Alcohol Shops in Dubai
Despite the fact that the United Arab Emirates is a Muslim country, and Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any form, Dubai has introduced a number of exceptions for foreign tourists in this regard. In addition to the duty-free zone at the airport, bars and restaurants at hotels or nightclubs where you can buy alcohol in Dubai without any problems, specialty stores also offer to buy hot drinks. However, in the case of them, there are a number of certain subtleties and nuances.There are officially 2 retail chains specializing in the sale of alcoholic beverages in Dubai – African&Eastern and MMI. The outlets of these chains offer a fairly wide range of products from all over the world in different product categories. The prices in these stores are quite affordable. It is often even lower than in the Duty Free zone at the airport. The main difficulty is to find this very store. The fact is that absolutely any advertising of alcohol is prohibited here. And a very modest sign of a retail outlet may not be noticed. However, most of them are marked on interactive maps.
Previously, when buying alcohol in a physical store, it was required not only to present a passport (sale is allowed to persons over the age of 21), but also to fill out a questionnaire and purchase a special license. Today, the license has become a free formality and a foreigner can purchase alcohol during the entire validity period of the visa. But for citizens who have received the status of a resident, the purchase of a paid license in Dubai is mandatory, otherwise it is a rather large fine. In the other 5 emirates, the requirement has been canceled, but in Dubai, the requirement to obtain a license remains in effect.
Only very rich people who have a lot of extra time will be able to buy a bottle of beer and drink it on the way to the beach. Drinking alcoholic beverages in public places and even just appearing drunk on the street can entail a large fine and even a trial at a police station. In general, the best way to buy alcohol in Dubai is room or home delivery.
This will not only avoid various formalities and potential troubles. Firstly, this will save you a lot of time: you don't have to go anywhere and look for something. Secondly, the prices of alcohol with delivery in Dubai look much more attractive than in hotel or club bars and restaurants. Finally, unlike the same bars and shops, some alcohol delivery services operate 24/7.