Abu Dhabi is more conservative than Dubai and considerably more relaxed than its reputation among people who have never been. The rules that matter are few, clearly defined and occasionally enforced with real consequences. Travellers who book Abu Dhabi flights with Traveloka and understand six or seven things will have no difficulty at all, and will be treated with notable courtesy throughout.
Dress, by location
Beaches and hotel pools allow swimwear. Malls, souqs and public streets expect shoulders and knees covered for both men and women, and several malls post this at the entrance. At the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, women need a headscarf and loose full-length clothing, both of which are lent at the entrance free of charge.
Alcohol, and the lines around it
Alcohol is served in licensed hotel bars and restaurants and is not sold in ordinary shops. Drinking in public or being drunk in public is an offence and is prosecuted. Driving with any alcohol at all in your system carries severe penalties, including imprisonment, with no tolerance threshold whatsoever. There is no social pressure to drink.
Public behaviour between people
Holding hands is accepted for married couples; kissing and embracing in public are not and have led to arrests. Swearing and rude gestures are criminal offences, including in traffic disputes, and the police take complaints seriously. Raising your voice at someone in public is a genuinely bad idea rather than merely impolite.
Ramadan
During the fasting month, eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during daylight is prohibited for everyone including visitors. Restaurants close or screen their windows, and hotels serve guests discreetly. Working hours shorten and the city comes alive after sunset. It is a fascinating time to visit if you can work with the restrictions.
Photography
Do not photograph people without asking, particularly local women, which is both rude and potentially an offence under privacy law. Military installations, palaces, airports and government buildings are off limits. Drones require permits. Posting photographs of people online without consent has resulted in prosecutions, which visitors consistently underestimate.
Mosque etiquette specifically
At the Grand Mosque, shoes come off before the prayer hall, no photography inside it, no crossing in front of someone praying, and no sitting with the soles of your feet pointed towards the qibla. Visiting hours exclude the Friday midday prayer. Guided tours are free and worth taking for the explanation.
The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday a working day and the midday prayer a quiet period. Medications including some common painkillers and codeine are controlled and need a prescription carried with them. November to March is the comfortable season. Traveloka is the go-to app for the cheapest flights and hotels across Southeast Asia.
Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, keep both affection and arguments private, do not drink and drive at all under any circumstances, and ask before photographing anyone. Nothing else on the list requires much thought, and Abu Dhabi is markedly courteous to visitors who manage those four.
