United Arab Emirates

Visa rules for the UAE depend entirely on your nationality. Citizens of around 90 countries — including the US, UK, the EU/Schengen states, Australia and Canada — get a free visa-on-arrival or visa-free entry, typically valid for 30 or 90 days depending on passport. Travellers from many other countries must arrange an e-visa in advance.

Your passport should generally be valid for at least six months beyond your date of entry, and you may be asked to show a return or onward ticket and proof of accommodation.

Eligibility lists are reviewed periodically, so before you book, verify your own passport's requirements against the UAE's official sources and confirm with the UAE embassy in your country.

The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate, so the exchange rate is stable and predictable. The UAE is extremely card-friendly and contactless — Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, and ATMs are plentiful.

It is still worth carrying a modest amount of small-denomination cash for tips, taxis and the occasional small vendor.

Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Many restaurants add a service charge of around 10%; where there is none, 10–15% for good service is generous. Rounding up a taxi fare is standard, and tipping is largely a cash habit.

The UAE is a Muslim country and, while Dubai and Abu Dhabi are cosmopolitan and welcoming, public behaviour is governed by conservative norms and laws that are enforced — the practical risk for most tourists is not crime but unintentionally breaking a local rule. Dress modestly in public: beachwear belongs only at the beach or pool, and in malls and public places both men and women should keep shoulders and knees covered.

Public displays of affection are frowned upon and have led to legal trouble. Alcohol is legal for non-Muslims aged 21+ but served only in licensed venues such as hotels and bars — drinking or being drunk in public is an offence. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours.

The UAE has zero-tolerance drug laws — penalties are severe, and this extends to CBD products and some prescription medicines (such as codeine combinations and certain ADHD, anxiety and sleep medications) that are legal elsewhere, so check your medications before flying. It is also illegal to post content critical of the UAE or its government, or to photograph people without their consent.

The UAE has two major international gateways — Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world's busiest, and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Both are modern and well-connected to their city centres.

In Dubai, the Dubai Metro is clean, cheap, fully automated and air-conditioned, running on two main lines that link the airport, major malls and downtown; it uses a rechargeable Nol card that also works on trams and buses. Metered taxis are abundant and affordable in both cities.

Ride-hailing through Careem (the locally founded app) and Uber works reliably. For travel between the emirates, frequent, inexpensive intercity buses connect Dubai and Abu Dhabi. If you plan to drive, non-residents need an International Driving Permit.

Getting online is easy — buy a local prepaid SIM from the UAE's main operators (e& and du), with kiosks right in the airport arrivals halls; you'll usually need just your passport. Many travellers instead use an eSIM, which should be purchased before you arrive, as travel eSIMs generally aren't sold within the UAE. Free wifi is common in hotels, malls, cafés and airports.

One thing to know in advance: the UAE restricts many internet calling (VoIP) services — voice and video calls over apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype have historically been blocked on UAE networks, even though text messaging works. If voice or video calling matters to you, plan around it: the UAE has government-approved calling apps, and hotel wifi-calling or an eSIM that routes data through your home country can also help.

The UAE is normally one of the safest countries in the world for travellers — violent crime is rare, and walking around cities, including at night, is generally very safe. However, government travel advisories for the UAE have recently been elevated amid regional tensions, and that status can change quickly. Because of this, check the US State Department, the UK FCDO and Australia's Smartraveller for the current advisory for your nationality both before you book and again before you fly.

The bigger everyday concern for visitors isn't crime — it is unknowingly breaking a strict local law (see Etiquette & customs); the consequences for drugs, public conduct and social-media offences are serious, and 'I didn't know' is not a defence. Healthcare in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is excellent but private and expensive, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential.

The other genuine hazard is the climate — summer (roughly May to September) brings extreme heat, often above 40°C with high humidity. Drink plenty of water, limit time outdoors at midday, and use the ubiquitous air conditioning. In an emergency, dial 999 for police and 998 for ambulance.

Power: the UAE uses the Type G plug — the three-rectangular-pin, UK-style socket — at 230V, 50Hz. Travellers from the US, Europe and most other regions will need an adapter.

Language: the official language is Arabic, but English is spoken almost universally in tourist areas, hotels, shops and transport, and signage is in both — communication is rarely a barrier.

Best time to visit: aim for the cooler winter months, roughly November to March, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and ideal for sightseeing — this is peak season, so prices and crowds are higher. Summer is hot but offers lower hotel rates.

Time zone: the UAE runs on Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4) and does not observe daylight saving.