Dubai looks like a playground for tourists. The towering skyscrapers, endless shopping malls, and pristine beaches create this illusion that anything goes. But underneath that glittering surface lies a strict legal system that catches thousands of unsuspecting tourists off guard every single year.
I’ve watched tourists get stopped by police for things they didn’t even know were illegal. Simple mistakes that result in hefty fines, deportation, or worse. The problem is that many of these violations seem completely normal in other countries.
Here’s what you need to know before your Dubai travel experience turns into an expensive lesson in local laws.
1. Taking Photos of People Without Permission
You spot someone in traditional Emirati dress at the souk. The photo would be perfect for Instagram. You snap it quickly without asking.
Big mistake.
Photographing people without their explicit consent is illegal in Dubai. This includes taking photos where people are clearly identifiable in the background. The fine can reach up to AED 500,000 (approximately $136,000) in severe cases, with possible imprisonment.
Local women should never be photographed without permission. Even photographing men requires you to ask first. Most people will politely decline or agree, but the key word is asking.
Government buildings, military installations, airports, ports, and palaces are completely off-limits for photography. Police stations and certain infrastructure cannot be photographed either. The cameras are everywhere in Dubai, and security takes these violations seriously.
Even photographing accidents or emergencies can land you in serious trouble. If you see a car crash and pull out your phone to film it, you could face massive fines and deportation. The authorities want to control what images of Dubai reach the world.
The rule is simple: if you want to photograph someone, ask. If you’re unsure whether a building or area allows photography, don’t take the risk. Ask a security guard or police officer. Better safe than deported.
2. Public Displays of Affection
Holding hands with your partner seems innocent enough. In most parts of Dubai’s tourist areas, brief hand-holding between couples won’t cause problems.
But kissing in public? That’s where you cross the line.
Dubai enforces strict rules on public displays of affection. Kissing, hugging intimately, or any touching that could be considered romantic or sexual in public spaces can result in fines, arrest, or deportation.
These rules apply everywhere: beaches, malls, Metro stations, taxis, parks, and streets. Police and security personnel actively monitor public spaces for such behavior.
The penalties are real. Tourists have been arrested, fined thousands of dirhams, and deported for kissing in public. The law doesn’t care if you’re married or engaged. Public is public, and affection is affection.
Keep intimate moments private. Save them for your hotel room. Even in taxis, keep things appropriate. Taxi drivers have reported passengers for inappropriate behavior.
Tourist areas might seem more relaxed, but don’t test the boundaries. What looks like tolerance is actually patience, and that patience has limits.
3. Drinking Alcohol in Public or Being Drunk
Dubai has bars, clubs, and restaurants serving alcohol. The nightlife scene exists and thrives. But the moment you step outside those licensed venues with alcohol or show signs of public intoxication, you’re breaking the law.
Drinking alcohol in public spaces like beaches, parks, streets, or outside your hotel pool area is strictly prohibited. The fine can reach up to AED 100,000 with possible imprisonment of up to six months.
Being visibly drunk in public is equally problematic. Stumbling out of a club, causing a scene, or acting disorderly while intoxicated can result in arrest.
The legal drinking age in Dubai is 21. You must show valid identification in licensed venues. Purchasing alcohol from licensed shops requires showing your passport and visa.
Here’s what tourists don’t realize: even if you have alcohol in your system from the night before, getting involved in any legal situation (like a traffic incident or argument) while still having alcohol in your blood can complicate matters significantly.
Dubai operates with zero tolerance for drink driving. Any trace of alcohol in your system while driving leads to severe penalties including imprisonment, heavy fines, and deportation.
The safest approach during your Dubai travel adventure is to drink only in licensed venues, pace yourself, and always take a taxi or ride-sharing service back to your hotel. Never walk around intoxicated, and never, ever drive after drinking.
4. Swearing, Rude Gestures, or Offensive Language
Your taxi driver cuts someone off in traffic. You flip them the middle finger in frustration.
That innocent gesture just became a criminal offense.
Using profanity, making rude hand gestures, or using insulting language in public can result in fines up to AED 10,000 or imprisonment. This includes swearing at someone during an argument, cursing out loud when frustrated, or making offensive gestures.
Even social media posts containing profanity or insults toward individuals, companies, or institutions can lead to legal action. Dubai takes cybercrime seriously, and what you post online falls under their jurisdiction while you’re in the country.
Road rage is particularly dangerous here. Shouting at another driver, making gestures, or having a loud confrontation can escalate into criminal charges. Police take these complaints seriously.
Arguments in public that involve raised voices, insults, or aggressive behavior can result in both parties being arrested. It doesn’t matter who started it or who’s right. The law prohibits public disturbances.
Keep your frustrations internal. If someone annoys you, walk away. If service is terrible, complain politely or leave. Losing your temper in Dubai can cost you far more than it would anywhere else.
5. Eating, Drinking, or Chewing Gum on Public Transport
You board the Metro with your morning coffee. Within minutes, an officer stops you and issues a fine.
Welcome to Dubai’s spotless public transport system, where eating, drinking, or chewing gum results in an immediate AED 100 fine.
This rule applies to all RTA services: Metro, trams, and buses. No exceptions. Not even water. Not even a mint.
The enforcement is strict because Dubai maintains its public transport to an exceptionally high standard. The trains and buses are immaculate, and they intend to keep them that way.
Even chewing gum is specifically mentioned in the regulations. If caught chewing gum on the Metro, you pay AED 100.
Officers patrol regularly and check for violations. They’re not lenient with tourists. The fine gets issued immediately, and you have to pay it.
The solution is simple: finish your food and drinks before entering the station. If you have gum in your mouth, spit it out in the bins provided outside. Plan your eating and drinking around your Metro journeys.
Sleeping on the seats, putting your feet up, or playing music without headphones also results in fines. The Metro isn’t your living room.
6. Wearing Inappropriate Clothing
Bikinis are fine on the beach. But wearing that same bikini while walking through the streets to get lunch? That’s illegal.
Dubai requires modest dress in public spaces. This means covering shoulders and knees at minimum. The rules apply to both men and women, though enforcement tends to focus more on women’s attire.
Shopping malls, government buildings, and religious sites strictly enforce dress codes. Security can deny you entry or ask you to leave if your clothing is deemed inappropriate.
What counts as inappropriate includes: revealing tops showing cleavage or shoulders, short skirts or shorts above the knee, see-through clothing, tight-fitting clothes that reveal body shape excessively, and clothing with offensive images or language.
Swimwear belongs on the beach or at the pool. Cover up with a shirt, dress, or pants when leaving those areas. Walking through hotel lobbies in just a bikini or swim trunks is generally tolerated at beach hotels but frowned upon elsewhere.
During Ramadan, dress codes become even stricter. Authorities expect higher levels of modesty from everyone, including tourists.
Men should avoid walking around shirtless anywhere except beaches and pools. Tank tops are acceptable but may attract attention in certain areas.
The safest approach is carrying a light scarf or shirt you can throw on when entering malls or religious sites. This small preparation saves you from embarrassment or fines.
7. Bringing Prohibited Medications
Your doctor prescribed anti-anxiety medication back home. You pack it for your trip. You land in Dubai, and customs finds it during inspection.
You’re now facing potential imprisonment.
Dubai has strict regulations on medications. Many common prescriptions available in Western countries are banned or restricted in the UAE. These include certain painkillers containing codeine, ADHD medications like Adderall, anxiety medications, and any products containing CBD or cannabis.
Possession of even trace amounts of banned substances can result in a minimum four-year prison sentence, fines up to AED 10,000, and deportation.
Before traveling, check the UAE Ministry of Health website to verify whether your medications are permitted. If your medication is controlled but necessary, you must obtain prior approval and carry original prescriptions with a doctor’s letter.
Always keep medications in their original packaging with labels clearly showing your name and the prescribing doctor. Loose pills in unmarked containers raise immediate red flags.
Supplements and vitamins generally don’t cause issues, but products containing CBD, even if legal in your home country, are strictly prohibited.
The consequences of bringing banned medications far outweigh the inconvenience of finding alternatives or getting proper authorization beforehand.
8. Littering and Not Cleaning Up After Yourself
You finish your water bottle and casually toss it in the general direction of a bin. It misses and lands on the ground. You keep walking.
That’s a AED 500 fine right there.
Dubai maintains its reputation as one of the world’s cleanest cities through strict enforcement of anti-littering laws. Dropping anything on the ground, failing to use bins properly, or leaving trash at beaches results in immediate fines.
The cameras and security personnel are everywhere. Someone will see you litter, and you will get fined.
Spitting on the ground is also illegal and carries fines. This includes spitting gum onto streets or sidewalks.
Smoking in prohibited areas results in fines as well. Many public spaces, including beaches and parks, have designated smoking zones. Smoking outside these zones leads to penalties.
Walking your dog and not cleaning up after it brings significant fines. Dubai takes pet waste seriously, and owners must always carry disposal bags.
The message is clear: clean up after yourself. Use bins. They’re everywhere, often just a few steps away. Dispose of everything properly, and you’ll never have an issue.
9. Speeding or Breaking Traffic Rules
You rent a car to explore Dubai. The highways are wide and smooth. You nudge the speed limit by 20 kilometers per hour.
Your phone later shows multiple traffic fines piling up.
Dubai uses sophisticated AI-powered cameras throughout the city that detect every violation. Speeding, running red lights, using phones while driving, not wearing seatbelts, and improper lane changes all trigger automatic fines.
Speeding fines start at AED 300 for exceeding limits by up to 20 km/h. Exceeding the limit by 60 km/h or more results in fines between AED 1,500 to AED 3,000, black points on your license, and vehicle confiscation.
Running red lights carries severe penalties including high fines and potential license suspension.
Using your phone while driving results in immediate fines and black points. This includes holding your phone, texting, or even checking maps while moving.
The Salik toll system operates automatically. Driving through toll gates without sufficient credit in your account triggers escalating fines: AED 100 for the first trip, AED 200 for the second, and AED 400 for subsequent trips.
If you rent a car, all fines get charged to your credit card, often with additional processing fees from the rental company.
The cameras are sophisticated enough to detect if passengers aren’t wearing seatbelts or if you’re tailgating. There’s no escaping them.
Drive carefully, follow all traffic rules, maintain safe speeds, and keep your Salik account loaded with credit.
10. Living Together or Sharing Rooms When Unmarried
This used to be a major issue, but Dubai relaxed these laws significantly in 2020. Unmarried couples can now legally share hotel rooms and accommodations.
However, the cultural sensitivity around relationships remains. Public behavior still matters, and showing respect for local customs is essential even if the strict legal restrictions have eased.
What hasn’t changed is the prohibition on extramarital relationships in contexts that become legal matters. If an unmarried couple faces legal issues (like domestic disputes or complaints), authorities may still enforce traditional laws.
The practical advice is simple: book your hotel room normally as a couple. Hotels won’t question unmarried couples sharing rooms. But maintain appropriate public behavior, and avoid drawing attention to your relationship status in conservative areas.
Understanding the Cultural Context
These rules aren’t designed to trap tourists. They reflect Dubai’s commitment to maintaining its cultural values while welcoming millions of international visitors.
The key is showing respect. Dubai offers incredible experiences, world-class attractions, and genuine hospitality. The city invests billions in tourism infrastructure because they want you to visit and enjoy yourself.
But that enjoyment comes with expectations. Respecting local laws and customs isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s about acknowledging that you’re a guest in someone else’s home.
Most tourists never face any legal issues because they approach Dubai with cultural awareness. They dress modestly in appropriate settings. They keep intimate moments private. They stay sober in public. They follow traffic rules.
These aren’t difficult adjustments. They’re basic respect.
What Happens If You Get Fined?
Fines in Dubai are serious business. You can’t just ignore them and fly home.
When you receive a traffic fine, it gets linked to your vehicle registration. If it’s a rental car, the company charges your credit card. You can’t return the car or leave the country with outstanding fines.
For on-the-spot fines issued by police officers, you’ll receive documentation that must be paid before departure. Airports check for outstanding fines during exit procedures.
Unpaid fines can result in travel bans, preventing you from leaving until everything is settled. In serious cases, authorities can detain you at the airport.
Pay fines immediately through RTA apps, police stations, or online payment systems. Don’t let them accumulate or assume they’ll disappear.
The Bottom Line
Dubai is an amazing destination. The architecture, the experiences, the fusion of cultures creates something truly unique. But it’s not the Wild West, and it’s not your home country.
The rules exist for reasons rooted in cultural values, security concerns, and maintaining social order. Understanding them before you arrive transforms your trip from a potential legal minefield into a smooth, enjoyable experience.
Do your research. Know what’s prohibited. Pack appropriately. Behave respectfully. Follow traffic rules. Keep intimate moments private. Don’t drink in public. Ask before photographing. Stay modest in dress and behavior.
These simple guidelines keep you safe, legal, and free to enjoy everything Dubai offers. The fines are hefty not to punish tourists but to ensure everyone respects the standards that make Dubai function so smoothly.
Millions of tourists visit Dubai every year without any legal issues. You can be one of them by simply paying attention to local laws and showing respect for local customs.
Your Dubai travel memories should be about stunning architecture, incredible food, pristine beaches, and Arabian hospitality. Not about fines, police stations, or legal troubles.
Know the rules. Follow them. Enjoy Dubai.
