Abu Dhabi scraps liquor license requirement for alcohol purchases
People in the emirate now need only be of age and in a certified drinking area such as a bar to consume alcohol.
Abu Dhabi is no longer requiring people to have a license to obtain alcohol. The new measure comes as the United Arab Emirates seeks to boost its hospitality industry amid the continued pandemic.
The UAE capital city’s Department of Culture and Tourism informed liquor dealers of the decision on Monday. The new rules stipulate that people need only be 21 years old and consume the alcohol at home or in a licensed area, such as a bar or hotel, The Associated Press reported.
The Department of Culture and Tourism has not made an official public announcement about the measure.
Previously, people in Abu Dhabi needed to show a license to buy alcohol in liquor stores, bars and restaurants, though the rule was rarely enforced. In the Emirates’ other major city, Dubai, liquor store purchases require a license, but buying booze in a bar or restaurant does not. Dubai also made obtaining the licenses easier this year, including allowing tourists to obtain a temporary one with their passport, according to the Abu-Dhabi based news outlet The National.
