United Arab Emirates

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 3/4 — Level 3: Reconsider Travel
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4
• ☐ Canada: level 2/4 — Exercise a high degree of caution

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Practical

• ☐ Plug type G, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 999
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 998
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 997

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Strict drug and medication laws — Possession of drugs, including microscopic traces on clothing, carries a minimum four-year prison sentence. Certain painkillers like codeine are illegal without a prescription, and blood tests can lead to jail for substances ingested abroad.
• ☐ Public conduct and morality laws — Homosexuality, sex outside marriage, public displays of affection, and public nudity are illegal and punishable by fines or jail. Homosexuality specifically carries a penalty of death or life in prison.
• ☐ Cyber-crime and defamation — Defamatory statements made about someone in the UAE on social media can result in jail time or fines, even if the statement was made years ago in another country.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to United Arab Emirates — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM