The new alcohol legislation was introduced to "consolidate the UAE's principles of tolerance" (Wam).

The UAE announced a major reform on some of the country's personal laws, allowing unmarried residents of the opposite sex to legally live together, criminalising "honour killings", and what may come as great news for many expats, the decriminalisation of drinking alcohol.

That's right. From November 2020, drinking alcohol is no longer punishable by law and UAE residents can consume beverages without an alcohol license.