The UAE is officially the safest country in the world. That’s not marketing copy – it’s Numbeo’s Safety Index by Country 2025, which ranked the UAE number one out of 148 nations with a score of 85.2. Its crime index sat at 14.8 – the lowest recorded figure on the planet.
For comparison: the UK sits at position 84. The US at 89. Most of where you came from is considerably further down the list.
But rankings are one thing. What does safe actually feel like when you’re here? And is there anything you need to know before you visit or move? Let’s get into it.
Is the UAE Safe for Tourists?
Yes, and the gap between the UAE and most tourist destinations is significant. Violent crime against tourists is genuinely rare here – not “rare” in the way tourist boards use the word everywhere, but actually rare in a way that shows up in data.
Day-to-day, this is what you notice. People leave phones on restaurant tables. Women walk home alone at 2am without thinking twice about it. Kids take the metro unsupervised. You can leave a bag on a beach lounger while you swim. It’s a different atmosphere to most major cities, and once you’ve lived here a while, going back to London or Mumbai or Johannesburg feels immediately different.
Petty crime – pickpocketing, scams, bag snatching – does exist, particularly in crowded markets and busy tourist strips. It’s just dramatically lower than comparable cities.
A few things that contribute to this:
Penalties for crime in the UAE are severe. The deterrent is real. Most people who come here, whether residents or visitors, have a vested interest in staying – getting deported or jailed for theft kills that fast.
Surveillance is extensive. Dubai and Abu Dhabi have some of the most comprehensive CCTV and smart policing infrastructure in the world. It’s visible, and people know it’s there.
The population is mostly expats with work visas. Economic desperation-driven crime is low because the residency model selects for employed people.
Expert Tip: The emergency number in the UAE is 999 for police, ambulance, and fire. English-speaking agents are always available. Save it.
Is Dubai Safe? How the Cities Compare
The UAE doesn’t just top the country rankings – its cities dominate the city rankings too. According to Numbeo’s 2026 data:
Abu Dhabi is the world’s safest city – for the tenth consecutive year – with a safety score of 88.8. Ras Al Khaimah ranks second. Ajman third. Sharjah fourth. Dubai sits at sixth globally.
Five UAE cities in the global top six. And yes, they’re all ahead of Zurich, Copenhagen, and Tokyo.
If you’re specifically asking about Dubai because you’ve heard it’s rowdier than Abu Dhabi – that’s partly true in the sense that it’s a bigger, louder city with more nightlife and more tourists. But “rowdier than Abu Dhabi” and “unsafe” are very different things. Dubai’s crime index score is 16.1. New York’s is over 48. London’s is above 45.
Is the UAE Safe for Women?
This is the question most solo female travellers actually want answered, and the answer is: yes, more so than almost anywhere else.
95% of UAE residents say they feel safe walking alone at night, according to Gallup’s Global Law and Order Report. Women routinely go out alone, take taxis late at night, and travel solo across the country without incident. The night-time economy – beach clubs, restaurants, late-night malls – is full of women doing exactly this.
Practical things to know:
Pink-roofed taxis with female drivers are available at airports and by dispatch, specifically for women and families.
The Metro has women-and-children-only carriages at the front of every train – they’re air-conditioned and less crowded.
Dress codes matter. The UAE is a Muslim country. Modest dress in malls, souks, and public areas outside the beach is expected – not just politely suggested. Swimwear stays at the beach and pool. This isn’t a safety issue, it’s a respect-the-culture issue, but it’s worth knowing before you pack.
Public displays of affection can draw attention or official warnings. Keep it low-key in public.
For solo female tourists planning to really explore Dubai, our guide on things to do in Dubai alone has a full breakdown of what’s easy and comfortable to do on your own.
Understanding UAE Laws – The Ones Tourists Get Wrong
Safety in the UAE also means knowing what the rules are, because some of them catch visitors off guard.
Alcohol – You can drink in the UAE. But only in licensed venues: hotels, licensed restaurants, airport lounges. Drinking in public, on beaches, or in non-licensed spaces is illegal. So is being visibly drunk in public. So is driving with any alcohol in your system. Read our complete guide to drinking in Dubai before your first night out.
Tattoos – Legal to have, legal to show in most settings. There are some nuances around what’s displayed where. Our tattoos in Dubai guide covers the rules properly.
Public behaviour – Swearing in public, rude hand gestures, and certain social media posts can result in fines or detention. It’s not common, but it happens to tourists who assume the rules don’t apply to them.
Ramadan – Eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan is prohibited for everyone, including non-Muslims. Restaurants are open but screened. Most shopping malls have dedicated areas.
Medications – Some medicines that are over-the-counter or prescription in your home country are controlled substances in the UAE. Check the UAE Ministry of Health’s permitted medications list if you’re travelling with anything beyond the basics.
Is the UAE Safe Right Now? The Regional Context
Honest answer: the UAE’s domestic safety record is excellent. Crime within the country is genuinely low and has been consistently so.
The complicating factor in 2026 is regional. The broader Middle East has been under significant tension tied to the Iran-Israel-US conflict, and some Western governments – including Australia and Canada – have issued elevated travel advisories for the UAE in early 2026. These aren’t about internal crime. They’re about external regional geopolitical risk, including the theoretical possibility of spillover from regional military activity.
For the vast majority of tourists and expats, daily life in the UAE has not materially changed. But if you’re booking travel, check your government’s current travel advisory before you commit. These situations change fast.
UAE Safety Rankings at a Glance
| Index | UAE Ranking | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Numbeo Safety Index by Country (mid-2025) | #1 of 148 | 85.2 / 100 |
| Numbeo Crime Index by Country (2025) | #148 of 148 | 14.8 (lowest = safest) |
| Abu Dhabi – Safest City in the World (2026) | #1 globally | 88.8 / 100 |
| Dubai – Safest City in the World (2026) | #6 globally | 83.9 / 100 |
| % residents feeling safe walking at night | – | 95% (Gallup) |
Planning to Stay? Practical Things to Sort Early
If you’re moving rather than just visiting, a few things that directly affect your safety and wellbeing as a resident:
Healthcare – The UAE has excellent private healthcare but it is not cheap without insurance. Our cheapest hospitals in Dubai guide covers your options if you need care without corporate cover.
Traffic – Roads are fast and driving standards vary. Pedestrian crossings are not always respected. Speed cameras are everywhere and fines are high. If you’re driving, assume everyone around you is moving fast.
Emergency contacts – 999 is the universal number. Dubai Police also have an app and a Twitter/X account (@DubaiPoliceHQ) that actually responds.
Things you can’t do that you might assume you can – Our things you must never do in Dubai guide covers the tourist traps – legal ones.
FAQs
Day-to-day personal safety in the UAE is among the best in the world. The UAE ranked #1 in Numbeo’s global safety index in 2025 with a crime score of 14.8 – the lowest on the planet. There are elevated government travel advisories from some Western countries in early 2026 related to regional geopolitical tensions, not domestic crime. Check your government’s current advisory before travelling.
Yes. Dubai consistently ranks among the safest cities globally for women. Women walk alone at night across the city routinely. Modest dress in public and awareness of local customs is important.
Dubai’s Numbeo Crime Index score is 16.1. For comparison, London is above 45 and New York is above 48. Violent crime against tourists is extremely rare.
Abu Dhabi is ranked the safest city in the world by Numbeo’s 2026 data, for the tenth consecutive year running, with a safety score of 88.8.
Strict legal deterrents, extensive surveillance infrastructure, high average incomes across the resident population, efficient law enforcement, and strong cultural norms around public order. It’s a combination of governance, economics, and social structure – not just one factor.
Yes. 95% of UAE residents report feeling safe walking alone at night (Gallup). Public spaces, waterfronts, and tourist areas are active and well-lit well past midnight.
