For many tourists, rest is at least a little drinking. But when ordering a tour to the United Arab Emirates, travelers fear that they will not have such an opportunity. The reason is the strict laws of the UAE regarding the consumption and possession of alcoholic beverages. In fact, it depends on the chosen emirate. If you buy a ticket to Ajman, alcohol can be transported, stored and even bought locally. To do this, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the rules and laws in force in the UAE.
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Attitude towards alcohol in the UAE
The main thing is that the United Arab Emirates is a classic Muslim country in which the laws of the Koran are in force along with secular ones. The latter may differ from the chosen emirate. For example, in Sharjah you will not be able to find a single alcohol market, it is forbidden to drink alcohol in any place. And in Dubai, you can be served a cocktail or beer in almost any bar or restaurant. In terms of its attitude towards alcohol, Ajman is closest to Dubai, Al-Fujairah or Abu Dhabi. Here you can find liquor stores, offers an All Inclusive program with alcohol included.
However, it is worth considering the general rules in force in the territory of all the UAE:
- It is forbidden to appear drunk in public places – on the beach, in parks, in shopping centers, on city streets.
- Drinking alcohol is only allowed in certain areas. In Ajman, it is allowed to drink alcohol in the hotel room, in Sharjah it is unacceptable.
- Large fines for violations. Upon detention, he will be required to pay a fine of up to 5,000 dirhams. In the event of a repeated violation, a ban on entry into the country for a certain period is possible.
- You need to buy drinks only in specialized stores, shopping centers. According to tourists, they are often offered by illegal sellers. They do not have a license, which is a direct violation of the laws of the country.
For a good rest in the UAE, it is recommended to completely exclude alcohol. There are many other opportunities to get positive emotions – book a sightseeing tour, go diving, spearfishing. You can go to Dubai, visit the Burj Khalifa observation deck. There are also numerous nightclubs and discos.
Ajman laws on alcoholic beverages
This emirate is the smallest and relatively poor in the UAE. Therefore, to attract tourists and independent travelers, conditions were created for a comfortable stay. Prices in hotels and inns are lower than in other regions of the United Arab Emirates, the quality of service is better. This applies to alcohol in Ajman, according to official laws, it can be consumed and sold. For the latter, several specialized stores are open on the territory of the emirate.
What tourists need to know about the official and unofficial rules in the country:
- Allowed to use in a hotel room, in restaurants, bars. But for the latter, permission from the authorities must be issued. Bringing alcoholic beverages to catering establishments is prohibited.
- You can not appear in a clearly intoxicated state on the street, in parks, on the beach. In addition to police patrols, local residents pay attention to this. There is a high probability that on their call you will be taken to the police for disturbing the peace.
- It is not allowed to drink on the street. This will result in a fine. An exception is not a bottle in a package when the name of the drink is hidden.
- You can’t get on a bus, taxi in this state. But the drivers of the latter often turn a blind eye to this, anticipating a good tip.
An interesting fact: tourists from other emirates often come to Ajman for alcohol. There are most of all shops with alcohol, you can choose drinks – wine, vodka, brandy or whiskey. However, you need to know the opening hours. They usually open at 9:00 am and close at 7:00 pm. They do not work on Fridays, as it is a day off in the country.
Where to buy alcohol in Ajman
The most popular and famous liquor store in Ajman is located next to the Ramada Hotel & Suites Ajman. This is a city hotel located in the Al Rashidiya 1 area. It can be reached by city bus or taxi. It has the largest selection of spirits, but the prices are high, even for the UAE. Therefore, it is recommended to explore other options. There are relatively many of them in the emirate.
Liquor stores in the emirate of Ajman:
- On the Corniche. Landmark – hotel Kempinski. The store is small, no bright signs. But it can be found by a large number of buyers. Feature – in their hands will be bags of black or blue. Retail sale, no restrictions. But a large amount of alcohol will not be allowed to buy. Here you can buy low-alcohol drinks – beer, energy drinks.
- At the harbor. This shop is open until 00:00 and is located 2 km from the Corniche. Credit cards are not accepted here, only cash. Also a small selection, little imported alcohol. But there is good wine.
- Industrial Zone. It is located on the outskirts of the city of Ajman, alcohol here at relatively low prices. There are a lot of expats here, so visiting this area in the evening is not recommended. You can not pay by card, only cash dirhams.
To buy a small amount of alcoholic drinks, you can visit the hotel bars. But the prices here will be much higher than in stores. The All Inclusive program will offer the cheapest alcoholic drinks for free.
Norms of transportation and storage
For each emirate, individual norms for the carriage of alcoholic beverages are established. The check is carried out at the airport, at customs control. But since Ajman does not have its own international airport, vacation tourists arrive in Sharjah or Dubai. Therefore, for each emirate, there is a maximum amount of alcohol that can be spent in Ajman.
For Sharjah, this figure is 2 liters of spirits. This is the rate per adult passenger. Loyal requirements apply at Dubai Airport, 4 liters are allowed. The import of beer and other low-alcohol products is also allowed. Up-to-date information can be obtained on the official website of the UAE customs service.