United Arab Emirates

1. Jan · Good
2. Feb · Good
3. Mar · Good
4. Apr · Fine, with caveats
5. May Fine, with caveats: heat
6. Jun Hard: heat
7. Jul Hard: heat
8. Aug Hard: heat
9. Sep Hard: heat
10. Oct · Fine, with caveats
11. Nov · Good
12. Dec Good: crowds and high prices

Good Fine, with caveats Hard heat crowds and high prices

Cheaper and fewer tourists: Apr–Oct - the trade-off: heat

Peak season: Dec - prices are higher, book early

Country-wide average; mountains, coasts and the far north or south can differ.

• Ramadan - ≈ February 8 - March 8, 2027
  Many cafés and shops change their hours, some close in the daytime. Evenings are lively.
• Eid al-Fitr - ≈ March 9 - 11, 2027
  Public holiday: offices and many shops are closed, transport and hotels are busy.
• Eid al-Adha - ≈ May 16 - 19, 2027
  Public holiday: offices and many shops are closed, transport and hotels are busy.

≈ - the date follows the moon and can shift by a day

• Sockets: type G · 230 V, 50 Hz
  Phone and laptop chargers usually work (100–240 V); you may need a plug adapter.
• Traffic drives on the right
• Tap water is officially safe, but people usually drink bottled or filtered
• Cover shoulders and knees in public places; resorts and hotel beaches are more relaxed
• May–Sep: sunscreen, a hat, light clothes, a water bottle

• Narcotic and psychotropic medicines (e.g. codeine, tramadol, strong sleeping pills) need a permit from the Ministry of Health before the trip; carry the prescription. source
• Pork products and pornography are illegal. Controlled medicines: at most a 3-month supply. source
• Drugs in your bloodstream count as possession, even if taken before arrival; the smallest amount, including cannabis, means at least 3 months in prison. source
• 🤬 Swearing and rude gestures, including online, are criminal offences that can mean jail and deportation. Kissing in public can lead to arrest. source
• Do not photograph people without their permission: men have been arrested for photographing women on beaches. Some government and military sites are off-limits too. source
• Carry prescription medicines in their original packaging with a copy of the prescription.

• Taxi & Cars: Uber, Careem, ekar
• Food & Groceries: Talabat, Careem Food, InstaShop
• Telecom, Internet & Apps: Saily, Nomad, Holafly
• Shopping, Classifieds & Parcels: noon, Aramex
• Travel: Tickets & Hotels: Booking.com, Emirates, Etihad Airways

Based on our checks of each service. Banks may add a fee for payments abroad.

• Nol Card - Silver card AED 25 incl. AED 19 credit; Red ticket AED 2 plus fare; fares AED 3–7.50
• Emirates NBD - Current account minimum balance AED 3,000; a fall-below fee applies under it

Prices as each service lists them, from our latest check (the date is in the line). Tap a service for details.

• Voice and video calls in WhatsApp, FaceTime and Telegram usually do not connect; messages work. Use Botim, local apps or ordinary calls.
• 2 of 68 services here need a local phone number for the SMS code, for example Emirates NBD, Wio Bank.
• Mobile operators and eSIM →