Is Abu Dhabi safe for tourists in 2026?

We don't give our own rating. Since 28 February 2026 the conflict between the United States and Iran has disrupted flights across the region, and some public attractions are temporarily closed on the authorities' advice; hotels are open. Check your flight status and the venue before you go.

Can tourists drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi?

Yes, in licensed venues such as hotel bars and restaurants, from age 21. Drinking in public places is illegal.

Can unmarried couples share a hotel room in Abu Dhabi?

Consensual relationships between an unmarried man and woman aged 18 or over are generally legal in the UAE, according to UK government advice. Check the hotel's own policy when you book.

What plug do I need in Abu Dhabi?

Type G, the British three-pin plug, at 230 V. Bring an adapter if your devices have US or European plugs.

Is Abu Dhabi safe for solo female travelers?

We don't give a safety rating, but the practical steps are simple: use official taxis or the family taxi service, dress modestly outside the beach and pool, and save 999 and the Tourism Police number (+971 2 800 2626).

Is tap water safe to drink in Abu Dhabi?

The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company says home tap water is safe. Most visitors drink bottled water, which is sold everywhere.

Is FaceTime or WhatsApp calling allowed in the UAE?

Text messages work, but voice and video calls through WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted. Use a licensed app such as BOTIM.

Can you buy pork in Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Non-Muslims can eat pork in certain restaurants.

Can I bring a drone to Abu Dhabi?

Not as a tourist. UAE drone permits have so far been issued only to residents.

Do you have to tip in Abu Dhabi?

No, tipping is not required by law. Many hotel restaurants add a service charge; elsewhere, 10–15% is usual for good service.

Abu Dhabi travel tips: the rules worth knowing

Saadiyat Travel Guide editorial team · Published 2 October 2026

Travel essentials on a hotel bed: a sun hat, sunglasses, a linen shirt, a scarf, sunscreen and a plug adapter

These Abu Dhabi travel tips start with the question most visitors ask in 2026: is it safe right now? We don't rate safety ourselves; we report how flights and attractions are running, and you check your flight status before you go. Below: the current situation, then what to wear, where you can drink, local laws, Ramadan, plugs and tipping.

Contents

Is Abu Dhabi safe right now?

Armed conflict between the United States and Iran has gone on since 28 February 2026, with a threat of missile and drone attacks in the region and disruption to commercial flights.

Visit Abu Dhabi, the emirate's tourism board, says hotels are open but some public attractions are temporarily closed on the authorities' advice. Check with the venue before you go.

Is the airport safe?

We can't answer that for you; what we can report is how flights are running. Zayed International Airport is open, but some flights run on adjusted schedules, and delays were reported after new strikes in the region in September 2026. Check your flight status with the airline on the day. More in our flights to Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi airport guides.

What this means for your trip

Check your travel insurance. Before you buy, read whether the policy covers events linked to armed conflict and flight disruption.
Book flexible. Choose fares and hotel rates you can change, and keep the airline's app on your phone for schedule changes.

Travel insurance for the UAEA policy with medical cover, online in 5 minutes

Get insured

Emergency numbers

The UAE's emergency numbers work from any phone:

999 police
998 ambulance
997 fire and civil defense
996 coast guard

Save them before you land. Calls are free. For questions that are not emergencies, Abu Dhabi Police has a Tourism Police section: +971 2 800 2626.

Everyday safety: taxis, women travelers and health cover

We don't rate safety, so here is the practical side: who to call, how to get around and what to carry.

Taxis. Use the rank outside your hotel or the official Abu Dhabi Taxi app, and ask for the meter; fares follow a tariff set by Abu Dhabi Mobility. Uber and Careem work too. Fares are in our airport guide.
Women traveling alone. The emirate runs family taxis, which have a white roof and female drivers and carry women, children under 10 and families. You can book one in the Abu Dhabi Taxi app. Dress for the place you are in; the rules are in the next section.
Health cover. Visit Abu Dhabi advises every visitor to carry medical insurance; the official visa pages list it as a condition only for the five-year visa (see our insurance guide). In an emergency, hospitals stabilize you first, but anything after that is billed, so a travel policy that covers medical care is worth having.
If something goes wrong. For theft or harassment, call 999 for an emergency or the Tourism Police number above. Keep your passport copy and your hotel's address on your phone.
Tap water. The Abu Dhabi Distribution Company says home tap water meets the emirate's quality rules. Hotels and shops sell bottled water, which most visitors drink.

What to wear in Abu Dhabi

For everyday sightseeing, light summer clothes are fine. What matters is where you are: at religious, cultural and heritage sites, cover your shoulders and knees, and dress more modestly during Ramadan. That is how Visit Abu Dhabi describes local expectations for visitors.

Mosques. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque has the strictest code: loose clothes to the ankles and wrists for women, plus a headscarf; long trousers for men. Details in our Grand Mosque guide.
The presidential palace. At Qasr Al Watan, knees and shoulders must be covered.
Beaches and hotel pools. Swimwear is fine on the beach and by the pool; cover up when you leave the beach. Some beaches have women-only days or sections. See Abu Dhabi beaches.

What women should wear

Visit Abu Dhabi says short or tight clothing is allowed but attracts unwelcome attention. A top that covers the shoulders and a skirt or trousers to the knee or below are comfortable in the heat and fit local expectations in malls and on the street. Pack a light scarf: you need a headscarf at the Grand Mosque, and air-conditioning indoors is strong.

What men should wear

Shorts to the knee are normal for sightseeing. At mosques and government buildings, wear long trousers and a shirt with sleeves. Swimming trunks stay at the beach and pool.

Alcohol in Abu Dhabi

Tourists can drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi, but only in licensed venues, such as hotel bars, restaurants and clubs, and in private homes. It is illegal to drink or be drunk in a public place. Since 2020, visitors and residents no longer need a license to buy or drink alcohol in the emirate. The legal drinking age is 21.

Drinking and driving is illegal, however small the amount: the limit for drivers is zero.

Abu Dhabi laws visitors should know

The UAE's laws are stricter than many visitors expect in a few areas. The points below follow the UK government's guidance for visitors to the UAE; penalties can include fines, prison and deportation.

Drugs and medicines. Drug offenses are punished severely. Some medicines that are legal at home are restricted in the UAE, and some skincare products and vape refills contain banned ingredients such as CBD oil. Carry medicines in their original packaging with a prescription, and check the UAE rules for your medicines before you fly.
Photographing people. Don't photograph people without their permission. Photographing some government buildings and military sites is illegal.
Swearing and social media. Swearing and rude gestures are illegal, including online.
Public affection. You can be arrested for kissing in public.
Pork. Non-Muslims can eat pork in certain restaurants, which prepare it separately and mark it on the menu, according to Visit Abu Dhabi.
Vapes and drones. Vape refills can contain banned ingredients (see above). For drones, the General Civil Aviation Authority has so far issued permits only to residents, so don't bring a drone as a tourist; check gcaa.gov.ae first.
Unmarried couples. Consensual relationships between an unmarried man and woman aged 18 or over are generally legal. A criminal complaint by a spouse or parent can still lead to prosecution.

Ramadan in Abu Dhabi

In 2027, Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and end around 8 or 9 March 2027, with Eid Al Fitr on 9 or 10 March 2027. Exact dates depend on the sighting of the moon and are announced shortly before.

You don't need to fast, and many restaurants serve food during the day.
In public, don't eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in daylight hours. That is the UK government's advice for visitors.
Hours change. The Grand Mosque and many museums run Ramadan hours; check the venue before you go.

What else happens in Ramadan and on the Eid holidays: Abu Dhabi events.

Plugs, money and tipping

Plugs: Type G, the three-pin plug used in the UK, at 230 V and 50 Hz. Travelers from the US and continental Europe need an adapter.
Money: the UAE dirham (AED), fixed at 3.6725 to the US dollar. Cards are widely accepted, but some cash is useful.
Tipping: not required by law. Hotel restaurants usually add a 10% service charge; elsewhere, 10–15% is usual for good service. In taxis, round up the fare.
Weekend: Saturday and Sunday.
Tap water: see the safety section above.

What a trip adds up to: Abu Dhabi trip cost.

Phones, Wi-Fi and video calls

Mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi work as everywhere, and messaging apps work for text, photos and voice notes. Voice and video calls through apps such as WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted on UAE networks: the telecom regulator, TDRA, licenses specific calling apps, such as BOTIM. If you rely on video calls home, test the app before you travel, use a licensed app or call from your hotel phone. Wi-Fi at the airport is free; see our airport guide.

The easiest way to stay online from the moment you land is an eSIM set up before you fly.