Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai (SR)

Dubai, Jul 12: In the Emirate of Dubai, until now, only residency visa holders, were eligible to apply for a one-year liquor licence, that allowed them to buy alcohol from shops and store at home. Henceforth, Dubai will be offering a 30-day free alcohol licence for tourists, a move that ensures visitors will not be penalised for breaking the law.

African + Eastern and Maritime and Mercantile International (MMI), a subsidiary of the Emirates Group, which are authorised liquor retail outlets in the UAE, in their websites, have a separate segment instructing tourists how to apply for the license. The 30-day free alcohol licence will be issued only to visitors who are non-Muslim and 21 years and over.

Tourists, who would like to apply for the temporary license can visit any African + Eastern or MMI store with their original passport and complete and sign a form to confirm that they are tourists. The store in turn will take a copy of the passport as well as the entry stamp page and each visitor will be issued guidelines that need to be followed in Dubai.

African + Eastern and MMI in their website say, 'Please ensure that you read this to ensure you are respectful of the country, its rules and its people that you are visiting'. The tourist code of conduct includes a list of five instructions, including no consumption in public places, no drinking and driving, do not be intoxicated in public and alcohol in public places, as per Khaleej Times report.

Presently, as per law, anyone drinking in the city's bars and restaurants should technically have a licence, though they are not asked to furnish one.