Most couples visiting Dubai have no idea there are laws governing how they can behave in public together. They hold hands, share a kiss at dinner, or embrace at the airport, and think nothing of it. In many cases nothing happens. But in some cases, it results in a fine
You paid for something in Dubai and did not get what was promised. Maybe a tour operator changed the itinerary without notice. Maybe a shop charged your card twice. Maybe a taxi driver took a long route and refused to use the meter. You know something went wrong, but you
You walk into a pharmacy in Dubai expecting the same experience you have at home. You know what you need, you know the brand, and you just want to pay and leave. Then the pharmacist tells you that what you are looking for requires a prescription, or worse, that it
You finish a nice dinner in Dubai, glance at the bill, and add a 15 percent tip on top. It feels like the right thing to do. What you probably did not notice is that a 10 percent service charge was already added to the bill before it reached you.
If you drink and drive in Dubai, you will be arrested. There is no warning. There is no “just this once.” The UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and driving, and it applies to everyone, including tourists. This guide explains the DUI penalty in Dubai, what happens inside a
Why your home prescription won’t work and what to do instead You walk into a pharmacy in Dubai, hand over your prescription from back home, and wait. The pharmacist looks at it, shakes their head, and hands it back. No medication. No exceptions. This is one of the most common
Dubai is one of the most photographed cities in the world. It is also one of the easiest places to accidentally break the law with a camera. Every year, tourists, expats, and Instagram influencers get into serious legal trouble here, not because they intended to do anything wrong, but because
You booked the car, drove around Dubai, returned it without any issues, and flew home. Three weeks later, your credit card shows two charges you don’t recognize. One is for Salik tolls. The other is a traffic fine from a speed camera on Sheikh Zayed Road, plus an admin fee
Dubai updates its traffic rules more frequently than most cities in the world. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) regularly introduces new regulations to manage one of the fastest-growing urban road networks in the region. In late 2025, a fresh wave of updates came into effect, bringing changes that affect
You drove through Dubai for a week without a single fine. Stayed within the speed limit, avoided the toll gates you didn’t need, returned the rental car without any issues. Then someone tells you they got two fines on the Dubai to Abu Dhabi highway, on a road you drove
You return home from Dubai, check your credit card statement two weeks later, and find charges you don’t recognize. “Salik Fee” and “Toll Admin Charge” from your rental car company. The amounts are small but confusing. You crossed maybe three toll gates during your trip, yet you’re being charged for
Large traffic fines are a common problem for Dubai drivers. When fines accumulate to AED 5,000, AED 10,000, or even AED 20,000, paying everything at once becomes difficult. Many drivers don’t realize that these unpaid fines block vehicle registration renewal and other essential services. The good news is that installment
