Is Dubai Safe Right Now? Travel Advice and Safety Tips

Last checked 21 October 2026. We review this page at least once a month and whenever official advice changes. This guide contains affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

This page summarises the latest official advice, what has happened in recent weeks and the practical things that keep visitors safe. Read your own government’s advice too before you book.

What are governments advising right now?

All four governments below warn about the regional conflict, the risk of further attacks and flight disruption. Only the US asks you to reconsider the trip itself.

Country	Advice for the UAE	Last updated	Official page
United Kingdom	Does not advise against travel. Warns of Iranian strikes across the region since 8 July, a risk of more attacks, and airports and airspace closing at short notice.	24 July 2026 (still current on 21 October)	GOV.UK
United States	Level 3 of 4, Reconsider travel: terrorism and armed conflict, including an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran.	29 August 2026	travel.state.gov
Canada	Exercise a high degree of caution. Avoid non-essential travel to Al Minhad Air Base and its surroundings.	14 October 2026	travel.gc.ca
Australia	Exercise a high degree of caution, due to the threat of terrorism and the unpredictable security situation in the region. Lowered from “Reconsider your need to travel” on 8 October.	8 October 2026 (still current on 21 October)	Smartraveller

Advice as shown on each government’s website on 21 October 2026.

The UK advised against all but essential travel to the UAE earlier in the conflict and lifted that on 18 June 2026, and Australia lowered its advice on 8 October 2026. Canada’s stricter advice covers only the area around Al Minhad Air Base, inland and bounded by the E611, E66, D63 and E77 roads, away from the main hotel districts. The US Embassy’s latest security alert, on 18 October, asked Americans in the region to stay vigilant and expect possible flight cancellations and airspace closures.

Is Dubai safe from crime?

Yes. Canada and Australia both describe the UAE’s crime rate as low, and Canada says violent crime is rare. Petty crime and scams still happen, so the usual precautions apply.

• Pickpocketing and bag snatching are uncommon, but keep your phone and passport secure in crowds, such as at the souks.
• Card fraud: use ATMs inside banks or malls, cover your PIN and check your statements.
• Scams: avoid paying over public Wi-Fi, and never send money or personal details to callers claiming to be the police or your bank. Buy tickets only from official sellers: in September 2026 Global Village and Dubai Police warned about fake websites.
• Taxis: use licensed taxis (cream with coloured roofs) or apps such as Careem and Uber, and don’t accept lifts from strangers.
• Drink spiking: don’t leave drinks unattended or accept them from strangers.

What does the regional situation mean for your trip?

For most visitors the main effects are on flights and planning rather than daily life. Dubai’s hotels, malls, beaches and metro are operating, but every government advises you to stay informed and know what to do if an alert is issued.

What has happened recently

• The regional war began on 28 February 2026, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran, and the UAE was among the Gulf countries targeted by Iranian missiles and drones. A ceasefire and a US–Iran memorandum of understanding agreed in June ended in early July.
• The latest incidents involving the UAE that we found were in August. On 18 August, according to the UAE Ministry of Defence, Iran fired two ballistic missiles, one of which landed in UAE territorial waters; a phone alert went to residents mainly in Dubai and Sharjah, with the all-clear about 10 minutes later. On 31 August a drone was intercepted over UAE territorial waters. The reports we found mentioned no damage or injuries.
• Iranian missile and drone attacks in early September targeted Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and northern Iraq. We found no reports of attacks on UAE territory in September or October 2026, up to 21 October.
• In October, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly attack on Riyadh’s main airport on 10 October, disrupted flights to Saudi Arabia, and some UAE airlines’ Saudi flights were still cancelled when we checked.
• As of 21 October, indirect US–Iran talks had not produced a breakthrough, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was still severely disrupted, and a senior member of the UAE’s Federal National Council said on 15 October that the war could resume.

Flights and airspace

Dubai International (DXB) is operating, and in mid-September Emirates said it was flying about 95% of its pre-war capacity. Several foreign airlines had suspended or cut Dubai flights as of 8 October, and the FCDO warns that airspace could close at short notice.

• Check your flight with your airline and Dubai Airports, and only go to the airport once your flight is confirmed.
• Make sure the airline has your current phone number and email for rebooking messages.

Insurance, bookings and documents

Buy travel insurance when you book. Check the exclusions for war, terrorism and travel against government advice, and what it pays if airspace closes. The US State Department also recommends cover for medical evacuation.

• Choose rooms with free cancellation where you can, and note when it ends.
• Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive.
• Sign up for your government’s alerts, such as FCDO email alerts or the US Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.
• The State Department advises having a plan to leave in an emergency that does not depend on government help.

What to do if an emergency alert sounds

The UAE’s national early warning system, run by the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, sends alerts by cell broadcast to phones in the affected area, with a loud tone during the day and a normal message tone at night. Your phone must support emergency alerts, so check they are switched on in its settings.

1. Go into the nearest building and move to a room or stairwell with few external walls or windows.
2. If you are driving, keep driving carefully to the nearest indoor location. Don’t stop on the road.
3. Follow instructions from the authorities and hotel staff, and stay inside until the all-clear message.
4. Don’t approach debris, and don’t film or share images of interceptions, debris or military sites: UAE authorities prohibit this.
5. Get updates from official sources such as WAM (the Emirates News Agency) and the Dubai Media Office.

Which laws and customs catch visitors out?

Most problems come from a few laws that are stricter than at home. None of them get in the way of a normal holiday, but the penalties can be serious.

• Drugs: zero tolerance. Even residual amounts can mean a minimum three-month prison sentence or a fine of AED 20,000 to 100,000, and drugs in your bloodstream count as possession, according to the FCDO. Products containing CBD, including some vape refills, can also be illegal.
• Medicines: some prescription and over-the-counter medicines are controlled. Check the list on the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention website and apply for approval before you travel if yours is listed; the FCDO says this normally takes five working days, and that medicine arriving without approval will not be allowed in and you may be prosecuted. Carry your prescription and a doctor’s letter. Visitors can bring up to three months’ supply, or one month’s supply of a medicine that needs approval.
• Alcohol: you can drink at licensed venues such as hotel bars and restaurants from age 21, but drinking or being drunk in public is illegal, and there is zero tolerance for drink-driving. Alcohol is banned entirely in neighbouring Sharjah.
• Dress and affection: in malls and other public places, cover shoulders and knees, and wear swimwear only at the beach or pool. Holding hands is generally fine, but kissing in public can lead to arrest.
• Swearing and rude gestures are illegal in person and online, including at other drivers, and can lead to jail or deportation.
• Photos and social media: don’t photograph people without permission, or government and military sites. Spreading false news is an offence.
• Same-sex relationships: same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the UAE, according to the FCDO.
• Unpaid bills, including hotel bills, are a criminal matter and can lead to a travel ban.
• Ramadan: don’t eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight hours, including in your car. Restaurants, malls and attractions stay open. In 2027 Ramadan is expected to begin on or around 7 February and last about a month, depending on the moon sighting.

Is Dubai safe for women and solo travellers?

Generally yes, with sensible precautions. Official advice describes sexual assault and harassment as rare, but the UK advises women to take care when walking or travelling alone or at night and to use a reputable taxi company, and Canada advises women to avoid travelling alone, especially at night.

• Taxis for women: Dubai taxis with pink roofs have female drivers and can be hailed or booked.
• Women-only space: Dubai Metro trains have cabins reserved for women and children.
• If you are assaulted: call the police on 999 and contact your embassy or consulate. The FCDO notes that UAE law places a high burden of proof on the victim.
• Solo trips: leave your plans with someone at home, and book desert trips with an established operator rather than driving into the desert yourself.

How do you stay safe in the heat, at sea and on the roads?

For most visitors, the everyday risks are heat, the sea and traffic, and they cause far more trouble than crime.

• Heat: June to September is the hottest period, when Dubai’s average highs are about 40 to 42°C and parts of the UAE can pass 50°C. Sightsee early or late, drink plenty of water and stay in the shade. See our guide to the best time to visit Dubai.
• Beach flags: red means swimming is not safe, yellow means swim with caution, and purple means jellyfish or other harmful creatures have been seen.
• Lifeguards: rip currents can occur at any beach, so swim only where lifeguards are on duty. They cover public and private beaches from sunrise to sunset, and Visit Dubai lists Kite Beach and Jumeirah Public Beach for supervised night swimming.
• Boat trips: check there are life jackets for everyone.
• Crossing roads: cross only at marked crossings, footbridges or underpasses. Crossing elsewhere is illegal and can mean a fine, and cars don’t always stop at zebra crossings.
• Driving: speeding is common and the accident rate is high. Early-morning fog sometimes cuts visibility, and speed limits are lowered on some roads when it does.

Which numbers should you call in an emergency?

Call 999 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire service. They work anywhere in the UAE.

Service	Number
Police (emergency)	999
Ambulance	998
Fire and civil defence	997
Dubai Police non-emergency line, including the Tourism Police	901
Al Ameen, Dubai’s confidential service for reporting security concerns	800 4444
Coastguard	996

Police stations, hospitals and other contacts are in our guide to important numbers in Dubai.

Where to stay in Dubai

The same official advice covers all of Dubai’s main hotel areas, so choose your area for your trip rather than for safety. Our guide to where to stay in Dubai compares them, or go straight to Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina or Deira, the closest area to the airport.

Is Dubai safe? Frequently asked questions

Sources

• GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice, United Arab Emirates (warnings and insurance, safety and security, entry requirements, health, getting help)
• US State Department: United Arab Emirates travel advisory
• U.S. Mission UAE: Security alert, 18 October 2026
• Government of Canada: Travel advice for the United Arab Emirates
• Smartraveller (Australia): United Arab Emirates
• UAE Government portal: Handling emergencies
• UAE Government portal: Ramadan
• UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention: Permit to import medicines for personal use
• Visit Dubai: Travel advisory and Safety in Dubai
• Khaleej Times: When to call 999 and when to call 901, 9 September 2026
• Khaleej Times: How to use the Al Ameen service
• Gulf News: UAE heat tops 50°C, 30 August 2026
• The National: UAE air defence systems respond to missile threat, 18 August 2026
• The National: UAE emergency alerts and how the system works, 19 August 2026
• The National: UAE holds Iran responsible for thwarted drone attack, 31 August 2026
• Gulf News: US strikes Iran, Tehran retaliates with attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, 2 September 2026
• The National: Emirates expects to restore pre-war capacity by year end, 15 September 2026
• The National: Global Village warns of fake websites, 28 September 2026
• The National: Flights to and from the UAE, 8 October 2026
• The National: UAE better prepared than when the conflict began, says official, 15 October 2026
• The Guardian: Riyadh airport hit again after deadly Houthi missile attack, 11 October 2026
• The National: Riyadh airport reopens, 19 October 2026
• The National: Iran holds to its demands in talks with the US, 21 October 2026
• Gulf News: What UAE residents need to know today, 21 October 2026