Informational only, not legal advice. Verify with official sources before relying on this.

Know Abroad

United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates

Local Laws & Customs

Last verified August 21, 2026

Written for U.S. passport holders

Public Conduct

  • Public decency and morality laws are much stricter than in the U.S.; public displays of affection can draw penalties, and dressing modestly (covering shoulders and knees) is expected in public spaces, mosques, and government buildings.
  • Sexual relations outside marriage are illegal, and pregnancy outside marriage can result in arrest and detention, a genuinely serious legal exposure for unmarried couples, not just a cultural norm to respect.

Medicines You Can't Bring

  • Codeine-containing medications (including common combination painkillers) require prior Ministry of Health approval to bring in; many ADHD stimulants, benzodiazepines, and other psychotropics need a MOHAP import permit even with a valid prescription.
  • Possessing a controlled medication without proper documentation is treated as a criminal matter under UAE federal drug law, not a customs inconvenience.

Photography & Drones

  • Photographing government buildings, military sites, ports, and some infrastructure is prohibited. Photographing people, especially women, without their consent can also lead to legal trouble under UAE privacy law.

Drugs & Alcohol

  • Alcohol possession and consumption is entirely prohibited in the emirate of Sharjah; other emirates allow it in licensed venues.
  • UAE law imposes the death penalty for convicted drug traffickers, and critically, you can be charged and convicted even if a controlled substance was consumed entirely outside the UAE, as long as trace amounts are still detectable in your bloodstream on arrival.

Carrying ID

  • Carry your passport or a copy of it; visitors are expected to be able to produce ID if asked by authorities.

The Gotcha

The zero-tolerance rule for drug traces already in your bloodstream on arrival is the single most important thing on this page for the UAE, it means something legally consumed in the U.S. days before your flight (certain prescription drugs, or drugs legal in parts of the U.S. but not federally) can still result in prosecution once you land, based purely on a blood or urine test, regardless of where or when you actually used it.

Sources

This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.