Alcohol is served to non-Muslims in all major hotels and licensed restaurants, but public drunkenness and drinking and driving are not tolerated. The latter is a serious offence, with zero tolerance for driving while under the influence of alcohol. Serving, selling or giving alcohol to non-Muslims is also against the law. There is also no tolerance for drug use, and visitors may face long prison sentences if apprehended with any drugs, however small the quantity. The Ministry of Health’s Drug Control Department publishes lists of restricted drugs and medications that may otherwise be prescribed in travelers’ home countries, so travelers must take special care to ensure that their medications or other substances are not restricted before traveling.
Visitors to Abu Dhabi should avoid photographing women in general, and particularly national women, without their permission. It is always courteous to ask before photographing people. There are few other restrictions on photography in the emirate – only military, government and airport installations are not allowed to be photographed. |