Job Discussion Forums

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Hi,

I'm moving from Japan to the UAE soon, and I have a few questions.

How does one get a licence to buy alcohol in Dubai? I know anyone can drink in the hotels, but I understand that a licence is required to buy it for home consumption.

Will I have to take a driving test there? Or will my UK licence be enough?

What is the best way to address an Arab? I seem to remember reading somewhere that Mr. First Name was quite common - is that right?

Thanks for any help.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

I suggest you do an Internet search on expat blog uae. You'll find various expat blogs with useful info about living in the UAE, and you'll be able to post your own lifestyle questions.

Keskaa · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 10:44 am Post subject: Re: Few questions about Dubai

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

johnslat · Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 3:51 pm Post subject:

Dear Sour Grape,

It's also very possible you will find yourself being addressed as Dr. Sour - I was often called Dr. John in Saudi, which always made me think of "Dr. John, the Night Tripper):

"Beginning in the late 1960s, Rebennack gained fame as a solo artist after adopting the persona of "Dr. John, The Night Tripper". Dr. John's act combined New Orleans-style rhythm and blues with psychedelic rock and elaborate stage shows that bordered on voodoo religious ceremonies, including elaborate costumes and headdress (reflecting and presumably inspired by Screamin' Jay Hawkins's stage act). The name "Dr. John" came from a legendary Louisiana voodoo practitioner of the early 19th century."

Not having a Ph.D., I would tell the students that form of address was not merited. Whereupon they would usually ask "What we call you then, Teacher?"

To which I would respond, "Well, I DO have a Master's degree, so I guess you could call me "Master."

(Many of them got the joke Very Happy

)

Regards,
Master John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You will find personal relationships much less formal than in Japan. In fact being in the Gulf is in some ways more like being in the West than th the East !

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Thanks to everyone who replied.

I have visited Dubai once before, and don't remember seeing alcohol in the supermarkets - it was in very subtle, easy-to-miss shops - so looks like procedure is a bit different from Emirate to Emirate.

Looking forward to it.

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

Hello Sour Grape,

Answers to your licence questions and
more besides are available via:-

http://niala.ae/web/welcome-to-the-uae/how-to-s/get-a-driving-license.html

Geronimo

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Do-Buy is a weird place. Like something out of "Blade Runner".

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

I don't want to suggest anything illegal now but ...
The alcohol license is hardly worth the effort. If you have a car, there are places you can stock up on alcohol in other Emirates. You can run up the coast to Ajman or RAK and find the Barracuda or the Hole in the Wall and buy alcohol. Abu Dhabi has quite a few Spinney's with blacked out windows. I've never seen anybody get carded for alcohol in Abu Dhabi and I saw a sign the other day that claimed that the license was free. Then again, if they are not going to charge for the license, they might start cracking down soon.

Keskaa · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 12:26 am Post subject:

I know that if you get caught in a car with alcohol, and you don't have a license, you can get into pretty severe trouble. If you get in an accident, for example, and the police find your alcohol, that's an easy way to get caught with it. I'd agree that the license is hardly worth it, but with the rate of car accidents here, it would be one way to get caught.

Geronimo · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 498

Awlays drink senbisly Exclamation

http://www.africaneastern.com/

Sour Grape · Joined: 10 May 2005 Posts: 241

Haven't been on for a while, so sorry for next getting back sooner. Thank you everybody who replied.

Desert Camper · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 11:57 pm Post subject:

Actually, Sour Grape, as strange as it sounds, offically at least, an alcohol license is indeed required to consume fermented beverages in hotels, as stated in the third paragraph in the article in The National below:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/tourism/lawyer-warns-liquor-licensing-laws-apply-to-all

This is also repeated in the second paragraph in the following article, again from The National:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/courts/liquor-licence-laws-wont-trigger-arrests-police-say

It seems that one should not make the mistake of thinking that this is just nonsense dreamed up by some lawyer interviewed by The National, either. Take a look at the following article in which none other than a chief prosecutor at Dubai Public Prosecution goes on record as stating that, since an alcohol license is required to consume alcohol, and, since tourists are not permitted to apply for such licenses, all tourists in Dubai who indeed partake in the consumption of alcoholic beverages are therefore doing so illegally (see paragraphs 13 and 14):

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/courts/lost-passport-leads-to-alcohol-conviction

Someone above mentions that people are often charged with not having a license if they are involved in a car accident and the police discover alcohol in their vehicle. That is certainly true and such stories are to be found in the media on a daily basis. It is also true, however, that apparent victims of crime are also often charged for consuming alcohol without a license, and not just at home but also in hotel bars/nightclubs. Take a look for example at the following horror story:

http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/courts/gang-raped-dubai-expat-fined-for-drinking-alcohol-without-a-licence

My advice to everyone is to get an alcohol license and to have it on your person at all times. The only problem is that it states that the license is only valid for the emirate in which you reside. So, it is, technically, illegal for me as a resident of the emirate of Abu Dhabi (I live and work in Al Ain) to have a glass of beer in a hotel bar in Dubai! Strange but (technically, at least) true.

I guess this is simply one of many weird aspects of living here that we all have to get used to. Another oddity is the fact that it is (highly) illegal to transport alcohol across emirates. However, how many people exactly actually reside in Um Al Qwain, the location of the alcoholic's equivalent of Carrefour, the (in)famous Barracuda? Surely 99.9% of this alcohol outlet's customers transport their purchases across emirates? And surely many of those must transport their booze through dry Sharjah, where mere possession of alcolhol is illegal? But there is another oddity, for although the emirate of Sharjah is dry, its airport has a duty free section which sells alcohol, even to incoming passengers!

rdobbs98 · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 236

Being Muslim and a non-drinker, I have seen Muslims and non-Muslims illegally buying and drinking alcohol throughout the UAE. If they are drinking it, they are probably transporting it as well.

I would say just go somewhere to have your drink, don't get wasted, and keep on the down low because UAE is an autocratic government that doesn't play when you do bad things.

Most places if you mess up, you won't have to worry about being beaten but in UAE or most Gulf States, the police are going to teach you a lesson and there is no violation of human rights laws in the GCC states. UAE is relaxed but only superficially, once you are caught doing something wrong; you are toast!

There was a Canadian businessman that basically went bankrupt but in UAE there is no bankruptcy and owing money and not paying debts is against the law. He was sentenced for 1 year in prison, minimum, and many others are sitting for longer due to the size of their debts.