Drugs and alcohol in the UAE

The UAE has strict zero-tolerance drug laws and controlled alcohol regulations, recreational drugs are completely illegal while alcohol requires licenses for residents and is only permitted in licensed premises. Expats should understand that strict laws are in place For buying and consuming drugs and alcohol in the United Arab Emirates, reflecting the nation's deeply conservative culture and Islamic principles.

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Drugs in the UAE: Don't Even Try Them

Drug addiction costs UAE economy around AED5.5 billion per year. Aside from high economic costs, relatively traditionalist social attitudes and high importance of family values have led UAE to adopt zero-tolerance policy to narcotic and psychotropic drugs. By law, production, import, export, transport, purchase, sale, and possession of these substances is considered criminal activity unless carried out as medical or scientific activity under-regulated supervision. Travelers passing through country who are intoxicated or in possession of banned substances can be imprisoned for minimum of two years. Convictions have resulted from amounts of 0.05 grams or less. Police and customs authorities may request blood and urine tests. Presence of illegal drugs in these bodily fluids also counts as possession.

Prescription Drugs: Check Before You Fly

There are specific laws concerning prescription drugs in UAE. Medications that are legal in other countries may not be in UAE. While UAE has ban on some drugs, others can come into country under certain conditions. Most medicines are available in community pharmacies and hospitals. However, narcotic, psychotropic, and other controlled drugs and medicines of class A or B are not easy to come by; nor are they freely imported. Residents and tourists can consult list on Ministry of Health and Prevention's website to see whether medications are allowed. As of October 2018, travelers can apply for permission to bring medications into UAE via online system providing details including local address, Emirates ID number, country of residence, contact details, and dates of arrival and departure.

Alcohol in the UAE: Get Yourself a License

Unlike drugs, rules concerning alcohol in UAE have eased significantly in recent years. Although Muslims may not drink under any circumstances, residents and tourists of other religions may do so in private provided they have liquor licenses or are covered by licensed restaurants or bars. Rules apply across different emirates except in Sharjah, a dry emirate where drinking alcohol is illegal. Anyone consuming alcohol in Dubai must have liquor license. This also applies to drinking at bars in Dubai although you will almost never have to present liquor license in one. Such permits also allow you to store and drink liquor at home and drink at other people's homes. In July 2019, Dubai closed longstanding legal loophole by launching temporary alcohol license for tourists visiting emirate.

Drinking Laws in the UAE

Consuming any sort of alcohol, or being drunk, in public place is prohibited in UAE. In practice however these laws are rarely enforced unless you break another law or someone complains about your behavior. Federal Law Number 3 of 1987 under Article 313 also penalizes anyone who "states openly in public place that he consumes food or drinks or any other thing that breaks fast during Ramadan period." Anyone who does so may face fine of up to AED2,000 or prison term of one month. Ramadan is Islamic holy month; Muslims have to fast during daylight hours and non-Muslims must avoid eating or drinking anything in public places at these times.

Zero-Tolerance for Drunk Driving: UAE has zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving. Even single drink can attract prison sentence of up to six months and fines between AED5,000 and AED20,000. About 14.33% of car crashes in Dubai result from intoxicated drivers or those under influence of alcohol. Finally, non-Muslim entering UAE may carry or purchase up to four liters of alcohol from duty-free retailers; they must however be over age of 18. Resident must be in possession of liquor license if they want to transfer beverages to their homes.