United Arab Emirates » Going Out

All the Emirates, with the exception of Sharjah, permit the consumption of alcohol by non-Muslims in designated areas. Designated areas are usually restaurants or bars located inside hotels. It is illegal to drink alcohol in the street or to buy it for a UAE citizen. Muslims don’t consume pork, which is also absent from many restaurants. If it’s served at a buffet or sold at a supermarket it will be separate from other food and clearly labelled. It is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in any public spaces during daylight, during the month of Ramadan. Regulations have tightened recently regarding food and drink consumption in public during Ramadan, and punishments are harsh; expect to be slapped with a fine of AED2000-2500 or face up to two months in jail.

Note: It is possible to buy alcohol, provided you have a permit. Look out for bottle shops identifiable by their blacked out windows.

Though the UAE is fairly modern, it is an Islamic country and women may feel more comfortable when dressed modestly. The UAE is fairly liberal and foreign women can dress as they please, however covering the shoulders and knees is a requirement in public areas like shopping centres and also during periods of religious significance. Men are also expected to dress with respect. Homosexuality and adultery are both illegal and while non-married couples aren’t lawfully permitted to stay together in the same hotel room, it is common practice and rarely enforced.

Alcohol is tolerated, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the cities’ plentiful hotel bars and restaurants (except for Sharjah). Tourists are permitted to bring four litres of alcohol into the country, though under 20s are not allowed to drink alcohol or buy cigarettes. It is illegal for everyone to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours of the holy month of Ramadan, and on the day or eve of days of national importance, alcohol isn’t sold and bars are shut. As in all Muslim countries, it’s best to keep displays of affection private – kissing or embracing in public is not only considered disrespectful, it could lead to police caution or even arrest. Holding hands is generally fine, but swearing, rude gestures and drink driving are all punishable by imprisonment. Drugs are a strict no-no and could land you in serious trouble. It’s worth checking what medicine and painkillers you bring into the country, as even some common pain medications like codeine are prohibited.

Whether you’re searching for sashimi, Italian, fish and chips or a nine-course degustation journey at a fancy French restaurant, you will find it in the UAE. Visitors to the country really are spoiled for choice, with a wide range of cuisines available and many celebrity chefs have launched their namesake branches in the UAE, including Nobu Matisuya, Gary Rhodes and Giorgio Locatelli. Supermarkets and grocery stores stock home comforts and nearly everything that is available in Australia, USA and the UK, while hotels serve both Arab and European food. There is also a fantastic range of Arabic, Persian, Indian, Pakistani restaurants – especially in areas like Satwa, Deira and Bur Dubai.

Modern Emirati cuisine fuses a number of regional flavours, yet the nation’s staples have remained the same for centuries. You’ll likely find lamb, beef, goat, fish and rice in any of Middle Eastern themed eateries as well as the selection below:

• Hummus (chickpea and sesame paste).
• Tabbouleh(bulghur wheat with mint and parsley).
• Ghuzi (roast lamb with rice and nuts).
• Warak enab (stuffed vine leaves).
• Dates (there are more than 30 million date palms in the UAE).
• Shawama (spit cooked meat in pitta bread with thick garlic sauce).
• Khameer and chebab (local bread often eaten for breakfast with eggs).
• Falafel (fried or grilled balls of herby chickpeas).
• Hamour (local grouper fished in Gulf waters).
• Luqaimat (Crispy deep fried batter dumpling balls served with syrup).

• Ayran (a refreshing yoghurt drink).
• Strong black coffee.