United Arab Emirates

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 3/4 — Level 3: Reconsider Travel
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 1/4
• ☐ Canada: level 3/4 — Avoid non-essential travel

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ The visa policy of the United Arab Emirates allows citizens of certain countries to enter the United Arab Emirates without a visa. Citizens of certain other countries must obtain a visa from one of the UAE diplomatic missions. Alternatively, they may obtain an online visa through Smart Service or airlines.

☐ Passport valid 6+ months beyond your stay

Practical

• ☐ Plug type G, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 999
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 998
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 997
• ☐ SIM: There are two providers who have their own cellular network: e& (etisalat) and du. The coverage of both throughout the country is about the same. 4 GB for 28 days costs 49 dirham (Jan 2026) at both providers with the SIM card for free. The eSIM provider Airhub offers 1 GB for 1 week for US$1.89 (Jan 2026).
• ☐ Money: The currency is the United Arab Emirates dirham denoted by the symbol " د.إ" or "dh" (ISO code: AED). It is pegged to the US dollar at 3.67 dirham for $1. Two sets of notes are in circulation in the United Arab Emirates, the paper and polymer series and are issued in denonimations of 5 (paper and polymer), 10 (paper and polymer), 20 (paper), 50 (paper and polymer), 100 (paper and polymer), 200 (pa

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Homosexuality — Homosexual acts are illegal and carry the potential penalty of death or life in prison. Avoid all public displays of affection.
• ☐ Public Decency and PDA — Public displays of affection, nudity, and public sex are illegal and punishable by fine or jail. Sex outside of marriage is also illegal.
• ☐ Drug Possession — Possession of drugs is strictly punished, often with four years in prison. You can be arrested for microscopic drug traces on your clothing.
• ☐ Drug and Alcohol Testing — Authorities may perform blood tests if you are suspected of being under the influence. You can be jailed for substances ingested abroad if they are illegal in the UAE.
• ☐ Illegal Medications — Certain painkillers like codeine are illegal narcotics. Carry a copy of your prescription to avoid jail sentences for possessing these medications.
• ☐ Social Media Defamation — Under cyber-crime laws, making defamatory statements about someone on social media can result in fines or jail time, even if the statement was made years ago in another country.
• ☐ Offensive Behavior — Using profanity or rude hand gestures can lead to fines and jail time if reported. Losing your temper in public can also result in imprisonment.
• ☐ Alcohol and Religion — Alcohol consumption is restricted to private or licensed areas. Publicly criticizing Islam or distributing material against it is prohibited.

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