Can I drink freely in Abu Dhabi?
What is allowed and what is not
Can I drink alcohol during my vacation in Abu Dhabi? Is it allowed? It is forbidden? What penalties are there? Do I even end up in jail? These and similar questions crop up again and again and might be a decisive factor while planning your vacation in Abu Dhabi. And quite a few have avoided the United Arab Emirates as a holiday destination because of these unanswered questions.
Vacationers who have ever been to Abu Dhabi or people who (like us) even live here can only smile about the myths that exist about drinking alcohol in UAE. Horror stories that someone has ended up in jail just because he has drunk a beer or a glass of wine in the emirates, just trigger bursts of laughter in Abu Dhabi residents.
Who does not like to drink a glass of wine in the evening at the hotel bar or have a cool beer at the pool or with your lunch? Am I allowed to? Can I drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi?
To answer these questions once and for all: YES, as a non-Muslim you can drink alcohol at certain, designated places and in the privacy of your hotel room. As long as you do not run around drunkenly, harassing people and singing loudly nobody will pay attention to you and you have nothing to fear from the police.
In the emirate of Abu Dhabi it has also been completely official since September 15, 2020. On this day the government of Abu Dhabi confirmed that an alcohol license is no longer required for consumers.
