In Abu Dhabi you must be 21 to drink alcohol, and you may drink only in licensed venues such as hotel bars and restaurants; at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque women cover ankles, wrists and hair, and men cover their legs. Photography is limited to designated stops at the mosque and banned at government buildings, and in Ramadan non-Muslims should not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight. This guide gives each rule with its source.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
What is the drinking age in Abu Dhabi?
You must be over 21 to buy or drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. You may buy it only for personal use, and you may drink it only in licensed venues such as hotel bars and restaurants, or in private homes.
This guide also answers:
- Can tourists buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi?
- Are the rules in Abu Dhabi stricter than in Dubai?
Five Abu Dhabi rules to know before you go
#1
Alcohol
You must be 21 to buy or drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi, and you can buy it only for personal use, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. It is sold mainly in hotel bars and restaurants, and drinking is limited to licensed areas and private homes. Many restaurants have no licence, so ask before you book. In Ramadan, sales start after dusk.
#2
Dress code
Hotels, resorts and malls are relaxed. Short or tight clothing may be worn elsewhere but draws unwelcome attention, says Visit Abu Dhabi. Qasr Al Watan requires covered knees and shoulders and closed shoes, and the Grand Mosque requires loose clothing that covers the body, with a hair covering for women. Carry a light scarf and a cover-up.
#3
Mosques and temples
Book ahead. The mosque does not confirm a visit without a booking, and the Mandir requires registration and a passport or Emirates ID. Keep your voice low, your phone silent and food away; only water is allowed at the mosque. Intimacy in any form, e-cigarettes and drones are not allowed at the mosque.
#4
Photography
Ask before photographing people, especially women, and do not photograph government buildings, military sites, ports or airports. At the mosque you may shoot only at designated photo stops, and professional equipment needs a permit. Qasr Al Watan limits tripods to 15 inches, and teamLab Phenomena uses video monitoring that may record visitors.
#5
Ramadan
Non-Muslims should not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight, and should eat in restaurants, food courts or hotels that serve guests in the day. Alcohol sales start after dusk. Attractions stay open, malls extend their evening hours and roads are busy before sunset, so book taxis early. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on 8 February.
Abu Dhabi rules for tourists: the short answer
The rules are simple: be 21 to drink, drink only in licensed places, dress modestly at mosques and palaces, ask before photographing people, and do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight during Ramadan. Most apply across the UAE, so where Abu Dhabi differs from Dubai we say so. Each rule below names its source: Visit Abu Dhabi, the websites of the Grand Mosque and Qasr Al Watan, Gulf News, Khaleej Times and The National. Rules change, so check them before you go. This guide is current as of 2 November 2026.
| Topic | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Age 21; personal use only; drink in licensed venues or private homes | Visit Abu Dhabi, Gulf News |
| General dress | Light clothing is fine; short or tight clothing draws attention; cover shoulders and legs in government offices | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Grand Mosque | Women: loose clothing to the ankles and wrists, hair covered. Men: legs covered | The mosque's website |
| Qasr Al Watan | Knees and shoulders covered; no flip-flops; tripods up to 15 inches | The palace's website |
| Photography | Ask before photographing people; no government, military, port or airport photos | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Ramadan | No eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight; alcohol sold after dusk | Visit Abu Dhabi |
| Insurance | All visitors must have medical insurance cover | Visit Abu Dhabi |
Alcohol in Abu Dhabi
Visit Abu Dhabi says alcohol is sold mainly in hotel bars and restaurants, that you must be over 21 to buy or drink it, and that you may buy it only for personal use. A Gulf News guide to the emirates' rules adds two points: you do not need a licence to buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi, and it may be drunk only in private homes or inside licensed areas.
In practice that means a beach, a park, a street or a car is not a licensed place, so do not drink there. That is our reading of the rule, and the safe one. Many Abu Dhabi restaurants have no licence, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, so ask when you book if a drink matters to you. During Ramadan the sale of alcohol is restricted to after dusk.
Other emirates differ. Gulf News says Dubai gives tourists a temporary licence valid for 30 days to buy alcohol for home, and that Sharjah is dry, with no sale or consumption. Our Dubai alcohol guide covers Dubai, and our guide to what you can bring into the UAE covers the allowance at the border. Qasr Al Watan lists alcohol among prohibited items.
Dress code: from hotel pools to the mosque
Abu Dhabi is relaxed in hotels and strict in places of worship. Visit Abu Dhabi says malls, health clubs and resorts are more relaxed about fashion, and that at a hotel pool or beach you should dress as you normally would on holiday. Elsewhere, short or tight clothing may be worn but draws unwelcome attention, and it is best to cover shoulders and legs in government offices.
| Place | What to wear |
|---|---|
| Hotel pools, resort beaches, malls | Normal holiday clothing; a jacket for strong air conditioning |
| Streets, shops, sightseeing | Light clothing; shoulders and knees covered is the polite choice |
| Qasr Al Watan | Knees and shoulders covered; no shorts, sleeveless tops or see-through clothes; comfortable shoes, no flip-flops |
| Zayed National Museum | Modest clothing with shoulders and knees covered |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, women | Loose clothing to the ankles, sleeves to the wrists, full hair covering; nothing transparent, tight or revealing |
| Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, men | Clothing that covers the legs; no sleeveless, tight or transparent shirts |
The mosque also asks visitors to avoid heavy jewellery, heavy make-up, vibrant colours and clothing with slogans. It makes tour operators responsible for telling guests the rules in advance. Our dress code guide covers the rest of the UAE.
Mosques and temples: the rules in detail
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque publishes a code of conduct on its booking page, which is available in 13 languages including Chinese and Russian. Its visiting hours are 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM from Saturday to Thursday and 9:00 to 11:30 AM and 2:30 to 8:30 PM on Friday. Khaleej Times reported on 17 September 2026 that the mosque introduced entry fees: AED 10 for tourists and AED 5 for Emirates ID holders, with free entry for visitors over 60, children under 3 and people of determination. Visit Abu Dhabi's page still says there is no fee, so read the booking page.
- Booking: a visit is not confirmed without a booking, and the centre may cancel a visit at any time without notice.
- Conduct: no food or drink except water, no smoking or e-cigarettes, no sleeping or lying down, phones on silent, voices low.
- Not allowed: any expression of intimacy, dolls and stuffed animals, masks, flags and slogans, and flying drones over the mosque.
- Mandir: the BAPS Hindu Mandir requires registration and a passport or Emirates ID, and says a visit can be booked only after you arrive in the UAE. It is closed on Mondays.
Our mosque dress code and rules guide has the full checklist, and our BAPS Mandir guide covers the temple.
Photography: what you can and cannot shoot
Visit Abu Dhabi gives three general rules. It is polite to ask permission before photographing people, particularly women. Photographs of government buildings, military installations, ports and airports should not be taken. And cameras may be banned in public areas reserved for women and children.
At the Grand Mosque you may photograph only at the designated photo stops. Personal photos with non-professional equipment are allowed, professional equipment needs a permit, and commercial or media photography is prohibited. The centre may confiscate devices used to film in breach of its rules.
At Qasr Al Watan, tripods may be up to 15 inches high, single-leg supports are not allowed, and tripods may not be used in the back palaces, during state visits or in the Great Hall area. teamLab Phenomena says it monitors by video and that visitors may be recorded. Our photography rules guide covers drones and general UAE rules.
Ramadan in Abu Dhabi
Visit Abu Dhabi says non-Muslims are respectfully required to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public places during daylight hours, and that failing to do so could upset people or lead to an official complaint. You can eat in the city's malls, where food courts and restaurants open in the day have seating for non-Muslims. Be discreet, and expect some restaurants to close until iftar.
Attractions, including theme parks and cultural landmarks, are open through the day. Most malls and shops extend their hours to 1 or 2 AM at weekends, and workplace hours are reduced by two hours a day. Roads are busy just before iftar, so book taxis ahead. Visit Abu Dhabi's FAQ also says live music and dancing are not allowed and nightclubs tend to close for the month, so ask a venue before you plan an evening there.
Dress more conservatively, especially in malls and at Ramadan events. Visiting hours at the mosque can change, so check the booking page. Our Ramadan 2027 guide gives the expected start of Monday 8 February 2027, subject to the moon sighting.
Other rules visitors miss
Visit Abu Dhabi says that under UAE federal law and Abu Dhabi government law all visitors must have medical insurance cover, so check that your travel insurance includes medical costs. After a minor car incident, move your car to the side of the road, because there are fines for obstructing traffic, and you cannot file an insurance claim without a police report.
Most venues have designated smoking areas. The mosque and teamLab Phenomena prohibit smoking and e-cigarettes on their premises.
If you join our Abu Dhabi city tour, the guide assists with the mosque registration and you pay from $45 per person shared. Ask us on WhatsApp what to wear and what the mosque ticket means for your date.
FAQ
What is the drinking age in Abu Dhabi?
You must be over 21 to buy or drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi, according to Visit Abu Dhabi. You may buy it only for personal use, and you may drink it only in licensed venues such as hotel bars and restaurants, or in private homes.
Can tourists buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, from age 21. A Gulf News guide says you do not need a licence to buy alcohol in Abu Dhabi, and Visit Abu Dhabi says it is sold mainly in hotel bars and restaurants. Drinking is limited to licensed areas and private homes, so not on beaches or in public.
What should women wear to Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque?
Loose-fitting clothing to the ankles with sleeves to the wrists, and full hair coverage. Avoid transparent, tight or revealing clothes, heavy jewellery, heavy make-up and vibrant colours. Men should cover their legs and avoid sleeveless, tight or transparent shirts.
Can I take photos at the Grand Mosque?
Yes, with a phone or other non-professional equipment, but only at the designated photo stops. Professional equipment needs a permit from the mosque, and commercial or media photography is prohibited.
Can I eat and drink in public during Ramadan in Abu Dhabi?
Not in public places in daylight. Visit Abu Dhabi asks non-Muslims to refrain from eating, drinking or smoking in public from dawn to dusk. You can eat in malls and in restaurants that open in the day and have seating for non-Muslims, and every restaurant reopens by iftar.
Are the rules in Abu Dhabi stricter than in Dubai?
Mostly no, because most rules are the same across the UAE. The differences Gulf News lists are about alcohol: Abu Dhabi needs no licence to buy it, Dubai gives tourists a temporary licence valid for 30 days, and Sharjah is dry. Check each venue's own dress and photo rules.
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