ABD ADB, Ajman AJM, Al Ain AAN, Dubai DXB, Fujairah FUJ, Ras Al Khaimah
RAK, Sharjah SHJ, Umm Al Quwain UAQ information guide

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