Can You Smoke in Dubai? Rules, RAK Distance and More

Yes, you can smoke in Dubai as an adult, but only where it’s allowed. Smoking is banned in most enclosed public spaces, such as malls, offices, government buildings and public transport, and designated smoking areas are set aside for smokers. Light up in the wrong place and you can be fined.

That’s the short version. Most visitors have a few follow-up questions: the airport, Ramadan, and how long the drive to Ras Al Khaimah really takes. You’ll find the answers below.

Dubai waterfront promenade with yachts and towers – can you smoke in dubai

Can you smoke in Dubai, and where is it banned?

Smoking in Dubai is legal for adults in permitted outdoor areas and in licensed smoking zones. Enclosed public places are off limits. The signs are clear, and most buildings mark their smoking areas.

You’ll run into the ban in:

shopping malls and their food courts
offices and government buildings
the metro, buses, taxis and their stations
most indoor restaurant and café seating, unless a section is licensed for smoking

Shisha is a big part of the social scene. Licensed venues serve it, often out on the terrace. Hotels make their own rules for rooms and balconies, so ask at check-in.

Smoking in Dubai during Ramadan and with children in the car

During Ramadan, don’t smoke, eat or drink in public during daylight hours. The simplest approach for most visitors is to save the cigarette for the hotel, a licensed venue or after sunset.

UAE tobacco law also bans smoking in a vehicle with a young child inside. Travelling as a family? Plan your breaks outside the car.

Smoking in a chauffeured car isn’t the norm either. If you’ll want a break on a longer drive, mention it when you book. The driver can then plan a stop.

Can you smoke in Dubai airport?

You can smoke in Dubai airport only in the designated smoking areas inside the terminals. Smoking anywhere else in the building, including gates and arrivals halls, is not allowed. Terminal signs point you to the nearest smoking zone.

This matters most on arrival. After a long flight, plenty of travellers want a cigarette before anything else, and the smoking area may not sit on the direct route between immigration and the meeting point. Give yourself a few minutes. Tell your driver if you plan to stop.

How far is Ras Al Khaimah from Dubai?

Ras Al Khaimah is roughly 100 to 140 km from Dubai by road. The exact figure depends on where you start in Dubai and where you’re heading in Ras Al Khaimah. Northern Dubai is the closer end; Dubai Marina and the Palm are the far end.

The road heads north through Sharjah and Ajman, or around them on the inland highways, and ends in Ras Al Khaimah, the most northern emirate on the Gulf coast.

Distance between Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai, by starting point

The Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai distance shifts with the pickup point:

Deira and the DXB area: the shortest start, at the lower end of the range
Downtown Dubai: somewhere in the middle
Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah: the longest run, at the upper end
Al Maktoum (DWC) and Dubai South: also long, since you start in the far south of the emirate

Search for the Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah distance or the Ras Al Khaimah to Dubai distance and you’re looking at the same road. Traffic is the variable.

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah travel time

The Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah travel time is usually about 1 to 1.5 hours by car outside rush hour. At peak times it can stretch much longer, and the Dubai and Sharjah corridor is often the worst part.

Watch out for weekday mornings heading into Dubai and late afternoons heading out. Friday evenings going north can be busy too. Got a hotel check-in or a flight from Ras Al Khaimah? Build in a buffer.

As for the route, the inland highways (E311 and E611) usually move faster than the coastal roads through Sharjah. Your driver picks on the day, based on live traffic.

Belgravia arranges private car journeys between the emirates. Send your pickup address, destination and time through the inter-emirate transfers page, and you’ll get one agreed quote by email before you travel.

Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah airport distance

The Dubai to Ras Al Khaimah airport distance sits in the same 100 to 140 km range as the city. Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is outside the city centre, so where you’re picked up in Dubai matters more than where the airport is.

Some travellers fly into Ras Al Khaimah for a resort stay and still want a day or two in Dubai. Others land at DXB and drive north. Either works. Weigh up the cost and timing of the flight against the drive before you decide.

Burj Khalifa and Dubai highways illuminated at night – can you smoke in dubai

Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah distance

The Ras Al Khaimah to Sharjah distance is roughly 75 to 90 km, depending on the start and end points. Sharjah lies on the way to Dubai, so it’s a shorter trip than the full run.

Handy if you land at Sharjah airport (SHJ) and are staying in Ras Al Khaimah. You miss the Dubai traffic completely.

When to go to Dubai: the best time to visit Dubai

The best time to visit Dubai for most people is from November to March. Days are warm without being fierce, and evenings outdoors are comfortable. June to September is very hot and humid, and most of life moves indoors.

When to go to Dubai also comes down to what you’re after. Beach days and desert trips call for the cooler months. Lower hotel rates and a tolerance for air-conditioned days point to summer. Ramadan dates move every year and change the rhythm of the city, so check them against your travel dates.

Getting to the DWC Dubai Airshow site

The Dubai Airshow takes place every two years at the DWC Dubai Airshow site, next to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South. Roads around DWC get busy during show week, mornings especially.

Many exhibitors and delegates stay in Downtown or the Marina and commute every day. That’s a long drive south. Book a fixed morning pickup and agree a return time that leaves room for the closing rush.

Dubai travel FAQ

Is vaping allowed in Dubai?

Yes. Vapes and e-cigarettes are sold legally in the UAE, and the cigarette rules apply: no vaping in enclosed public places, on public transport or outside designated areas. Check the current rules in the GOV.UK travel advice for the UAE before you fly.

Is Ras Al Khaimah a realistic day trip from Dubai?

Yes, if you set off early. With up to three hours of driving in total, it works best with a private car and an agreed return time, so you avoid the evening queues back into Dubai.

Can I book a private car from Dubai airport straight to Ras Al Khaimah?

Yes. Share your flight number, terminal, Ras Al Khaimah hotel and the number of passengers and bags. The quote confirms the vehicle and price before you land.

Is “Dubai airport” DXB or DWC?

Most flights use Dubai International (DXB), close to the city. Al Maktoum (DWC) is far to the south. Check your ticket, since the drive to Ras Al Khaimah is much longer from DWC.

Sources

Author: Marcus Ellison, Tourism Management, postgraduate specialisation in Hospitality Management

Last updated: October 2026