No more permit to buy or drink alcohol in Abu Dhabi: the emirate authorities have decided to relax the rules for the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
“We are announcing the cancellation of permits for (the purchase) of alcohol. Residents and tourists will have the right to buy them in authorized stores ”, indicates the circular dated September 15 and which was consulted Tuesday by AFP.
The text specifies that the buyer must be at least 21 years old and that the purchase must be for consumption and not for resale, without specifying whether or not Muslims are allowed to buy alcohol.
Consumption must be done in private residences and in authorized places, such as private clubs, according to the circular which came into force on September 15.
This text puts an end to a legal vagueness: if the drinking establishments of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi do not usually require permits to sell alcohol, the sale remains technically subject to authorization.
In Dubai, businesses have an obligation to ask residents or tourists to present a permit before selling alcohol, but bars and restaurants do not require this document.
This year, the Emirate of Dubai relaxed the rules for purchasing alcohol, making it easier for residents to acquire it.
Thus, the obligation to obtain a certificate of no objection from the employer has been abolished in Dubai. Residents only need to fill out a form, present their identity card and pay 270 dirhams ($ 74) to obtain the permit which is reserved for non-Muslims.
Authorities in Dubai have also allowed tourists to obtain a temporary license to purchase alcohol issued by the emirate, showing their passports and visas to store managers.
The sale of alcohol is permitted in six of the seven emirates of this predominantly Muslim Gulf country. It is prohibited in the emirate of Sharjah.