Is Dubai safe?

Yes. Dubai Police’s sustainability report puts the share of people in Dubai who feel safe walking alone at night at 97.8% in 2022, up from 94.2% in 2020, based on a Gallup survey. For most visitors the real risks are the summer heat and public-behaviour rules they did not know about, not crime.

What the published figures say

These are city-wide figures; neighbourhood detail for the old town is in is Deira safe.

Getting around safely

The Metro

RTA says the Metro has more than 3,000 CCTV cameras in trains and stations and its own Metro Police force. Each train has cabins designated for women and children. Sitting in an area designated for another category of passenger carries an AED 100 fine. Fares and cards are explained in our Metro and nol card guide.

Taxis

Dubai Taxi is regulated by RTA. You can book through the S’hail app or partner apps, hail on the street, or use the official queues at Dubai International and Al Maktoum airports. The minimum fare is AED 12 for a street pickup and AED 13 for an app booking. Dubai Taxi also runs a Ladies and Families taxi with female drivers, recognisable by its pink roof, which you can book on the S’hail or Bolt apps or pick up at the airport terminals. Typical airport fares are in how much a taxi from Dubai airport costs.

Where visitors actually get into trouble

Usually not through crime against them, but through public-behaviour rules that are stricter than many visitors expect:

• Affection in public. Holding hands is fine. Visit Dubai advises visitors to refrain from dramatic displays of affection in public.
• Alcohol. Non-Muslim adults aged 21 and over can drink in licensed hotels, establishments and restaurants, according to Visit Dubai. The street and the public beach are not licensed venues.
• Swimwear. Fine at the beach and the pool, but not appropriate in business districts and shopping malls, Visit Dubai says.
• Dress at heritage sites. Visit Dubai advises dressing conservatively in historical areas and at cultural sites; see what to wear in Dubai.
• Photographing people. Ask first. Privacy is protected under UAE law, including Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on combating rumours and cybercrimes, which the UAE government portal lists among its cyber laws.

Women travelling alone

Visit Dubai calls the city one of the world’s safest and most welcoming places for solo female travellers. The practical tools are the women-and-children Metro cabins and the Ladies and Families taxis with female drivers. More in is Dubai safe for solo female travellers.

Travelling with children

The same city-wide picture applies. With children, the practical hazards are the heat and the distances, not the city; see Dubai with kids. Women travelling with children can use the women-and-children Metro cabins.

The risk that is not crime: heat

The Dubai Government Media Office gives the average summer high as 41.8°C, with overnight lows of 29.7°C. That is the thing most likely to spoil a trip: plan outdoor time for early morning and evening, carry water, and never leave a child or anyone else in a parked car. At the beach, swim where lifeguards are on duty and follow the flags: red means no swimming. See what to do in Dubai in summer.

Emergency numbers

The UAE government portal also lists the DCAS SOS app for emergency ambulance requests in Dubai.

A worked example

You take a taxi from your hotel to a mall a few minutes away, and the meter shows AED 9. You pay AED 12, the minimum fare for a street pickup. Had you booked the same ride in the app, the minimum would be AED 13. Knowing the rule avoids a needless argument with the driver.

Questions people ask

Is Dubai safe at night?

Yes. In the 2022 Gallup survey cited by Dubai Police, 97.8% of people felt safe walking alone at night.

What number do I call in an emergency?

999 for police, 998 for an ambulance, 997 for fire.

Is the Metro safe for women?

Yes. There are women-and-children cabins, more than 3,000 CCTV cameras and a dedicated Metro Police force.

Is the tap water safe?

See is tap water safe to drink in Dubai. More of what surprises first-time visitors is in first time in Dubai.

Verified August 2026. See our editorial policy.