Best Betting Sites in UAE

The UAE is a sovereign state located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula. There are seven emirates, namely Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Al Quwain. All seven have Islamic religion, which means that all forms of gambling are illegal. Horse racing betting is allowed in some circumstances, yet only in the form of raffles. Moreover, some cruise ships offer onboard gambling games, which are mainly for tourists.

Online betting is also prohibited, and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority oversees the implementation of measures. Some major betting sites in UAE do accept local players, and they, along with the expatriates who live in the country, place their bets at Bet365 UAE or 1xBet.

Best UAE Betting Sites

Since bettors have quite a few bookmakers at their disposal, we list the ones that accept players from the UAE while delivering a wide variety of betting markets, along with competitive odds and a localised interface for your convenience.

Betting in UAE - 5 Things to Know

• 1
  Gambling organizers and players might receive fines and imprisonment
• 2
  No international bookies hold licenses in the UAE
• 3
  There is no specific law on gambling, just the general penal code
• 4
  Horse racing is the only form of betting, still allowed under special circumstances
• 5
  Online betting is illegal

General info

⏩Population: 9.800.000

⏩Active players: 1.000.000

⏩Currency: UAE dirham (AED)

⏩Regulated gambling products: No form of gambling is allowed

⏩Operator types: Unlicensed online bookies and casinos

⏩Designated authority: No designated gambling authority

⏩Status: Unregulated

Online Betting in Dubai: The Law Framework

Always keep in mind that gambling is practically prohibited in all its forms, as is basically the norm with Muslim countries. No gambling authority regulates betting in Dubai or in any other of the seven emirates.

However, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is appointed with the task of monitoring - and even restricting- any online betting UAE. As a result, gambling falls straight into the category of prohibited content.

Any content that offends against, is objectionable to, or is contrary to the public interest, public morality, public order, public and national security, Islam morality or is otherwise prohibited by any applicable UAE law’.

Restricted access to betting sites is something common, with players trying to access online bookmakers through the use of VPN software. The whole process might sometimes be quite risky. However, there are not many reports of prosecution of online gamblers (especially foreigners).

The government simply tries to restrict access to gambling sites. Most of its efforts and strict stance focus on imposing a complete ban on land-based gambling. The ban includes even the famous Dubai World Cup, one of the most prominent horse races worldwide. For more info, feel free to check our latest Dubai World Cup Tips.

Despite attracting bets from around the globe, UAE residents and onlookers still can’t place their bets on it. Notably, perhaps the only way of permitted gambling is to board one of the cruise ships at Dubai’s harbour. These ships drift to international waters and legally operate their onboard casino tables and slots.

Essential Information for Expats

You must always keep in mind that all forms of gambling are illegal. That said, it does however make a difference if you’re an expat living in -usually- Dubai or Abu Dhabi. This is because the authorities are -unofficially- much stricter when it comes to law enforcement towards local gamblers.

That is because of their Muslim religion. It gets even stricter when it comes to organizing games of chance, but let’s stick to just participating. We couldn’t come across any official data, but the general notion is that, especially if you are British or American, there will be a fine if you get caught practicing online betting in UAE and you could face deportation if it’s a repeated offense.

Imprisonment is a penalty that basically targets a land-based gambling clampdown. Online winnings are obviously under no tax, however, you should stick to e-wallets or payeer for your transactions. If that is still too risky for you, stick to Dubai-based cruise ships that offer casino games when they -typically- leave the country’s waters.

How to Deposit at Online Bookies

Betting in UAE should be avoided or at least be done with caution. Authorities supervise and block access to betting sites. So, for those that you manage to access, try to avoid credit card payments and direct bank transfers since the law is strict. Neteller services the UAE and offers an online path for you to keep your anonymity and protect your data.

Paysafecard and Payeer betting sites are very common in the country. Our advice is that you stick to these payments if you don’t want to draw the attention of law enforcement agencies. Most bookmakers will accept these deposit methods when you sign up. So, start funding your account in a safe and convenient way.

List of Betting Sites Accepting Dirham

We present you a list of the bookmakers that offer betting in United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED).

Gambling Laws in Neighbouring Areas

By delving into the rules established in surrounding regions, you can enhance your understanding of the mechanisms governing online betting. Truth is, though, that most Muslim countries are very strict regarding gambling. Let's have a look: 

⏩ Saudi Arabia: The online gambling scene generally aligns with the Penal Law prohibition. However, it is worth noting that some reputable sportsbooks still accept sign-ups from locals. It is important to exercise caution, though, as severe penalties are imposed on users caught playing on Saudi Arabia betting sites.

⏩ Oman: There are no establishments such as betting shops, casinos, or lotteries. All forms of gambling are prohibited by law. However, it is worth noting that the strictness is mild when compared to other Muslim nations. Consequently, a considerable number of individuals opt to register on Oman betting sites.

⏩ Qatar: In line with the stance of other Islamic states, gambling is strictly forbidden. Those who break this law can expect to face measures. Given the limited options within the country, a significant number of players are actively seeking international bookmakers to engage in online betting in Qatar.

The Future of Online Betting in the UAE

Being a Muslim country, typically banning all forms of gambling, not much is expected to change in the UAE in the near future. What could be a change, is a more lenient stance towards expatriates.

They form a significantly large percentage of the country’s population. With respect to the Islamic religion, measures could be more lenient towards them. There are some rumors about the opening of a couple of casinos in the region from time to time, just for foreigners, while the state could benefit from taxes.

Since it is such a wealthy country though, it will probably choose to preserve its gambling-free stance, rather than gain a few million dollars from taxing gambling operators.