Dubai Travel Tips: What You Must Know Before You Go (2026)

Short answer: Israelis enter the UAE visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, with a passport valid for at least 6 months. Before you book, and again before you fly, check the Israeli National Security Council (NSC) travel warning and that your flight is operating. Controlled medicines (codeine, Ritalin, sedatives) need a prescription and a medical letter, WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked (messages and Zoom work), and photographing people without permission is illegal. The currency is the dirham, 3.6725 to the dollar, and a metro ride costs about 3–7.5 dirhams.

Dubai is an easy place to fall in love with: huge malls, beaches, desert and high-end hotels, three and a half hours' flight from Israel. But the UAE is also a country with laws very different from what we're used to, and some things are better known before you reach passport control: which medicines need documents, why WhatsApp calls don't work, what you can't photograph and what the security situation is for Israelis. We've put it all in one place, including transport prices, the VAT refund and the mistakes worth avoiding.

What's the security situation, and what about flights to Dubai?

Before anything else, check the travel warning and the status of your flight, because both change.

• Travel warning: Israel's National Security Council (NSC) publishes travel warnings for the UAE, and in recent years they've been at level 3, a recommendation to avoid non-essential travel. Before you book and again before you fly, check the current warning on the NSC website and follow its guidance, such as keeping a low profile.
• Direct flights: in recent months there have been suspensions and disruptions on direct routes between Israel and Dubai. Check with your airline that your flight is operating, and follow updates until the day you fly.
• Travel insurance: make sure your policy covers the destination and the dates, and check what it says about destinations under a travel warning.

Do Israelis need a visa for Dubai?

No. Under a mutual visa waiver agreement, Israelis with a regular passport can stay in the UAE for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

• Passport validity: at least six months from the date of entry. Temporary travel documents aren't accepted.
• Entry isn't guaranteed: as in any country, the final decision belongs to border control. Keep your return ticket and hotel details on your phone and printed.
• Children: every child needs their own passport, under the same validity rules.

Which medicines should you check before you fly?

In the UAE many prescription medicines are controlled, for example medicines with codeine, tramadol, Ritalin, sedatives and some sleeping pills. You can bring them, but only with a prescription and a medical letter, and in a quantity no larger than three months' supply. You can also apply online in advance for a free permit. CBD and cannabis products are banned outright. All the details, including a table of Israeli brand names and how to apply, are in the guide to bringing medication to Dubai.

Do WhatsApp calls work in Dubai?

No. WhatsApp messages work as usual, but WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls are blocked in the UAE, on mobile networks and on most Wi-Fi networks. Zoom and Microsoft Teams work, and so do regular phone calls. Install Zoom or Teams on your phone and your family's before the flight. All the alternatives, and how much data a video call uses, are in the guide to WhatsApp calls in Dubai.

Which laws do tourists in Dubai not know about?

• Photographing people: it's illegal to photograph or post pictures of people without their consent. The UAE treats this as a serious offense, and the fines are very high. Be especially careful on beaches and in public places, and when posting stories. Photographing government buildings and security installations is also forbidden.
• Alcohol: drinking is allowed in licensed venues such as bars, restaurants and hotels, and tourists can buy alcohol in licensed shops. Drinking in public is forbidden, and driving after any amount of alcohol is strictly illegal.
• Public behavior: obvious displays of affection, swearing and rude hand gestures can lead to a fine and even arrest. That includes swearing in messages and on social media. Behave with restraint.
• Dress: in the city dress is fairly relaxed, but malls and family venues ask you not to come in very revealing clothes. Swimwear is for the beach and the pool, not the mall. In mosques, shoulders, arms and legs must be covered, and women must cover their hair.
• Metro: eating, drinking or chewing gum inside the train is forbidden and fined. Eating on the platform is allowed.
• Ramadan: during Ramadan it's forbidden to eat, drink or smoke in public during fasting hours, tourists included. Most restaurants keep operating, and there are designated places to eat. The next Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027 and last about a month. The exact date is set by the moon sighting.

Money in Dubai: dirhams, cards, tips and taxes

• The currency is the dirham (AED), pegged to the dollar at a fixed rate of 3.6725 dirhams to the dollar. Quick math: 100 dirhams is a little over 27 dollars.
• Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and the metro (when topping up a card). Keep some cash for markets and tips.
• When you pay by card and are asked whether to charge in shekels or dirhams, choose dirhams. The conversion to shekels at the till is usually at a worse rate.
• Tips: in restaurants 10–15% is usual for good service. Check the bill first, because many places already add a service charge. In taxis it's customary to round up.
• Large amounts of cash: above 60,000 dirhams (or the equivalent) must be declared on entry and exit.

What is the Tourism Dirham, and how do you get a VAT refund?

Tourism Dirham is a municipal fee that Dubai hotels usually charge per room per night, roughly 7–20 dirhams depending on the hotel category. In May 2026 Dubai announced a support package for the tourism sector that includes a temporary suspension of taxes and fees on hotels and restaurants, so check your hotel bill to see whether the fee is charged on your dates.

VAT: the UAE has 5% VAT, and tourists can get most of it back, minus a small fee. The conditions:

1. Buy in a store that takes part in the refund scheme (look for a Tax Free sign), and ask for a Tax Free invoice with your passport.
2. The minimum is 250 dirhams on one invoice, in the same store.
3. The goods must leave the country within 90 days of purchase.
4. At the airport, before check-in, go to the refund point with your passport, the invoices and the goods themselves, then choose a refund to your credit card or in cash.
5. Food and goods consumed inside the country aren't included.

How do you get around Dubai, and what does it cost?

• Metro: clean, air-conditioned and reaches most of the main sights, including the airport. You pay with a rechargeable nol card, sold at stations. You can't pay cash on public transport. A Silver card costs 25 dirhams, of which 19 dirhams is credit for rides. Tap the card when you leave the station too, or you'll be charged the maximum fare.
• Gold class and women's carriage: every train has a Gold carriage, which costs about twice as much, and a section for women and children only. Men who enter it get fined, so watch the markings on the platform.
• Taxis: relatively cheap and everywhere. You can hail one on the street or book through an app, Careem or Uber. There are also pink-roofed taxis for women and families.
• Walking: for most of the year it's too hot for long walks in the middle of the day. Plan outdoor sightseeing for mornings and evenings.

From the airport to the city: Terminals 1 and 3 at Dubai International (DXB) have Red Line metro stations. Terminal 2 has no metro, and a taxi is the simplest option from there. If you land with big suitcases at rush hour, a taxi will usually be faster and more comfortable.

When is the best time to visit Dubai?

The comfortable season is roughly November to March. In November the daytime temperature is about 30°C, the evening about 20°C, the sea is warm (around 27°C) and there's almost no rain. From June to September the heat is extreme, often above 40°C, and activity moves to malls and indoor attractions. The sun is strong in winter too, so bring sunscreen.

Other small things worth knowing

• Time difference: the UAE doesn't use daylight saving time. In winter it's two hours ahead of Israel, in summer one hour.
• Power sockets: Dubai uses British three-pin sockets (type G) at 230 volts. Israeli chargers don't fit directly, so you need an adapter.
• Weekend: in the government sector the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. Private businesses vary, so check opening hours in advance.
• Emergency numbers: police 999, ambulance 998.
• Drinking water: most tourists and residents drink bottled water, and that's the simplest option.
• Popular attractions: for the Burj Khalifa and the big attractions, book on the official website a few days ahead. Sunset slots sell out first and cost more.

Tips we've learned: mistakes to avoid

• Photographing your family on the beach with strangers in the background and posting it to your story. That's exactly the kind of photo that can get you in trouble. Shoot at an angle that leaves strangers out, or blur them before posting.
• Not tapping your nol card on the way out of the metro. You'll be charged the maximum fare. And top up the card in advance, because a minimum balance is required to enter the station.
• Taking a taxi at rush hour on the main roads. Between 7:00–9:00 and 17:00–20:00 the traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road is heavy, and the metro is often faster.
• Planning WhatsApp video calls with the kids at home. They won't work. Install Zoom or Teams for everyone before the flight.
• Packing controlled medicines in your suitcase without a prescription. Even if nobody usually checks, the risk isn't worth it.
• Paying in shekels at the card terminal. Always choose dirhams.
• Hunting for a SIM at the airport after a night flight. The queue at the counters can be long. An eSIM installed in advance saves you that.

Internet in Dubai: how do you stay connected from landing?

The simplest option: an eSIM you install while still in Israel, which connects the moment you land. In Dubai you need internet all the time: to navigate, book a taxi on Careem or Uber, send WhatsApp messages, make Zoom video calls, show medication permits and check flight updates. The airport has local SIM counters, but there's usually a queue, and you have to take your Israeli SIM out of the phone.

The FlySim eSIM for the UAE connects to the local network as soon as you land. Your Israeli SIM stays in the phone for regular calls and SMS from your bank, and data runs through the eSIM. The eSIM doesn't unlock the blocked WhatsApp calls, but it gives you everything else. Before you buy, check that your phone supports eSIM, go over the eSIM installation guide and when to install and activate, and if you're not sure how much data you need, the guide to choosing your data amount will help.

Checklist before your flight to Dubai

• Check the current NSC travel warning, and that your flight is operating
• Passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry
• Travel insurance that covers the destination
• A prescription and a doctor's letter in English for every controlled medicine, and an online permit application
• Zoom or Teams installed for you and your family
• An adapter for British sockets (type G)
• Some cash in dirhams
• Careem or Uber installed on your phone
• eSIM installed and ready to activate

Frequently asked questions

Do Israelis need a visa for Dubai?

No. Under the mutual visa waiver agreement, Israelis can stay in the UAE for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry.

Is there a travel warning for Dubai?

Israel's NSC publishes travel warnings for the UAE, and in recent years they've been at level 3. Warnings are updated, so check the current status on the NSC website before booking and again before you fly.

Does WhatsApp work in Dubai?

Messages work, but WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked. For video calls you can use Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Which medicines are banned in Dubai?

Controlled medicines, such as painkillers with codeine, tramadol, Ritalin, sedatives and some sleeping pills, can be brought in only with a prescription and a medical letter, and up to three months' supply. CBD products are banned outright.

How much does a metro ride cost in Dubai?

With a nol Silver card a ride costs about 3 dirhams for one zone, 5 for two zones and 7.5 for three zones or more. The card itself costs 25 dirhams, including 19 in credit.

What's the time difference between Israel and Dubai?

In winter Dubai is two hours ahead of Israel, and in summer one hour, because the UAE doesn't use daylight saving time.

Do I need a power adapter in Dubai?

Yes. Dubai has British three-pin sockets (type G), and Israeli plugs don't fit them without an adapter.

Can I get a VAT refund in Dubai?

Yes. On a purchase of at least 250 dirhams in a participating store you get back most of the VAT (5%), minus a small fee, at the airport refund point before your flight.