Dubai To Offer Temporary Liquor Licenses To Tourists

by Vaishnavi Venkataraman
Dubai To Offer Temporary Liquor Licenses To Tourists

Tourists visiting Dubai can now obtain a temporary liquor license, which will allow them to purchase alcohol from all African Eastern and MMI stores. The license is valid for 30 days and can be extended if the tourist extends the stay.

What’s It?

Tourists in Dubai can now purchase liquor from any registered liquor retailer. Previously, UAE tourists were not permitted to buy liquor, but now a simple process has been introduced to grant tourists a temporary liquor license.

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All you need to do is to carry your original passport, and sign a declaration which states:

1. You don’t reside in the UAE
2. You will abide by the country’s laws

Once the declaration is signed, the store will take a copy of your passport and will also brief you on the country’s liquor law. The license is valid for 30 days and can be obtained in MMI or African Eastern liquor stores. Extension of the license is also permitted in case tourists wish to extend their stay.

The temporary license can is free and is applicable to all non-muslim tourists above 21 years of age.

What Else?

Residents can now own a liquor license in Dubai without much fuss. Now, you only need four documents along with a sum of AED 270 to buy, store and transport alcohol legally in the UAE. Earlier, getting a liquor license would require you to submit a NOC from your employer, boss, father or husband, along with a salary certificate that shows an earning of more than AED 3000. However, it’s not the case now!

The rules have been simplified and now all you need is a copy of your Emirates ID, passport, visa, and a passport size photograph. Once you have all the documents, the processing can be completed online by paying AED 270. Upon approval, you can collect the license from a nearby MMI or African and Eastern store. In order to apply for the license, you must be over 21 years of age and be a non-muslim. 

Previously, one could buy only a fixed amount of alcohol depending on the salary certificate produced, but the rules have now been made flexible.