Drinking in Abu Dhabi and Dubai: Complete Guide to UAE Alcohol Laws 2025

Is alcohol legal in the UAE?

For the most part - yes, alcohol is now legal in almost all of the UAE. You’ve probably seen videos and photos of fabulous bars, boozy brunches and buzzing night spots in Dubai and Abu Dhabi - so that must mean you can kick your heels up and go crazy on your next night out in the UAE - right? Well, not entirely. 

Yes - the UAE has definitely become more liberal with their approach to drinking in the last 5 to 10 years, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t tightly controlled rules in some areas. You risk fines or imprisonment for anything from drunk driving to public intoxication, and the rules can change between Emirates - especially Sharjah, where drinking is illegal.

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What are the drinking rules in the UAE? 

While some rules differ between Emirates, other laws are consistent across the whole country.

 Regardless of where you are in the UAE, you cannot: 

• Purchase or consume alcohol if you’re under 21
• Consume alcohol in public places like parks, beaches or on the street
• Be drunk and disorderly in public places
• Purchase alcohol if you are Muslim 
• Drink and drive - blood alcohol levels for drivers must be zero at all times‍
• Supply alcohol to underage people

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What is the drinking age in Abu Dhabi and Dubai? 

The legal drinking age in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is 21. Underage drinking in the UAE is illegal, and is punishable by fines, imprisonment and deportation. You can be fined for providing or purchasing alcohol to an underage person in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and venues can face hefty fines as well - running to hundreds of thousands of dirhams - if underage people are found to be drinking in their bar or restaurant. Being ID’d on a night out suddenly makes a lot more sense, right?

If you’re heading to a bar in the UAE, or to buy alcohol, make sure to take along proof of age, like your Emirates ID, passport or drivers license.

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What about the other Emirates? 

Drinking alcohol is illegal in Sharjah altogether. It is not sold at restaurants or other venues, and there are no liquor stores to purchase from. 

You can purchase and consume alcohol in Ras Al Khaimah (they are even currently building the UAE’s first casino!). They have some sizable liquor stores with quite a good selection. 

Umm al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah are quite relaxed about alcohol purchase and consumption - much like Abu Dhabi, there is no alcohol licence required to buy alcohol, but you may need to provide proof of age to show you’re over 21, so carry ID and be prepared to present it if you’re planning to drink while there. Keep in mind though, while drinking might be legal, it isn’t as easily available as in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Less restaurants have liquor licenses in these Emirates, and there are less liquor stores. 

You will typically find bigger hotels serving alcohol, but if you want a drink with dinner - or a cocktail by the pool - it’s always good to confirm ahead of your visit. Conversely - there are dry hotels across the UAE, so if you’d prefer to avoid alcohol altogether, you’ll find this need catered to as well!

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What is an alcohol license? Do I need one as a resident or tourist in the UAE? 

Short answer? It depends where you are! If you’re visiting a licensed venue in Dubai and buying a drink, you don’t need to have a licence - so at a bar, hotel, brunch or restaurant. The curve ball? You need an alcohol licence if you want to buy alcohol and drink it at home in Dubai, or another private place. The upside? The application process is easy - and more importantly, free! You can apply online (https://licensedxb.com/#/home/registration) , or snap one up at a liquor store that requires one. 

The rules are also different for residents and tourists. Tourists can be issued an on-the-spot permit, allowing them to buy and carry away alcohol for 30 days. Tourists need to apply with their passport. Residents? You need your Emirates ID to apply, and your license lasts 12 months. Licenses for residents can take up to 4 weeks to be issued - but once you have applied, you can purchase take away alcohol in the meantime. 

Have you visited Dubai in the past and not needed a license for carry-away alcohol? Same here - the rules actually changed, then changed back! So if you’re hearing conflicting advice, that’s why. 

Visiting or living in Abu Dhabi? You don’t need an alcohol license in Abu Dhabi as a resident or a tourist. Alcohol is available at many bars and restaurants across the city, most hotels and areas popular with expats and tourists - such as Mamsha Al Saadiyat, Yas Bay and Al Maryah Island. 

Umm al Quwain, Ajman and Fujairah don’t require a license either. And yep, the rules haven’t changed - Sharjah is a zero-alcohol zone, so no license, and no drinking. 

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Zero tolerance for drink driving in all of the UAE

This one is very self explanatory: do not drink and drive in the UAE. There is a zero tolerance policy, and if you are involved in an accident (even if it’s not your fault) and found to have been drinking and driving, you can be fined, imprisoned or deported. Don’t risk it! 

The good news? Taxis are very affordable, and there are a bunch of other apps and services you can use as well. Careem, Uber and Yango all allow you to book a ride home - and prebook if you’re planning a late one. Zoffeur is also great - it’s a safe driver service that will drop a driver off to you, who will then drive your car home, with you safe and sound inside. You can prebook a driver for a certain time, or book one when you’re ready to go (availability can be limited during peak demand times). So if you drive to dinner, get a little carried away and decide to have some drinks after all, there’s no excuse to get behind the wheel.

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Is alcohol expensive in the UAE? 

It depends on what you buy, where you drink and what you define as expensive. If you’ve been backpacking in Asia, South America or Eastern Europe and enjoying cheap beer, yes. If you’ve moved from places like the UK, USA, parts of Europe, Australia or New Zealand, it’s more on par with what you’d pay at home - but on the whole you’ll likely find it more expensive. 

Effective from January 1st 2025, Dubai re-instated their 30% tax on alcohol after a two-year suspension. Bars - particularly upmarket bars - charge a premium, and wine in particular can run very expensive. Cocktails in Dubai can easily set you back over AED100, while we find Abu Dhabi a little cheaper on the whole. 

Exceptions to the rules? Brunches, ladies nights and happy hour deals! On any given day or night, you’ll find Dubai and Abu Dhabi teaming with drinking deals and offers. Brunch packages serving up vast amounts of food and unlimited drinks take over the city every Saturday, while ladies can often drink for cheap - or even free - at ladies nights. If you’re living in Abu Dhabi - or visiting - you can find listings for brunches, ladies nights, happy hours and more on the Best Bites UAE app. It’s free to download, and has the best collection of information on drinking, dining and socialising in Abu Dhabi. Sort by event type, day of the week or area - easy peasy!

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Where can I buy alcohol in the UAE? 

As well as bars, select restaurants and hotels, you can find a number of liquor stores in the UAE from which alcohol can be bought to consume at home. 

Some of the most popular are:

Spinneys (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, RAK)

Peninsula (Abu Dhabi)

The Bottle Store (Abu Dhabi, Dubai)

Grapes & Hops (Abu Dhabi)

African & Eastern (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, RAK)

MMI (Dubai, RAK) - MMI Al Hamra in RAK has a great range. 

UNISAT Liquor Store (Ajman)

Fujairah doesn’t have any bigger chains, but you can buy alcohol at stores like The Beach Shop, The Sandy Cellar and Barracuda Express.  

Heard of Ghantoot? On the border between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Windmill Cellars and High Spirits both do a busy trade, as they are the nearest liquor stores to the city that fall outside Dubai’s license and tax - Ghantoot is just inside the Abu Dhabi border. 

In Abu Dhabi, Best Bites members can enjoy discounts across a number of liquor stores with their BB+ subscription. Not a member yet? Sign up here. 

You can score 20% off at Peninsula, Spinneys, Grapes & Hops, African & Eastern, 10% off The Bottle Store online, and 25% off in-store. Discounts exclude promotional items, and can vary between in-store and online purchases.

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Why don’t all restaurants serve alcohol? 

Like most countries around the world, you’ll find some restaurants serve alcohol and some don’t. Here, many many more restaurants don’t serve alcohol than those that do, and there are a few simple reasons for this. 

The first - and biggest - reason is local custom. As a majority Muslim country, most citizens and residents don’t drink alcohol, which is considered haram under the Islamic faith. While some Muslim people don’t mind eating at a venue that serves alcohol to other patrons, others prefer to keep their custom for restaurants that are dry - so as a restauranteur, you’re appealing to a wider client base if you’re not serving alcohol. 

Many venues have Emirati owners, or other owners who are practicing Muslims. They don’t want to serve or be associated with serving alcohol at their venues. 

Another key reason? Liquor licences are expensive for a restaurant, and require a lot of paperwork, inspections and red tape to approve. Smaller operations and downtown restaurants can’t - or don’t want to - afford the hassle.

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Be respectful, know the rules - and enjoy yourself! 

Drinking laws in the UAE might seem confusing, but it’s quite simple once you know the basics. Remember to check where you’re staying (or living) and which rules apply in your area, don’t drink and drive, be respectful of local culture and people - but otherwise, let your hair down, enjoy your visit - and be sure to check out a brunch or ladies night while you’re here!

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