Understanding the Rules: Alcohol Licence

One of the most important aspects to successful global mobility is information. Whenever new employees and their families relocate to a new destination, the more they know, the smoother the process. But prioritising information doesn’t end with arrival, it remains the cornerstone of expat life for as long as they stay. Understanding and being aware of the rules and requirements of your resident country ensures you can avoid obstacles and have the best experience possible. At EER we know what it is like to be an expat, as employees, families and as a company. That is why we continually work to adapt our services to accommodate changes in local laws and provide you with the highest level of service. One of the key areas in which we can help is Alcohol Licences.

Staying in the Know

For those who might be new to the region, all residents need a licence to purchase, transport and consume alcohol in Dubai.  From dining out in restaurants to entertaining at home, you need to make sure you are protected and compliant with the rules of the Emirate.  When it comes to buying alcohol for your home, you can do this from two retail outlets, MMI and African & Eastern. Situated in a variety of locations across Dubai, they are the only licensed sellers of alcoholic beverages. They are also the only two entities from which to obtain your Alcohol Licence. Expats from predominately non-Muslim countries might find it confusing at first, but the inclusive nature of the UAE Government has always allowed for generous flexibility when it comes to making us feel more at home.

Procedural Changes

The last few months have seen siginificant changes to the operations of the retail outlets MMI and African and Eastern.  Tourists can now receive a temporary licence which allows them to buy alcohol with just their passport. During the Covid-19 lockdown, both brands collaborated to provide a legal home delivery service so that licence holders could shop without having to leave their homes.  These unprecedented steps are part of an on-going effort to improve efficiency and convenience for non-Muslim expats and visitors in Dubai. Knowing what is and isn’t possible, what elements are required and how to ensure you are obeying the rules will make a huge difference to everyday life. Many of us understand the inclination to relax with a nice drink or have a fun time with friends, but doing that safely is the top priority. The latest change you need to be aware of is the adoption of a brand new licence.

The New Alcohol Licence

If you already have an alcohol licence you need to know that as of 1^st September it will no longer be valid.  All of the red alcohol licences are being replaced with a new black one. As before, the new licence is only available for non-Muslims but is now tied to your Emirates ID and you will be able to request your own monthly limit (subject to CID approval). Both MMI and African & Eastern have their own individual process, fees and incentives, but your new or renewed licence can be obtained from either brand, and then used in either shop. For renewals you can also retain the validity of your old card, either with a direct replacement or a new one that will include the extra months on its expiry date.  You can explore your options further online but if you don’t have time (or patience) for the gauntlet of procedure, EER are here to help. We can arrange for a new or renewed alcohol licence, which is AED 270 for a brand new card and AED25 for a simple switch, and our fee starts from just AED 195.

If you would like to discuss your options in regards to an Alcohol Licence or any other of the EER services, please get in touch via info@eerme.com or call us on +971 4 4211819.  We look forward to assisting you and hope you are #stayingsafe and #stayinginformed wherever you are.