United Arab Emirates: What To Know Before You Go

Q: What is the emergency number in United Arab Emirates?

Police: 999, Ambulance: 998, Fire: 997

Plugs: Type G, 230 V. Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance 998, Fire 997. Tipping: Around 10-15% in restaurants is common; round up taxi fares. Tap water: Generally safe to drink in cities, though many prefer bottled water for taste.

Open The United Arab Emirates Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Type G, 230 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	999
Ambulance	998
Fire	997

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: gov.uk

Tipping

Around 10-15% in restaurants is common; round up taxi fares.

Water And Health

Tap water: Generally safe to drink in cities, though many prefer bottled water for taste
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid; hepatitis B and rabies for some travelers
Malaria: None

Checked 13 Oct 2026 against the official page: wwwnc.cdc.gov

Apps To Download Before You Go

Careem: The region's own ride-hailing super-app, also for food, groceries and bike rental.
Uber: Widely available alongside Careem and regular metered taxis.
WhatsApp: Used for text messaging with hotels and businesses; voice calls may not work.
Botim: A licensed voice and video calling app, since regular VoIP calls on WhatsApp are blocked.
Nol Pay / RTA Dubai: Top up the Nol card used for Dubai metro, tram, bus and water taxis.
Darb (Abu Dhabi): Abu Dhabi's public transport and toll-gate app.
Talabat: The dominant food and grocery delivery app in the Gulf.
Deliveroo: Very popular in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for restaurant delivery.
Noon: The main local e-commerce platform, with fast delivery.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings and dress. Shake hands with the right hand; dress modestly away from beach/pool areas (shoulders and knees covered is safest).

Ramadan etiquette. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight fasting hours, even if you are not fasting.

Public affection and photography. Public displays of affection are frowned upon and can technically be illegal; always ask before photographing people, and never photograph government or military sites.

Safety And Scams

The UAE is very safe with low crime rates and strict policing; petty and violent crime against tourists is rare.

Unlicensed money exchange or tour sellers. Stick to licensed exchange counters and official tour operators; unlicensed street vendors can overcharge or shortchange.

High-pressure timeshare or 'free gift' pitches. Some malls/markets have staff luring tourists with free vouchers that lead to timeshare or high-pressure sales pitches; politely decline and walk away.

Women travelers. Generally very safe; dressing modestly outside beach/hotel areas reduces unwanted attention.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Criminalized

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal under Article 409 of the 2021 Federal Crimes and Penalties Law, carrying a minimum of six months' imprisonment; there have been no known arrests of tourists in recent years, but discretion is essential and public displays of affection between same-sex couples carry real legal risk.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	AED 18	$4.90
Local bus or metro ride	AED 6	$1.65
Mid-range restaurant meal	AED 100	$27
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	AED 75	$20
Mid-range hotel (night)	AED 450	$125
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	AED 500	$135

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

November to March is best: warm, dry and comfortable. Summer (May-Sep) brings extreme heat and humidity that make outdoor sightseeing difficult.

Do You Need A Visa?

United Arab Emirates visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Arabic phrases · Basic English phrases · Basic Hindi phrases · Basic Urdu phrases

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