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Test yourself

Allowed or not
what you can be fined for in the UAE

A selfie on the beach, a beer after your shift, an angry message in a chat. What costs nothing at home can cost hundreds of thousands of dirhams in the Emirates. Guess the answer in 13 everyday situations and learn the law and the fine.

6 minutes13 cardsUAE law

Guess

13 situations: allowed or not?

Pick an answer and the card will show the law and the penalty. Your score is kept at the top.

Answered 0 of 13Correct: 0

Take a photo of a woman you don’t know on the beach and post it to your stories

Not allowed

Photographing a person without consent and publishing the picture is an invasion of privacy, even in a public place.

Imprisonment of at least 6 months and/or a fine of AED 150,000 to 500,000

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, Article 44

Take a selfie with the Burj Khalifa behind you

Allowed

You can photograph the city, landmarks and yourself. If a stranger is clearly visible in the shot, don’t publish it without their consent.

Film a road accident on your phone and send the video to a group chat

Not allowed

The law specifically prohibits filming and sharing the injured and the dead in accidents without consent. Call the police on 999 instead and help if you can.

Imprisonment of at least 6 months and/or a fine of AED 150,000 to 500,000

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, Article 44

Call someone names on WhatsApp or leave a rude comment on social media

Not allowed

An insult online is a criminal matter. A screenshot of the chat is enough for the person to go to the police.

Imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 250,000 to 500,000

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, Article 43

Have a beer in a hotel bar

Allowed

Alcohol is sold and served in licensed restaurants and bars, usually in hotels. An adult may drink there.

Drink a can of beer on a public beach or in a park

Not allowed

You may drink only where there is a licence. Not in the street, on a public beach, in a park or in a car. Don’t appear drunk in public either.

Try some “soft” weed with friends — it’s almost legal at home anyway

Not allowed

There are no “soft” drugs in the UAE: even first-time use is punished, not only dealing.

Imprisonment of at least 3 months or a fine of AED 20,000 to 100,000 — for a first offence

Federal Decree-Law No. 30 of 2021, Article 41

Bring codeine tablets or strong sleeping pills prescribed by your doctor

Allowed — with documents

No more than a 3-month supply, plus a prescription and a medical report issued within the last 3 months. Declare the medicines at the border or get a UAE Ministry of Health permit in advance. Without documents you are in serious trouble.

UAE Ministry of Health (MOHAP): importing medicines for personal use

Run across the road away from a crossing while there are no cars

Not allowed

Cross only at a crossing and on green. Where the speed limit is 80 km/h or more, or if a pedestrian causes an accident, the case goes to court.

AED 400; on fast roads or after an accident — a large fine and possible arrest

UAE Police; Federal Decree-Law No. 14 of 2024 on traffic

Drop a cigarette butt on the pavement

Not allowed

Municipal inspectors watch for litter, and in Dubai cameras do too.

AED 500 in the street, AED 1,000 on the beach

Dubai Municipality

Your employer wants to keep your passport “for safekeeping”. Is that allowed?

Not allowed

An employer may not keep your documents. You hand over your passport only while the visa is being processed and with your consent, and it is returned afterwards. If it isn’t, complain to the labour ministry (MOHRE): 600 590000.

Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 on labour relations, Article 13

Stay in the UAE a couple of weeks after your visa has expired

Not allowed

A fine accrues for every day after your permitted stay ends, and it must be paid before you leave.

AED 50 for every day

Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP)

Complain to the labour ministry if your salary is late

Allowed

It is your right. Complaints go to the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE): the app, the website, WhatsApp or a call to 600 590000.

MOHRE; more in our guide to WPS salary protection

What it costs

From AED 50 to half a million

Minimum amounts set by law. The bars use a logarithmic scale — otherwise the largest fines would not fit.

  1. Visa overstay50 per day
  2. Jaywalking400
  3. Cigarette butt on the pavement500
  4. Litter on the beach1,000
  5. Drugs, first offencefrom 20,000
  6. Someone’s photo without consentfrom 150,000
  7. An insult in a chatfrom 250,000

Amounts in UAE dirhams. For photos, insults and drugs a court may impose imprisonment instead of or alongside the fine, and may deport a foreign national.

In short

Three rules that keep you clear of the biggest fines

Don’t photograph or post other people

Not even in public places. Ask for permission first.

Don’t swear in chats

A screenshot is ready-made evidence. Argue calmly or go to the ministry.

Alcohol only where licensed, drugs never

No “just trying” and no “it’s legal back home”.

More on living and working in the UAE

What you can pack, why you can’t work without a work visa and how the state protects your salary.

All guides