Is alcohol sold in UAE stores?

Yes, there are liquor stores in the United Arab Emirates that sell alcoholic beverages.

A complete ban on the sale of alcohol is valid in only one UAE emirate - in Sharjah. On the territory of the remaining six emirates, there are shops selling alcohol under the alcohol license (they are often called official), or stores where it is not required to present a license. Read more in the article by reference.

Official liquor stores.

In the United Arab Emirates there are official alcohol stores that sell alcohol upon presentation of special alcohol license. The most famous stores belong to two large chains - African & Eastern and MMI. Located in close proximity to major Dubai supermarkets. In Abu Dhabi, MMI stores operate under the Gray Mackenzie & Partners brand.

Prices in these stores are usually higher, since products in them are subject to an additional tax. While all other stores close for a whole month during Ramadan, official stores continue to operate as before.

Unlicensed liquor stores.

On the territory of the United Arab Emirates there are alcohol stores that relatively legally sell “take-away” wine and vodka products without the need to present an alcohol license. All of these stores are located in the four northern emirates - Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Kheim and Fujairah. There are no such stores in the emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Emirate Ajman

In the territory of the emirate of Ajman today there are about 10 alcohol stores under the Unisat and Oscars brands. Stores are rich in an assortment of strong drinks: whiskey, cognac, vermouth, champagne, original Russian vodka at a price of 25 dirhams for 0.75 liters - this is Stolichnaya, Moskovskaya, Stolichnaya-Crystal. There is always a large assortment of Chilean, French, Spanish, Italian and South African wines, beer of world famous brands - Heiniken, Foster, Budweiser, etc. Another store is located a little further from Dubai and Sharjah - near the seaport and the Ajman free economic zone. Some drinks in this store are cheaper, but finding this store is more difficult.

Emirate of Umm Al Quwain

17 kilometers from Ajman, in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, there is a modest hotel called the Umm Al Quwain Beach Hotel. This hotel has another alcoholic point. There is another store in the city - at the Palm Beach Hotel, next to the Gulf Craft shipyard.

At a distance of 15 kilometers from the previous two shops towards the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah is the coastal motel "Barracuda" (Barracuda). Billboards with information about approaching this motel are often found on the highway, but the most noticeable landmarks are the Il-76 Russian plane standing on the side of the highway with a hotel advertisement on board, and the Dreamland water park. The Barracuda Motel is located just in between, opposite the Umm Al Quwain Shooting Club. This hotel is home to the second most popular liquor store in the United Arab Emirates. The popularity of the store is due to the fact that there, more often than in other stores, you can buy Russian-made beer - Baltika (three, seven, nine in bottles or cans of 0.5 liter each) and Stary Melnik in bottles of 0.33 each liter. The prices in this store are slightly lower, since it is located far from the emirates of Sharjah and Dubai, and the range is much richer.

Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah

In 2010, a liquor store was opened in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which belongs to the official African & Eastern chain, but which does not require an alcohol license. A shop is located on the territory of Al Hamra Yacht Club & Marina, next to the new city quarter of Al Hamra Village. Another store in Ras Al Khaimah - Al Hamra Cellar - is known for the fact that it often holds special promotions, thanks to which the purchase there becomes very profitable.

Emirate of Fujairah

Fujairah is the remotest emirate on the east coast of the UAE. In this emirate there are several "points" for the sale of alcohol. The most famous is at the Fujairah Beach Hotel. Works around the clock. Two other locations are at Sundy Beach and Holiday Beach Motels. The peculiarity of these points is. it’s better to drive to them by car, and from the special window at the store they will serve everything ordered at regular prices. But it is worth walking to the store, or taking a taxi, and the prices will be immediately raised to the price level in the hotel bars.

Watch the video: Dubai Alcohol laws. License. Stores (March 2024).