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United Arab Emirates: plug type, voltage, driving side and emergency number

Quick travel facts for United Arab Emirates (capital: Abu Dhabi): which plug and voltage to pack for, which side of the road traffic uses, who to call in an emergency, and the calling code, currency and time zone. Data checked 2026-10-27.

Quick answers

What plug type does United Arab Emirates use?

United Arab Emirates uses type G plugs and sockets. Type G is three rectangular pins in a triangle. All plug types by country.

What voltage does United Arab Emirates use?

United Arab Emirates uses a mains supply of about 230 V at 50 Hz. Voltage and frequency by country.

Which side of the road do they drive on in United Arab Emirates?

In United Arab Emirates, traffic drives on the right. Driving side by country.

What is the emergency number in United Arab Emirates?

Emergency numbers in United Arab Emirates: police 999; ambulance 998; fire 997. Other numbers may also work locally; we show only numbers that both of our sources list. Emergency numbers by country.

What is the calling code for United Arab Emirates?

The international calling code for United Arab Emirates is +971. Dial it after your international access prefix, or type + at the start on a mobile phone. Calling codes by country.

What currency does United Arab Emirates use?

The official currency of United Arab Emirates is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED). Currency by country.

Do you tip in United Arab Emirates?

Optional but common in restaurants, hotels and tourist-facing services. Some venues already include a service charge. Summary of Wikipedia’s “List of tipping customs by country”; customs vary by venue. Tipping by country.

What are the official languages of United Arab Emirates?

The official language of United Arab Emirates is Arabic.

What time zone is United Arab Emirates in?

United Arab Emirates uses UTC+04:00 as its standard time. Clocks do not change for daylight saving time. Time zones by country.

United Arab Emirates travel facts at a glance

Plug typesType G
Voltage and frequency230 V, 50 Hz
Driving sideDrives on the right (right-hand traffic)
Emergency numbersPolice: 999
Ambulance: 998
Fire: 997
Other numbers may also work; only numbers both sources list are shown.
International dialling code+971
CurrencyUnited Arab Emirates dirham (AED, د.إ)
TippingOptional but common in restaurants, hotels and tourist-facing services. Some venues already include a service charge.
Official languageArabic
Time zone(s)UTC+04:00 (standard time)
Daylight savingNo clock changes

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a travel adapter for United Arab Emirates?

You need one if your devices have plugs that do not fit type G sockets. A travel adapter only changes the shape of the plug; it does not change the voltage.

Do I need a voltage converter for United Arab Emirates?

Most phone, laptop and camera chargers accept 100 to 240 V, so a plug adapter is usually enough: check the small print on the charger. Devices rated for 110 to 120 V only, such as some hair dryers and kitchen appliances from North America, need a converter or should not be used.

Is this travel information official?

No. GeoKnow is an independent site. The facts come from public datasets and are shown only where at least two sources agree. Always check official government travel advice before you go.

When was this checked?

The data was checked on 2026-10-27. Plugs, emergency numbers and currencies can change, so confirm important details before travelling.

Check before you travel

Data checked 2026-10-27. These facts are compiled from public datasets and are shown only where at least two independent sources agree. GeoKnow is an independent site and is not an official source: rules, plugs, emergency numbers and currencies can change. Before you go, confirm anything important with your government’s travel advice, the destination’s embassy, your airline, hotel or phone provider. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

More about United Arab Emirates

See the main United Arab Emirates country page for the capital, population, land neighbours and outline map. Learn it, then test yourself: Capital Hunt (the capital of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi), Outline, Guess the Flag, Neighbour Rush and Border Run, or browse all geography games.

Compare topics across countries: plug types, voltage and frequency, driving side, emergency numbers, calling codes, currencies, time zones and tipping.

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Sources: Plugs, voltage and frequency: Wikipedia “Mains electricity by country” and worldstandards.eu. Driving side: Wikipedia “Left- and right-hand traffic” and Wikidata. Emergency numbers: Wikipedia “List of emergency telephone numbers” and Wikidata. Calling codes: Wikipedia “List of telephone country codes”, Wikidata and REST Countries. Currency: REST Countries and Wikidata. Languages: REST Countries and Wikidata. Time zones: the IANA time zone database, cross-checked against Wikipedia or Wikidata. Tipping: Wikipedia “List of tipping customs by country” (single source, community edited).