Licensed partner of leading UAE developers
Call us, we're working now
+971 (556) 06-53-76
14.10.2025
897
Save the article:
What is the general situation? The rules for purchasing and consuming alcohol in Dubai are quite strict, which is unsurprising for a Muslim society. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to enjoy alcoholic beverages in the emirate if you approach this matter with maximum responsibility.
What should you pay attention to? Those who are unwilling or unable to comply with the established regulations face a substantial fine. And this is the best case scenario. Under certain circumstances, there is a chance of becoming closely acquainted with the local prison.
Despite the strict regulations and restrictions regarding alcohol in the UAE, visitors to Dubai can fully enjoy the pleasant atmosphere and a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. This tolerance towards alcohol helps the emirate maintain harmony between Muslim traditions and visitors' requirements whilst remaining a popular tourist and business destination.
However, it is important to note that you cannot drink just anywhere in Dubai. For those who want to have a party, all-inclusive hotels and specialised establishments that sell alcohol in Dubai are available.
In Dubai hotels, alcohol consumption is only permitted for those who are willing to take responsibility and not disturb other guests' peace.
In licensed hotel bars and restaurants, alcoholic beverages are sold only to non-Muslim guests over 21 years of age and only after showing an ID or a passport. However, taking your favourite drink back to your room is not possible, as alcohol cannot be taken out of the bar and restaurant area.
Image source: Aleksandar Milutinovic / shutterstock.com
Beyond hotels in the UAE, there are numerous establishments operating during late hours. Among them, you can find rooftop bars, shisha lounges, Michelin-starred restaurants, beach clubs and many others.
Luxury and comfort await guests in dining establishments: attentive staff will always guide, advise and help with the selection of food and drinks. Tipping in Dubai is at the customer's discretion; the main thing is to respect the waiters and bartenders.
The UAE is a religious country, and Ramadan is sacred there. Tourists should abstain from alcohol during this month, even in licensed establishments (especially during the day). Note that the timing of Ramadan depends on the lunar calendar and constantly shifts.
After enjoying your time at a bar or a restaurant, refrain from continuing the party outdoors. Instead, it’s better to open the RTA, Uber or Careem apps, order a taxi and head to where you're staying. Don't forget to have some money on you for transportation! The fare usually consists of 5 dirhams for the pickup and 2 dirhams per kilometre travelled.
It’s best to avoid other modes of transport whilst under the influence of alcohol. Being intoxicated in public and drinking alcohol on the street can result in a fine or even six months' imprisonment. After all, it’s risky to drink alcohol in Dubai.
Trying to deceive police officers by hiding alcohol in juice or milk bottles is also ill-advised. Law enforcement officers instantly recognise intoxicated people on the street because they stand out too noticeably against the general background.
The ideal option for a “party” is to purchase desired drinks from a licensed alcohol shop in Dubai and then carry them in a closed bag to your place of residence. Any other methods may lead to unwanted consequences.
Foreigner offenders, who are caught by law enforcement officers outside their hotel room whilst intoxicated face a monetary penalty of a substantial sum. The police officer will issue a receipt that the country's guest must pay at the police station before departure.
A stricter measure may also be imposed as punishment. Serious violation of alcohol-related regulations could result in the traveller's detention.
The court may consider such a case for several months, and until it reaches a final verdict, the foreign citizen will not be allowed to leave the country. If the judicial process is prolonged, the person will have to take care of their accommodation and living conditions on their own.
The most important advice: under no circumstances should you attempt to drive a car whilst drunk, even if you've had very little to drink. If caught, you'll have to pay up to half a million rubles, or go to prison.
There's no need to bring your favourite drinks from home: alcohol can be purchased upon arrival at Dubai Airport. Tourists can buy alcohol at Dubai Duty Free without a license. There's no limit on the number of bottles you can purchase, and the product selection is impressively wide. However, be prepared to spend a considerable sum of money there.
Tourists usually buy alcohol from shops and bring bottles back to their rooms. This is comfortable, cheap and safe. Take note!
However, regular grocery stores only stock non-alcoholic beer on their shelves. Alcohol in Dubai is sold exclusively in licensed shops.
To purchase their favourite drink, visitors must go to outlets of one of two retail chains — Mercantile Maritime International (MMI) and African & Eastern, which can be found in popular tourist areas.
Image source: senivpetro / freepik.com
To legally purchase alcohol in Dubai shops, you must be at least 21 years old. You'll also need a free license valid for 30 days. There are two ways to obtain such a license.
First way: visit any MMI or African & Eastern shop, bringing your ID or passport for age verification. The shop assistant will check your identity and enter your details into the system, after which you can buy any alcoholic products.
Second way: submit an online application for an "alcohol license" at licensedxb.com. You'll need to provide your first name, surname, phone number, email address, passport number, nationality and date of birth, then wait for data verification confirmation.
In short, alcohol in Dubai for tourists is an extra headache. However, in other emirates, "alcohol licenses" were abolished four years ago.
Below we'll tell you about the retail chains where you can buy alcohol in Dubai:
Dubai has 22 MMI chain stores offering the widest assortment of eight hundred quality wines, spirits and beers. Customers can visit any store in person with their ID or passport or use the delivery service (with a license).
Important delivery conditions:
This is the second major chain of stores offering alcohol for any taste. Store addresses can be found in navigation apps. They also offer delivery service there, but as with MMI, you cannot purchase alcoholic beverages without first obtaining a license.
In Dubai, alcohol prices in licensed restaurants and bars are on average 10% higher than in those without alcohol due to tax payments. However, you can choose from hundreds of options of where to drink: there are plenty of establishments where you can enjoy various alcoholic beverages.
Here are some of the places that are most popular among tourists:
Image source: freepik / freepik.com
To avoid problems during your holiday, you need to carefully prepare for your trip and follow the established rules:
In Dubai, as everywhere else, alcohol prices in restaurants and bars are much higher than in shops. For instance, a serving of alcohol in an establishment will cost 40–150 dirhams: half a litre of beer costs 30–60 dirhams, a bottle of wine — around 100 dirhams, a cocktail — about 50 dirhams.
Can you drink alcohol in Dubai? Yes, but with conditions. There, alcoholic beverages can only be purchased with a passport. For this, you need to visit a specialised shop where staff will issue you a tourist "alcohol" license based on your passport.
This license is valid for 30 days, after which you will no longer be able to purchase alcoholic beverages. We recommend always carrying this license with you, as it may be required in clubs and bars, although this doesn't happen often. Without this license, you won't be able to purchase alcohol in shops.
If you want to bring alcohol with you, you should know that Dubai has strict import regulations. You are allowed to bring no more than 24 cans of beer of 0.33 litres each or up to 4 litres of spirits.
As everywhere else, alcoholic beverages in such quantities can only be transported in checked luggage. There is also the option to purchase alcohol in a duty free shop, in which case you can carry it in your hand luggage.
It won't be confiscated, but you'll have to spend money. If you decide to bring more alcohol than the established limits allow, you will need to pay a customs duty of 50% of the goods' value plus VAT.
Travellers often visit Dubai as it is known for its developed infrastructure, diverse shops, entertainment and beautiful views. Despite the tolerant attitude towards alcohol, even in 2025, Dubai still has certain rules that should definitely be studied before travelling.
Article header image source: freepik / freepik.com
