UAE: no kissing in public
- Show restraint in public
- Kissing in public
You can be arrested for it.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
Country guide · AE
United Arab Emirates
4 destinations & festivals · 4 etiquette rules
Before you go
Read before you go
UAE: swearing and rude gestures are illegal
- Be polite when dealing with police and officials
- Swearing or making rude gestures (including online)
Treated as an obscene act; can lead to prison or deportation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: cross the road only at pedestrian crossings
- Cross at designated pedestrian crossings and watch for traffic
- Jaywalking
Illegal; you can be fined or even jailed. Even at zebra crossings, cars often don't stop.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
UAE: cover shoulders and knees in malls and other public places
- Women should cover shoulders and knees
- Wear swimwear only at the beach or pool
- Wearing see-through clothes or clothes with offensive images or words
It offends local people; some venues have their own dress codes.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: United Arab Emirates travel advice
Places & local life
Landmarks, hidden gems & local life
Arabic coffee
Pale coffee with cardamom, served with dates — the Gulf's gesture of hospitality.
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Louvre Abu Dhabi
A history of human civilisation under Jean Nouvel's 'rain of light' dome, arranged by theme rather than by region.
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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
82 white domes and the world's largest hand-knotted carpet — the culmination of contemporary Islamic architecture.
Old Dubai: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Wind-tower houses built by Persian merchants in the 1890s, and the spice and gold souks of Deira across the creek — Dubai before oil.