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drinking alcohol in UAE

Alcohol Laws in the UAE Explained: What Is and Isn't Allowed

Posted on

26 June 2024

Here's everything you need to know, so you can enjoy your drinks legally.

As foreign expatriates or visitors in the UAE, it is important to be mindful of the emirates' predominantly Muslim culture and its Sharia law.

If you plan to buy, possess, or drink alcoholic beverages in the UAE, it's imperative to be aware of the country's rules. The local liquor law and norms also change depending on the emirate you are in, as Dubai's legal approach to alcohol can differ from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or Ras Al Khaimah's.

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An Alcohol License is No Longer Needed in the UAE

Posted on

8 November 2020

UAE Lifts Alcohol Restrictions From November 7

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.