Is It Safe to Travel to United Arab Emirates in 2026?
United Arab Emirates - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to United Arab Emirates due to elevated risks. Key factors: terrorism, civil_unrest.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), also known simply as the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, situated at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal semi-constitutional monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as its national capital.
Is It Safe to Travel to United Arab Emirates in 2026?
United Arab Emirates is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Reconsider travel to the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of armed conflict and terrorism. An ordered departure for non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their family members has been issued due to the threat of armed conflict. There is an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran, targeting locations in the UAE associated with the United States. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, potentially targeting tourist locations and government facilities.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- terrorism
- civil_unrest
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Ordered departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel due to the threat of armed conflict., Ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran targeting locations in the UAE associated with the United States..
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may face increased risks of terrorism targeting tourist locations, particularly in light of recent threats from Iran against U.S.-associated sites in the UAE.
Business travelers should be aware of potential disruptions due to civil unrest and the threat of terrorism, which may impact meetings and travel plans.
Families with children face significant risks due to the potential for terrorist attacks in public areas, and healthcare access may be limited in emergencies.
Remote workers can find good connectivity in urban areas, but the ongoing threat of armed conflict may disrupt stability and safety.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for United Arab Emirates.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel1 region
▶United Arab Emirates
Reconsider travel due to armed conflict and terrorism.
United Arab Emirates has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
United Arab Emirates has an overall threat severity of 6.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.0/10, terrorism risk 7.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 18/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED)
Language
Arabic
Notable restrictions:
- Strict rules on social behavior, drug possession, traffic violations, and financial crimes.
Vaccinations
Recommended:
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to United Arab Emirates
▶What is the current travel advisory level for United Arab Emirates?
▶Is it safe to travel to United Arab Emirates right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit United Arab Emirates?
▶What vaccines do I need for United Arab Emirates?
▶Is United Arab Emirates safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in United Arab Emirates?
More United Arab Emirates Data
Not Free — 18/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.