United Arab Emirates : Safety by CityAbu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and at the same time the second-most populous city of this country.
This city is located on a T-shaped island that’s protruding into the Arabian Gulf.
It has an enormous population of whopping 1.8 million and is a center of anything and everything, from the political and economic aspect to social and cultural events.
Once you enter Abu Dhabi, you’ll probably gasp over this amazingly modern city, rich in skyscrapers, malls, top of the line buildings and contemporary roads and public facilities.
Here, you can do anything, from visiting Sheikh Zayed Mosque, the 6th largest mosque in the world, through having the best shopping experience in one of Abu Dhabi’s numerous malls, to swimming in one of its gorgeous private beaches.
Warnings & Dangers in Abu Dhabi
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Abu Dhabi is a very safe city to travel to. Many say that it is among the safest cities in the world, and it is also highly ranked 12th on the ranking of the safest and most dangerous countries. Overall, safety should not be an issue if you plan on traveling to this city.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
There is some risk of an accident happening while you are on the road. Driving off-road is not recommended since it can lead to dangerous accidents. Be sure that your vehicle is well-equipped and that you have enough water with you.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Even though pick-pocketing is expected to be rare since there are many foreign residents in Abu Dhabi, it still does happen since there is such a massive influx of tourists annually. It is recommended that you pay attention to your surroundings at all times.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
Among the natural disasters threatening Abu Dhabi are very high temperatures, reaching higher than 50C. Sand storms are also a common occurrence in this country, as well as thunderstorms. If you wish to acquire some more information on natural disasters, visit the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
As mentioned above, UAE is a country where the biggest part of the population is made of foreigners, so occurrences such as mugging and kidnapping are fairly low. Foreigners avoid crime as such because it would immediately lead to them being deported.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Terrorists are still issuing statements threatening to attack the Gulf region. These attacks could be carried out on military, oil, transportation and aviation interests as well as crowded places such as restaurants, hotels, beaches, shopping centers, and mosques. Make sure that you are aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
Since this country is known to be rich and prosperous, there are almost no scams in this territory.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Female travelers are faced with the same amount of risk as they do when traveling to European cities, Canada, the USA or Australia. Take normal precaution measures and avoid going too dark areas and walking down the streets late at night.
So... How Safe Is Abu Dhabi Really?
Generally speaking, Abu Dhabi is very safe to travel to.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t any crime, there is, but tourists are rarely targeted.
More often than not, violence in Abu Dhabi is domestic.
The reason you can relax in this country as a tourist is because most of the people (employees) in UAE are from other countries, and most locals are pretty well off so they’re probably not going to take anything from you.
Apart from that, the fact that the majority of people there are foreigners means that if they try to commit any crime, they will immediately get deported, and that fact alone is a pretty big crime-stopper.
You should probably pay attention to the Corniche area which is filled with tourists so there might be some pickpocketing activities there.
The biggest risk you might encounter when it comes to street violence and crime is pickpocketing.
Those minor risks that you might want to take into account when you plan on traveling to UAE, are natural disasters such as sandstorms and thunderstorms, and possible terrorist attacks or threats, which mainly occur in the Gulf region.
How Does Abu Dhabi Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 82 |
| Dubai | 80 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visa is not required for any stays shorter than 30 days. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the day of your return. However, if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Dirham is the official currency in Abu Dhabi. Dirhams have a constant exchange rate, in which 3.67 = 1 USD. This is the only currency that never fluctuates and is constant.
Weather
With extremely high temperatures that go as far up as 50C, the United Arab Emirates is infamous for its very hot spells. The hottest months are from June to September, so if you're planning your trip during those months, be sure to avoid direct long-term sun exposure and drink a lot of fluids.
Airports
The most prominent airport in the entire country of United Arab Emirates as well as in Abu Dhabi is the Abu Dhabi International Airport. It is located around 30.6 km east of Abu Dhabi city. It is the second-largest airport in the UAE.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Abu Dhabi, since it covers not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Abu Dhabi Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 24 | 25 | 28 | 33 | 38 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 30 | 26 |
| Low °C | 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 21 | 17 |
| High °F | 75 | 77 | 82 | 91 | 100 | 104 | 106 | 108 | 102 | 95 | 86 | 79 |
| Low °F | 59 | 61 | 64 | 72 | 79 | 82 | 86 | 88 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 63 |
United Arab Emirates - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 82 |
| Dubai | 80 |
Excellent
Tough receiver
Not safe for single women
It’s highly dangerous for single women who have to be wary as molestation along public areas will bring a lot of attention and it’s a highly conservative country with zero tolerance legal system. Look at the fco UK travel advisory service. Also date rape drugs are highly prevalent so beware buying drinks from strangers.
Hi David,
I am resident of Abu Dhabi from Last 2 years and i never seen or heard anything you are talking about. its safest city of the world for everyone. so please stop misleading people
Dave makes no sense. Ranting garbage
It sounds like Dave is utterly and totally confused. What in the name of God is he talking about. Public molestation brings lots of attention?? If anyone can translate this garbage….good luck to them. I hope they never let this unbalanced person back in the country. He clearly sounds like a danger
Safe for single mother no problem
Not true. I have traveled as a western single mother with a child and I felt more safe here than travelling in Europe. Men especially were very respectful and I had no fear of being advanced on by a man or anything. I of course followed the rules, dressed respectfully and didn’t drink alcohol. I never once felt threatened or at risk
Driving
Really admire to travel
Beautiful country
I have travelled to Abu Dhabi a few times, it is amazing place to visit. It is very safe for everyone. It’s a very clean country. I would highly recommend this place to visit.
I love this city. My grandparents live there and I love it more every time I visit.
Amazing City, It is very safe, safest city in the world
You can be executed for being gay or lesbian
Not safe if you are a homo or attracted with romantic love to the same sex