Photo: Darcey Beau / Unsplash
Practical info for the United Arab Emirates
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy DubaiEmbassy
- Address
- Al Seef RoadBur DubaiNear to Dubai CreeksidePO Box 65, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/united-arab-emirates/british-embassy-dubai
- British Embassy Abu DhabiEmbassy
- Address
- Al Hisn Street, Al Markaziyah West, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, PO Box 248, United Arab Emirates
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/united-arab-emirates/british-embassy-abu-dhabi
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 24/07/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: UAE dirham (AED).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for AED.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+04:00, +4 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Traffic drives on the right.
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the UAE. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. If you’re applying for residence in the UAE, you can use your UK licence until your residence permit is issued, after which you’ll need to get a UAE driving licence from the traffic department.”
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Etisalat (Sirocco, Airalo); Du (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for the United Arab Emirates
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in the United Arab Emirates?
Police: 999 ; Medical emergencies: 998 ; Fire brigade: 997 ; Coastguard, sea rescue: 996
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in the United Arab Emirates?
British Embassy Dubai, Al Seef RoadBur DubaiNear to Dubai CreeksidePO Box 65, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates ; British Embassy Abu Dhabi, Al Hisn Street, Al Markaziyah West, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, PO Box 248, United Arab Emirates. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for the United Arab Emirates?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 24/07/2026.
What is the travel advice for the United Arab Emirates?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in the United Arab Emirates?
Currency: UAE dirham (AED). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for AED.
What is the time difference in the United Arab Emirates?
Local time: UTC+04:00, +4 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in the United Arab Emirates?
Traffic drives on the right. Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the UAE. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well. If you’re applying for residence in the UAE, you can use your UK licence until your residence permit is issued, after which you’ll need to get a UAE driving licence from the traffic department.”
Which mobile networks operate in the United Arab Emirates?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Etisalat (Sirocco, Airalo); Du (Sirocco).
Photo: Fernando Jorge / Unsplash
The Emirates with the family
From Sirocco, the publisher of eSIMeter
- Documents, money, health, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the desert and our unusual places: everything to plan the trip and enjoy it with the children.
- An hour from the towers, the orange dunes of the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve: a ride in a vintage Land Rover, falcons, camels and breakfast in a tent.
- This guide takes you from planning to coming home: the formalities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi city by city, our unusual places, two day trips and itineraries of 5 to 10 days.