Security in the UAE

Real estate in Dubai is in demand among tenants and buyers from around the world. One of the reasons for this is that the UAE is included in the list of the safest locations on Earth. Strict laws are in force here, and the police work is well organized. The consequence of this is a low crime rate. But are there any risks for travellers and expats visiting the Emirates? How should they behave so they are safe?

Content:

• Crimes in the Arab Emirates
• Airport security
• Traffic on the roads in the UAE
• Rules of conduct for tourists: alcohol
• Photo
• Criticism of the country and extramarital relations
• Women's safety
• Emergency phone numbers in the Emirates

Crimes in the Arab Emirates

Carjacking, murder, robbery, vandalism, or drug trafficking are very rare. The safety of tourists in the Emirates is at a high level thanks to the well-coordinated work of the police and a large number of video cameras in the city. At the same time, pickpocketing happens in the country, which, however, has long been the norm for countries with annual multi-million flows of tourists. That is why valuables should not be left unattended in crowded places.

Airport security

Local police officers devote a lot of effort to ensuring security in the air harbor of the metropolis. The airport is equipped with hundreds of cameras and numerous bags checking devices. Security guards work around the clock in all airport terminals.

All airports in the country have strict rules that all passengers must comply with:

• Only bags with a minimum of one flat surface can be checked in.
• Do not take liquids on board in vessels with a volume of more than 100 ml. The total volume of liquids carried by one person should not exceed 1 liter.
• It is not allowed to carry medicines containing substances prohibited in the Emirates.

Traffic on the roads in the UAE

Car traffic in the country is right-handed. Road signs are similar to European ones, and all road announcements are published in Arabic and English.

Every year, the number of victims of road accidents in the UAE is getting smaller. This is facilitated by strict laws and regulations, as well as the fact that their implementation is carefully monitored by law enforcement officials. All violations are fraught with high fines or prison terms, so road users, including pedestrians, can feel safe.

Anyone not wearing a seat belt, including a child or their guardian, can be fined AED 400. A fine in the same amount will be issued to the driver if he uses a mobile phone while driving.

According to local laws, it is mandatory to pay AED 2,000 for running a red light, not having a license plate, and making sharp turns.

A drunk driver will be fined or put in jail, as well as deprived of his rights for 1 year.

Rules of conduct for tourists: alcohol

Tourists must comply with all the rules of conduct in the Emirates, no matter how strict they may seem. So, in public places in the UAE, you can not only drink alcoholic beverages but even appear drunk. You can only drink alcohol at home or in establishments that have a license for this. In Dubai, people who have the appropriate license can buy alcohol. Tourists have the right to issue a license for one month, and residents of Dubai can purchase a full license. In other emirates, the rules regarding the purchase of alcohol are not so strict.

Until December 31, 2022, the license cost AED 250 ($70), and now you can get a license to buy alcohol free. This measure was introduced for one year as an experiment to see how it will affect the development of tourism.

In Dubai and other emirates, alcohol can be drunk from the age of 21, in Abu Dhabi from the age of 18. In Sharjah, it is forbidden for everyone to drink alcohol.

Photo

In the United Arab Emirates, it is not allowed to take photos of military facilities, government buildings, and people without their consent. There are cases when tourists have been arrested in the Emirates for photographing women on beaches.

Criticism of the country and extramarital relations

Local laws prohibit criticizing the UAE, the authorities of the Emirates, and the cultural characteristics of the country on the Internet. You can be criminally liable for this.

The legislation of the Arab Emirates allows a man and a woman to live without marriage registration. Such couples can book one room at the hotel.

Homosexual relations are prohibited in the UAE, but the privacy of tourists is respected here, so a same-sex couple of travelers can check into the same hotel room or visit public places together. This is especially true of Dubai, whose indigenous people are accustomed to an abundance of tourists and migrants with liberal views. What is forbidden to do is to show your feelings in public places, but this also applies to heterosexual couples.

Women's safety

Being in the Arab Emirates, it is better for women to cover their knees and shoulders. However, in Dubai, the implementation of this recommendation is not currently being monitored, since there are many expats from Western countries living in the city who are not used to such strict rules.

Women can only wear open swimsuits on the beach, it is forbidden to sunbathe topless.

Emergency phone numbers in the Emirates

Despite the fact that the UAE is one of the safest countries in the world, going to Dubai, it is better to know the phone numbers in case of an emergency.

• 8004888 – Dubai Police;
• 998 – ambulance;
• 999 – police;
• 997 – fire service;
• 800342 – Dubai Health Authority;
• 996 – coast guard.