There has been a massive boom of people traveling to Dubai over the last few years. In part it’s due to Dubai being lauded as the world’s air travel hub, and many people choose to stay for a few days as they travel on to their next destination. But is Dubai safe for solo female tourists?
Dubai is one of the safest travel destinations for solo female tourists. The city has an elaborate monitoring system, so attacks on tourists are very rare. However, you should be on the lookout for pickpockets and scammers who may try to pull a quick one on you.
The rest of this article will explain why Dubai is a safe travel destination for solo female tourists. Additionally, I will go into detail about some of the critical things to remember if you plan to travel to Dubai and some of the dangers to avoid. Read on for more.
Why Dubai Is Safe for Solo Female Tourists
If you are planning to travel to Dubai and are concerned about safety as a solo female traveler, I am here to put your mind at ease. Dubai is one of the world’s safest destinations for solo female travelers. A recent survey
ranked Dubai as the third safest city for solo female tourists.
I will outline some of the main reasons why Dubai ranks so highly in terms of safety for solo female travelers.
Very Low Crime Rate
Dubai has a very low crime rate. Dubai is one of the cities in the world where it is entirely safe to walk alone during the day or night. Your risk of getting mugged, insulted, your car stolen, your house broken into, or theft is very low.
Dubai secured a total of 84.55 in terms of the safety index score. On the same breadth, the city has a crime index of 15.45. Moreso, crimes are severely punished, which acts as a deterrent against indulging in such activities.
That said, I recommend following the safety recommendation for solo female travelers staying in hotels. Although crime rates are low, they aren’t zero. [Is It Safe to Stay in a Hotel Alone as a Woman?]
A Highly Comprehensive Monitoring System
Dubai is one of the most monitored cities in the world. This is because it has street cameras virtually everywhere, which can quickly scan any face and listen in on conversations. According to the UAE National News, these sensors all around Dubai have been developed by Polsec, a Brazil-based tech firm, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.
Because these sensors are placed almost everywhere in the city, it is easy for law enforcement to stay on top of what’s going on and respond quickly to any crimes. Therefore, criminals would be hard-pressed to take advantage of any dead zones.
This has significantly reduced carjacking and crimes, especially on the major roads.
Additionally, all public cabs are monitored via CCTV, providing solo women travelers peace of mind when maneuvering the city in taxis.
A Vigilant Police System
The Dubai police team is one of the most well-financed forces. One need only to look at the type of cars available to the department to appreciate the efforts of the police department. For instance, in 2013, the Dubai police were the talk of the world when they unveiled a Lamborghini cruiser worth a whopping $500,000.
The police force boasts one of the world’s most lavish fleets of luxurious and expensive cars. The Dubai police are, therefore, swift to react and forthcoming if you need some help or if you get lost.
Pink Taxis Driven by Women
Dubai has a fleet of pink taxis which are exclusively driven by women. According to Reuters, these taxis were launched in 2007. This is especially crucial to enhance Muslim women’s comfort, who are unwilling to share a taxi cab with a man.
After all, despite all the massive advancements over the last several decades, Dubai is still a very conservative society. As of 2007, there were 50 pink women-only cabs. The female drivers are adorned in white headscarves, which blend excellently with the pink hats.
On the other hand, the all-men-driven taxis for men are colored red, so you don’t mix the two.
Separate Queues for Women
Dubai has a separate queue for women. This means that if you want to access government services or require police assistance, you don’t have to feel intimidated because you can simply follow the women-only queue. The significance of these separate queues is that they ensure you do not become a victim of sexual harassment or stressful scenarios.
A Vibrant Ladies’ Night Scene
Dubai also offers fun-filled ladies’ night events, allowing women to go to clubs exclusively for women. Because these events specifically target women, you can attend one without worrying about encountering aggressive men.
These ladies’ night events also provide an excellent opportunity to mingle and share stories with other women traveling solo.
Drinking Alcohol in Public Places Is Prohibited
Dubai has strict licensing laws. Based on these laws, alcohol should only be served in venues associated with private clubs or hotels. Therefore, it is illegal to consume alcohol or to be found under the influence of alcohol in public places.
Therefore, the risk of drunken driving or harassment of solo women travelers in Dubai is very low. You will also feel more secure when walking around the city at night.
Dubai also has fantastic beaches that attract many tourists. If you want to have the best time, I recommend reading my article before leaving: Is It Safe for a Woman to Go to the Beach Alone? [Is It Safe for a Woman to Go to the Beach Alone?]
Other Factors To Consider To Enhance Your Safety
Arzo Travels explains that although Dubai is a safe destination for solo female travelers, this does not mean the crime rate is zero. This is especially so for different areas of the city. Ask your travel agent or hotel staff about locations in the city where the crime rate is relatively high.
For instance, the travel blog notes that some areas, such as Dubai Deira, are not safe to travel to at night. Some areas are also notorious for pickpockets, so it is imperative that you have a sound awareness of the unsafe locations in the city. Additionally, in case of any incident, I recommend contacting the police.
However, it is very unlikely that you will feel unsafe when traveling solo in Dubai.
Conclusion
Dubai is one of the safest travel destinations for solo women travelers. As evident in this article, the city has made significant efforts to make your visit to Dubai safe and comfortable. It is also an excellent destination to meet up with other female solo travelers and share experiences.
If you are conflicted about traveling to Dubai solo, I highly recommend it.