How Things Work in UAE
Everything Tourists Need to Know
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. 10–15% at restaurants is standard. Round up for taxis.
Updated 2025-01
Dubai has an excellent metro and buses. Buy a Nol Card for all public transport in Dubai. Abu Dhabi has buses but no metro yet.
Updated 2025-01
Healthcare quality is excellent but expensive. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Many hospitals have English-speaking staff.
Updated 2025-01
The UAE has strict laws around alcohol, public behavior, drugs, and dress. What is legal in your home country may be a criminal offense here.
Updated 2025-01
Police: 999. Ambulance: 998. Fire: 997. Tourist Police (Dubai): 800-4438.
Updated 2025-01
Dress modestly in public. Shoulders and knees should be covered in malls, markets, and public areas. Swimwear is only for beaches and pools.
Updated 2025-01
Alcohol is only legal at licensed hotels, restaurants, and bars. Drinking in public is illegal. Legal age is 21. Ramadan has extra restrictions.
Updated 2025-01
Bargaining is expected in traditional souks and markets. Fixed prices apply in malls and modern shops. Always negotiate at gold and textile souks.
Updated 2025-01
Photographing government buildings, military sites, and people without consent is illegal. Tourists have been arrested for innocent-seeming photos.
Updated 2025-01
The UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday. Businesses close on Friday for prayers. Malls are open 7 days a week. Ramadan significantly changes all hours.
Updated 2025-01
Uber and Careem both operate in the UAE, and official metered taxis are widely available, honest, and affordable.
Updated 2025-06
Tap water is desalinated and technically safe to drink, but most residents and tourists use bottled water due to the heavy chlorination and taste.
Updated 2025-06
ATMs are widely available and the UAE is largely cashless, but carry AED 200–500 for souqs and small traditional vendors.
Updated 2025-06
du and Etisalat (e&) are the two UAE carriers — both sell tourist SIMs at the airport with excellent 5G coverage, but VoIP calls are blocked.
Updated 2025-06
The UAE uses Type G plugs (British 3-pin square) at 230V/50Hz — the same as the UK.
Updated 2025-06
Haggling is expected at traditional souqs but scams are rare — the UAE has a very low scam culture overall.
Updated 2025-06
The UAE is one of the safest countries in the world with extremely low crime rates — road accidents are a greater real risk than crime.
Updated 2025-06
Ramadan etiquette is critical, public displays of affection are inappropriate, and small gestures like accepting offered coffee show respect.
Updated 2025-06
Arabic is the official language, but English is so widely spoken in tourism and business that there is effectively no language barrier for visitors.
Updated 2025-06
The UAE has excellent public beaches with warm water year-round, but appropriate swimwear and flag safety systems apply.
Updated 2025-06
Drive on the right, roads are excellent, but speed cameras are everywhere and the UAE has one of the world's highest road accident rates.
Updated 2025-06
The UAE is a global food destination — all cuisine is halal, pork is restricted to licensed venues, and Friday brunch is a beloved local institution.
Updated 2025-06
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque welcomes non-Muslims with free abayas provided; remove shoes, dress modestly, and visit outside prayer times.
Updated 2025-06
Visit October to April for comfortable outdoor weather — May to September is extremely hot and humid with temperatures above 45°C.
Updated 2025-06
The UAE is expensive but cheap eats, free beaches, the Dubai Metro, and hotel happy hours can significantly reduce your costs.
Updated 2025-06