Alcohol without a licence

Drinking alcohol is legal in the United Arab Emirates for adults aged 21 and over, and since November 2020 you no longer need a government licence to buy, carry or drink it. Before that, residents needed a permit, and drinking without one was technically a crime.

Key facts

• Status: licence requirement lifted; alcohol legal for adults with limits
• Changed: November 2020 (Abu Dhabi dropped its licence in September 2020)
• Minimum age: 21
• Where: at home or in licensed venues

What were the old alcohol rules?

Bars and hotels in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have served alcohol for decades, but individuals needed a government-issued licence to buy, transport or keep alcohol at home. Drinking without one could be prosecuted, although foreigners in licensed venues were rarely targeted.

What changed in 2020?

In September 2020, Abu Dhabi scrapped the need for residents and tourists to hold a personal alcohol licence. In November 2020, a set of federal decrees went further, removing criminal penalties for drinking, selling and possessing alcohol for people aged 21 and over in authorised places. The same reforms also decriminalised unmarried couples living together.

What is still not allowed?

Selling alcohol to anyone under 21 is still an offence, and drinking is only allowed in private or in licensed public venues, not on the street or at the beach. Each emirate can still set its own rules on where alcohol may be sold, so check local rules before you travel between emirates.

The contrast with neighbours is sharp: Saudi Arabia bans alcohol almost entirely. Before packing anything for a UAE trip, also check the strict rules on CBD products.

General information, not legal advice. Check official UAE sources before you rely on it.