DEWA, Dubai's water utility, says its supply meets WHO drinking-water guidelines up to the building's meter, but the tanks and pipes inside a building are the owner's responsibility, so we suggest bottled or filtered water for drinking. Ice and restaurant water must also be safe to drink, according to Dubai Municipality. This guide explains who says what, what to ask at your hotel or restaurant, what to do about bottled water and refills, and which of our tours include water.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
While you are in Dubai: Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai — From $45 per person, 7 hours.
Is tap water safe to drink in Dubai?
DEWA says its supply meets WHO drinking-water guidelines up to the building's meter. After the meter the building's tanks and pipes are the owner's responsibility, so we suggest bottled or filtered water for drinking. For a food-safety concern, u.ae gives the Dubai Municipality line as 800900.
This guide also answers:
- Is water included on your tours?
Five kinds of drinking water in Dubai
#1
Tap water
DEWA says its water is in full compliance with international drinking-water standards and the latest WHO guidelines, and that it found the network before the meter clear of contamination or bacteria. After the meter, the building owner or the maintenance company is responsible, so the quality depends on the building's tanks and pipes.
#2
Bottled water
Dubai Municipality has said that bottled water served in hotels and restaurants must use drinking-quality water, the same as ice. For visitors, bottled water is the simplest choice for drinking. We could not verify current shelf prices from a retailer, so we give no price per bottle: compare the price tag on the shelf and avoid minibar and kiosk bottles you did not check.
#3
Filtered water at a restaurant or hotel
According to Gulf News, Dubai Municipality clarified that its Food Code does not make tap water mandatory in hotels or restaurants, and that if filtered tap water is served it must be safe to drink. So a venue may offer filtered water or only bottled water. You can ask, and you can say no.
#4
Water on a tour
On our 9-hour Abu Dhabi city tour bottled water is included, the $35 Old Dubai walk includes water with Arabic coffee or tea and dates, and the 7-hour desert safari gives unlimited drinks at the camp. Even so, carry your own bottle and drink before you are thirsty, because hot afternoons are long.
#5
Ice and cold drinks
Gulf News reports that Dubai Municipality requires ice, like bottled water and any filtered tap water that is served, to be made from drinking-quality water. That puts ice under the same rule as the water. If a drink tastes odd or looks cloudy, do not finish it, and tell the staff.
Is tap water safe to drink in Dubai? The short answer
The supply is officially safe up to the meter, and the doubt starts inside the building. DEWA, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, told Gulf News that its drinking water is in full compliance with international standards and the latest WHO drinking-water guidelines. It said it had sampled the network before the meter and found it clear of contamination or bacteria. We could not find a current DEWA test report to quote, so read this as the official position, not as a lab result.
The catch, also from DEWA, is that its responsibility ends at the meter. After the meter, building owners, customers and maintenance companies are responsible for the supply, including the storage tanks and the internal pipes. Dubai Municipality has said that tap water is only safe to serve if tanks and pipes are cleaned, maintained and tested by approved laboratories. As a visitor you cannot see or check a building's tank, and that is why we suggest bottled or filtered water for drinking. Some visitors also prefer bottled water for its taste.
| Water | What the officials say | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Supply up to the meter | DEWA: meets WHO guidelines and international standards | Not something you can choose or test |
| Tap water in a building | Owner or maintenance company responsible after the meter | Use for washing; drink bottled or filtered water |
| Filtered water at a venue | Must be safe to drink if served (Dubai Municipality) | Fine to ask for; it is not obligatory |
| Ice | Must be made from drinking-quality water | Normal in licensed venues |
| Bottled water | Must be drinking-quality water | The simplest choice for drinking |
These are statements reported by Gulf News from DEWA and Dubai Municipality. Rules and tests can change.
Hotels, apartments and short-stay rentals
In a hotel, ask reception what the hotel recommends for drinking water: bottled water in the room, a filtered tap or a dispenser. Do not assume, because arrangements differ between hotels. If the water from a tap smells or looks wrong, tell the front desk at once and ask for bottled water.
In an apartment or a private rental, the building's tanks are the weak point, and the host or the building company is responsible for them. Ask the host how drinking water is supplied and whether the apartment has a filter. If the answer is vague, buy bottled water. If you cook or make baby formula, ask your doctor which water to use. We are not doctors, and rules for infants are stricter than for adults.
Our guides to where to stay in Dubai for a first trip and Dubai on a budget help you choose a base, and the prices guide covers everyday costs.
Restaurants, ice and cold drinks
Dubai Municipality said its new Food Code would encourage restaurants to offer free tap water to reduce plastic waste, then clarified to Gulf News that its Food Code does not make tap water mandatory in hotels or restaurants. In other words, a restaurant may bring you filtered tap water, or it may only sell bottled water. Ask which it is when you order, because bottled water may be charged on the bill.
The same Gulf News report says that if filtered tap water is served it must be safe to drink, and that ice and bottled water must also be made with drinking-quality water. In licensed venues, ice is covered by the same rule. At street stalls, look at how the ice is kept, and choose a drink in a sealed bottle if you are unsure. If you believe food or drink made you ill, u.ae gives the Dubai Municipality line for food-safety issues as 800900.
Bottled water: what to buy, and what about prices?
Bottled water is sold in supermarkets, shops and kiosks. We did not verify current shelf prices from a retailer, so we give no figures. Instead, use these habits:
- Compare the price per litre on the shelf label, and buy large bottles or multipacks if you will stay several days.
- Check the price before you open a minibar bottle. Hotels set their own prices, and the price card is in the room.
- Buy from a shop in your area when you can. At a tourist site the seller sets the price, so look at it first.
- Keep a reusable bottle and refill it from large bottles or from the filtered water a venue offers. We did not find an official map of public refill points, so we list none.
For the prices of coffee, a meal and a taxi, see prices in Dubai, and for how far a day's budget goes, how much a Dubai trip costs.
Heat, hydration and water on our tours
Water matters more than usual in Dubai's heat. The US health agency CDC warns that heat-related illness such as heat stroke can be deadly, and advises eating and drinking regularly, wearing loose, lightweight clothing, and limiting activity in high temperatures. For long hours outside it suggests salty snacks and water to replace the salt you lose by sweating. Our guide to Dubai in summer shows how to plan the day around the heat.
On our tours we supply drinks. The Abu Dhabi city tour, from $45 per person, lasts about 9 hours and includes bottled water. The Old Dubai walking tour, from $35, includes water with the abra ride, Arabic coffee or tea and dates. The full-day desert safari, from $45, is about 7 hours and the camp has unlimited drinks, in air-conditioned tents. Still bring a bottle of your own for the time between stops.
A short checklist
These habits cover most situations:
- Drink bottled or filtered water, and use tap water for washing.
- Ask your hotel or host how drinking water is supplied.
- Ask restaurants whether they serve filtered or bottled water, and what it costs.
- Choose sealed bottles at street stalls.
- Carry a bottle in the heat and drink before you feel thirsty.
- If a drink or food makes you unwell, see a doctor. Our guide to doctors and pharmacies explains where to go.
FAQ
Is tap water safe to drink in Dubai?
DEWA says its supply meets WHO drinking-water guidelines up to the building's meter. After the meter the building's tanks and pipes are the owner's responsibility, so we suggest bottled or filtered water for drinking. For a food-safety concern, u.ae gives the Dubai Municipality line as 800900.
Can I drink the water from the tap in my hotel?
Ask reception. Hotels differ: some give bottled water in the room and some have filtered taps. DEWA says responsibility after the meter lies with the building, so we advise drinking bottled or filtered water and using tap water for washing.
Do restaurants in Dubai serve free tap water?
Not always. Gulf News reports that Dubai Municipality clarified that its Food Code does not make tap water mandatory in hotels or restaurants. If a venue serves filtered tap water it must be safe to drink. Ask when you order, because bottled water may be charged.
Is the ice in drinks safe in Dubai?
In licensed venues, yes. Gulf News reports that Dubai Municipality requires ice, bottled water and any filtered tap water that is served to be made from drinking-quality water. At a street stall, check how the ice is kept, or choose a sealed bottle.
How much does bottled water cost in Dubai?
We could not verify current shelf prices, so we give no figures. Compare the price per litre on the shelf label, buy large bottles in a supermarket rather than small ones at a tourist site, and look at the price card before you open a minibar bottle.
Is water included on your tours?
Yes. The 9-hour Abu Dhabi city tour includes bottled water, the Old Dubai walking tour from $35 includes water, and the 7-hour desert safari has unlimited drinks at the camp. Bring your own bottle for the time between stops.
Where can I refill a water bottle in Dubai?
We did not find an official map of public refill points, so we do not list any. Refill from large bottles you bought, or from the filtered water a hotel or venue offers. On our tours, ask your guide or driver.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Full-Day Desert Safari in Dubai
It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
- 7 hours
- Area
- Lahbab Desert, Dubai
- Format
- Full-day desert safari
- Best for
- families, couples and first-time desert visitors who want the full evening programme
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai
It is the classic capital day in one organised loop: the mosque before the midday heat and crowds, the newly opened BAPS Mandir, the skyline from the Corniche, Bedouin history at Heritage Village and a photo op at Ferrari World. Transport, a licensed guide, mosque registration assistance and bottled water are included; the $45 shared tour covers all free-entry sites, and a private VIP car for up to 7 people is $245.
- Duration
- 9 hours
- Area
- Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Format
- Full-day guided city tour (shared or private)
- Best for
- families, seniors and first-time visitors who want the capital's landmarks in one day
From $45 per person No prepayment
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Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
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Photos: Bottled water — Dakstor, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).