Dubai Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (41/100)
Is Dubai safe right now? Checked 15 October 2026
Dubai scores 41/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates United Arab Emirates Level 3 (Reconsider Travel, updated 29 Aug 2026); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories). No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. Canada changed its level from 3 to 2 on 15 Oct.
Official US advisory · Level 3
Reconsider Travel
This decision takes precedence over the analytical composite shown on this page.
Crime (score 15)
Environmental quality (score 45)
September 27, 2026
Dubai, United Arab Emirates has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 41 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is environmental quality at 45/100; the lowest-rated category is crime at 15/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the United Arab Emirates travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Dubai to visit in 2026?
Dubai is currently under a US State Department Level 3 Reconsider Travel advisory. That official decision takes precedence. The 41/100 moderate composite remains visible only as analytical context and must not be read as permission to disregard the advisory. The highest-rated risk category for Dubai is environmental quality (45/100), and the lowest is crime (15/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: security (60/100) and natural hazards (30/100). Governments disagree: US Level 3, UK Level 1, Canada Level 2.
A score of 41 is higher than the scores of 53% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Dubai currently carries a moderate risk baseline composite of 41 out of 100 and a US State Department advisory level 3. Travelers should also note a Level 1 global dengue health notice from the CDC alongside recent security alerts and regional conflict advisories.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 01:57 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Environmental quality (score 45/100): Check air-quality forecasts. If sensitive, pack a mask and adjust outdoor activity. Hydration is critical in heat.
- Political instability (score 22/100): Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings. Monitor news the morning of travel. Have a flexible departure plan.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Dubai
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime transit and exploration in central areas are generally safe and routine. Standard alertness in crowded transit hubs and tourist plazas is adequate.
After dark, keep to well-illuminated thoroughfares and busy dining/entertainment quarters. Use verified taxis or rideshare apps when returning late.
Safety by Traveler Type in Dubai
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Dubai for solo travelers (Crime 15/100 · Transport 15/100), women traveling solo (Crime 15/100), families with children (Health 15/100 · Natural disaster 20/100), older travelers (Health 15/100 · Transport 15/100), business travelers (Digital 20/100 · Money 12/100 · Transport 15/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 15/100 · Political 22/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + Global Peace Index references)
Quick facts
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | low |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | high |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | high |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Dubai
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Official travel advisory
Level 3 · Reconsider Travel
United Arab Emirates - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Dubai happened in April (1 of 1 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the United Arab Emirates travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the United Arab Emirates entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
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. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Dubai
The most weather-stable two-month window for Dubai is January–February, when typical daily temperatures run from about 14°C to 25°C and monthly rain averages 12 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include extreme heat in May–October. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Sep 5, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Dubai
Dubai has 10 hospitals, 4 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 4 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Belhoul European Hospital
- Hospital: BIOS CLINIC
- Hospital: Dental Centre
- Hospital: Emirate Hospital
- Hospital: Invisible Braces Dental And Skin Polyclinic
- Hospital: Iranian Hospital Dubai
- Hospital: Medcare Orthopaedics & Spine Hospital
- Hospital: Mediclinic
- Hospital: Neuro Spinal Hospital
- Hospital: Nexx Home Healthcare Services
- Police: Unnamed police
- Police: Al Raffa Police Stn
- Police: Bur Dubai Police Station
- Police: Wasal police
- Embassy: Consulate General of Canada
- Embassy: Consulate General of Singapore
- Embassy: Moroccan Consulate
- Embassy: Moroccan Embassy
- Embassy: قنصلية العراق
- Pharmacy: Unnamed pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Al Falah Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Community Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Life Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Life Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Life Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: LIFE Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Marina Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Super Care Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: Swiss Pharmacy
- Fire station: Civil Defence Station Al Karama
- Fire station: Civil Defence Station Al Karama
- Fire station: Satwa
- Fire station: الدفاع المدني القوز
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (United Arab Emirates)
| Police | 999 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 998 |
| Fire | 997 |
| General | 999 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Essential local emergency phrases
Show this screen to first responders, hotel staff, or passersby if you cannot speak the local language during an emergency.
Medical access
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | high |
| Emergency response | high |
| English-speaking care | high |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
High-quality international hospitals.
Common scam patterns
- Unofficial taxi / limo overcharging. At the airport or tourist spots, unofficial "limo" drivers charge far above the metered RTA-taxi fare. Tip: Use official cream RTA taxis at the rank, the Metro, or Careem/Uber; avoid drivers who approach you.
- Gold/souk overcharging & fake goods. High-pressure haggling and fake "gold" or branded goods in the souks and from street sellers. Tip: Buy gold only from reputable shops (priced by weight at the day rate); haggle hard and verify hallmarks.
Major transport hubs
| Hub | Type | Risk | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | airport | 20/100 | Use the official RTA taxi rank, the Metro, or a ride-hail app; ignore "limo" offers in arrivals. |
Area notes
- Deira souks & Bur Dubai. Safe but the main spot for souk overcharging and persistent street sellers - haggle and verify goods.
- Overall. Dubai is one of the safest tourist cities with very low street crime; the main cautions are overcharging and respecting strict local laws (public conduct, alcohol rules, photography of people, zero-tolerance drug laws).
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in United Arab Emirates for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Run a personalized assessment for Dubai
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 18 → 41 | low → moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 18 | low | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + Global Peace Index references) |
Every editorial change to Dubai's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Dubai
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Dubai, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
Coverage looks complete for this city.
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.