Because drinking alcohol is important to many people, wherever I travel in the world, I research the laws of that country to publish a detailed article on the Travelling Topic website.
In my previous trip to Turkey, especially Istanbul, I didn’t find any problems related to drinking alcohol because Turkey doesn’t have strict laws, but Dubai is not the same.
The laws of Dubai are very strict, not only for alcohol but for all matters, and in case of violation of the rules, the person in question will be severely persecuted.
What is the legal age to drink alcohol in Dubai?
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The legal drinking age in Dubai is 21, and no alcoholic beverages are sold to people under 21.
But if you really want to drink alcohol in Dubai, the only thing you can do is ask someone over the age of 21 to buy you an alcoholic drink and drink it in a private place like your hotel room. But you should know that this is illegal, and it is your responsibility to do this.
Who can buy alcohol in Dubai?
Since the native people of Dubai are Muslims, it is forbidden for them to drink alcoholic beverages, and therefore, they can rarely buy and carry alcoholic beverages with them.
But if you are a traveler or an immigrant, it is easier for you to carry alcohol, but you cannot consume it in public places.
One thing you need to know is that you must have a license to transport and buy alcohol in Dubai; otherwise, you can only consume alcohol in restaurants and places where drinking alcohol is allowed.
In the article ” is Dubai a strict Muslim country,” I have already talked about other strict laws of Dubai regarding alcohol, but I want to tell you some things that you definitely have not heard before.
I made friends with a lawyer during my trip to Dubai who gave me very useful information, and I am going to share it with you so that you don’t have any problems on your trip to Dubai.
Important Dubai rules for drinking alcohol
During your trip to Dubai, you may encounter people who tell you that you do not need to get a license and you can buy alcohol from them illegally; in this regard, I advise you not to accept the offer of these people at all because you might get into trouble.
If you drink alcohol, be sure to get a purchase permit. Note that this license lasts for 1-2 months, and you need to renew it for more use.
When you receive this license, you will also sign a sheet in which you promise not to do the following things, and you will be punished if you do.
- Drinking alcohol in public places is not allowed, so you can only drink alcohol at home or in the hotel.
- People under the age of 21 should not consume the alcohol you buy.
- You should not drink alcohol while driving.
- You should not buy alcohol from other than the specified places.
- It is forbidden to put alcohol in the luggage and take it out of the country.
- During the holy month of Ramadan, try to avoid drinking alcohol (This is not in the rules, but to respect the people of Dubai, try not to drink alcohol.)
Considering all this
Note that drinking laws in the UAE vary from city to city. For example, in Abu Dhabi, the legal drinking age is 21, and in Sharjah, drinking alcohol is completely prohibited. Therefore, if you are planning to leave Dubai and want to go to other cities in the UAE, be sure to read the laws of that city as well.
What do you think is the legal age for drinking alcohol in Dubai? Would you like people under the age of 21 to drink alcohol in Dubai? Share your opinion with me in the comments section.
