When you think of Dubai, gambling may not be the first thing to cross your mind for a plethora of reasons. The strongest argument is, of course, that Dubai is an Islam-oriented country where most of the laws are derived from traditional Shariah laws. But is betting legal in Dubai? Let’s find out in this guide.
| Rank | Bookmaker | Rating | Bonus | Get bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Megapari | 4.8/5 | 100% first deposit bonus up to 20,000 INR +150 FS | PlayRead review |
| 2 |  888Starz | 4.8/5 | 100% welcome bonus up to INR 8,000 | PlayRead review |
| 3 |  Mostbet | 4.5/5 | 100% match bonus up to ₹20,600 | PlayRead review |
This page is your one-stop solution to get all the best betting sites in Dubai. We’ve taken a very detailed approach to this, so the post is quite long. In case you’re here for any particular piece of information, just jump to the section from here.
The legality factor of betting sites online in the UAE is very interesting. You may already know that all the Emirates are Muslim-majority countries where the laws are heavily influenced by the sharia (the teachings of Quraan). In that aspect, gambling is forbidden in Dubai.
Existing laws in the country reflect the same thing. You won’t find any casinos or betting shops anywhere across the 7 Emirates, including Dubai. However, it’s about to change by 2026 as a Las Vegas-based resort franchise is supposed to open a casino.
Online gambling is also illegal in Dubai. In most cases, we see governments ban hosting gambling services within the borders. In the case of Dubai, it’s the players who are supposed to keep their distance from the operators.
It means there are no restrictions for offshore betting sites to accept players from Dubai. From what we’ve seen, players who gamble from the secrecy of their homes have never been prosecuted.
Check the table below.
| 🌎 Country | Dubai |
| 👌 Language | Arabic |
| 💶 Currency | Dirham |
| ⚽ Popular Sports | Football, cricket, tennis, basketball, horse & camel racing |
| ⚖️ Is Betting Legal in Dubai? | No |
| 🕵️♂️ Gaming Regulator | N/A |
| 📃 Gambling Tax | 0% |
| 💳 Most Popular Payment Methods | Cash, credit cards, mobile wallets |
bet365 is the undefeated champion when it comes to online betting sites in Dubai. Its features, betting markets, and odds are unmatched by any other operator.
Bettors from Dubai are free to sign up for the Parimatch global website. As the name suggests, it’s designed for a global audience with a global license. You can expect some of the best football betting markets during your tenure with Parimatch.
1xBet may not even need an introduction as it’s an international betting site with aggressive marketing. You can sign up for 1xBet in Dubai right away and start wagering on the best football markets.
22Bet is also an international betting site that allows Dubai bettors to sign up. It has a very generous welcome bonus to roll you with the good times ahead. Pretty much all sports you can think of are available for betting.
Our last pick for the best betting sites in Dubai is Rokubet. It boasts a Curacao license and has one of the most vibrant user interfaces. You can expect a very streamlined online betting experience no matter what your preferred sport is in Dubai.
Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a whole have strict regulations or outright bans on most forms of sports betting. However, at sanctioned venues like the Meydan Racecourse, horse racing has a special status where legal betting is allowed. Nevertheless, people must follow their own country's rules and regulations when wagering on horse races online. Punters may engage in horse racing events in Dubai from afar thanks to foreign betting services that provide betting choices. Unauthorised betting operations can have legal ramifications in the UAE; thus, individuals must exercise caution and comply with applicable regulations when wagering online on Dubai horse racing events. So, make sure you pick a safe site from our list and enjoy legal horse betting!
The large South Asian population in Dubai and the rest of the UAE contributes to the region's enormous cricket fandom. Regardless of the regulatory hurdles associated with sports betting in the UAE, the demand for online cricket betting services has been driven by this passionate cricket following. To meet this demand, international platforms offer betting opportunities for cricket, including matches hosted in Dubai and further afield.
The sites on our list are known to have irresistible bonuses for cricket betting, so stay tuned for the ICC World Cup and local tournament to enjoy better win rates!
Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a whole have a large and varied football fan base that is always up for placing bets on the big games. Foreign betting companies provide football betting options to satisfy fans' demands. You may find a variety of football betting markets on these sites, covering everything from the English Premier League and La Liga to the UEFA Champions League and other major competitions around the world. Find the right VPN and place your bets!
Our biggest strength is the team we have in place to evaluate sites for betting. All members of the team are industry professionals, and they’ve been working in the niche for a very long time. The experience from the spent time helps our members to evaluate online betting sites in a way no regular punter can match.
At the same time, we believe in complete transparency. We want you to know how we rank the betting site in Dubai.
The very first thing we check when going over the online betting sites in Dubai is the license. As we already said, only a license can legitimize the operations of a betting site. As Dubai doesn’t have its own regulator, we have to rely on offshore licenses.
In this case, a few licensing operators take precedence. For starters, we have the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). MGA offers some of the most global remote licenses to operators all over the world, including the ones trying to get players from Dubai.
The Curacao gaming license is another global authority that’s valid in Dubai. If you find an Antillephone N.V. or Curacao eGaming license from Dubai online betting agencies, you can sign up for them.
About Malta Gaming Authority
Founded: 2001
Headquarters: Ricasoli
Employee: 75
The importance of odds will never go down as long as sports betting is around. Betting and odds are pretty much synonymous in the sense that you can’t even place a bet without odds. The longer the odds, the more you can win from the bet.
But it doesn’t mean the best betting sites can offer odds as they see fit. Rather, they analyse the status of the situation. This is one of the main reasons you see nearly identical odds across multiple gambling sites. Our goal is to list bookies that offer the most competitive odds in Dubai.
A “market” in sports betting refers to an outcome with odds. You essentially bet on the markets offered on a particular match. The more markets a single match has, the more versatile your experience is supposed to be. It gives you the unique opportunity to diversify your bet slip.
Betting offers or bonuses are something we take very seriously when it comes to online betting sites in Dubai. Bonuses are the best way to improve your bankroll right after registration. You’ll surely get a welcome bonus on your first deposit. Then, you may get further free bets, enhanced odds, and whatnot.
Thankfully, all major online payment methods are available in Dubai. It comes down to how well we can filter the betting sites that offer the most reliable online payment methods. And we believe we’ve done a good job. You can find sites that accept credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, mobile wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.
The last thing we look at is the betting features of the safest betting sites in Dubai. Features like mobile compatibility, page load speed, cash out, odds format, etc. have the power to make your betting experience exceptionally good. Or bad if the features are not good.
Now that you’re familiar with what features make an online betting site good, it’s time to take you through the journey of finding the right one for you. Let’s go!
The first step is to look at the license and make sure that it’s valid in Dubai. Look at the footer section of the website or the T&C page.
The best betting site in Dubai of your choice should offer payment methods that you already have access to. Opening a new payment account for the sake of gambling is too much of a task to begin with
When you’re betting online, you shouldn’t miss a single opportunity to get a bonus. But before you claim it by depositing real money, you should read the terms to make sure that the bonus is not too hard to comply with.
After you’re done verifying all fronts including the answer to is betting legal in Dubai, it’s time to sign up. Always use information that matches your ID for seamless KYC verification. Also, don’t forget to check the minimum deposit required before you claim the welcome bonus
Research goes a very long way when you’re betting on sports online. You need to understand the sport, the teams, previous results, weather conditions, etc. to succeed in betting.
Don’t follow the public. Rather, follow the market load. Whatever direction the market is going will influence the odds, especially for live bets. Instead of blindly trusting the odds, take your time.
Most importantly, don’t blow your entire bankroll on a bad bet. Just like investing, diversify your bet slip with different markets from different sports.
Live betting is one of those things you can’t ignore when betting online. Almost all betting sites in Dubai will offer live markets. The goal of live betting is to capitalize on the change of odds during a match.
Best Bookies for Live Betting
If you’re wondering what payment methods you can use for a live betting site in Dubai, let’s find out.
Both Visa and Mastercard are available in Dubai and you can use both for the best betting sites. It’s best to use cards only for deposits as withdrawals are troublesome.
Electronic wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Payz, etc. are all available for use in Dubai. These are considered the best methods for deposits and withdrawals all over the world!
We’re currently living in the era of crypto. The faster you get used to using them, the better your experience may become over time. Crypto transactions are free from centralized authorities which means you don’t have to wait any longer than a few minutes for both deposits and withdrawals.
Betting App | Rating | Key Features | Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
Parimatch | 9.8/10 | Excellent Football Odds | 150% up to ₹20,000 |
1xBet | 9.9/10 | Excellent Football Odds | 100% up to ₹8,000 |
22Bet | 9.7/10 | Excellent Football Odds | 100% up to ₹8,000 |
Rokubet | 9.8/10 | Excellent Football Odds | Multi-tier Welcome Pack |
Dafabet | 9.8/10 | Excellent Football Odds | Up to ₹30,000 |
Dubai and the United Arab Emirates as a whole have strict regulations regarding gambling (if they don't outright ban it) due to Islamic law. An emerging technology, virtual private networks (VPNs) allow users to covertly access online betting services, evading these limitations. Nevertheless, there are logistical, ethical, and legal concerns with this approach.
Virtual private networks (VPNs) encrypt data and hide the user's IP address by creating encrypted tunnels between their device and the internet. Users can bypass geo-restrictions and access restricted websites, including online betting platforms, by connecting to a VPN server in another country. Though they offer privacy and protection, there are hazards associated with utilizing VPNs for betting in Dubai.
Fines, deportation, or even jail time could be in store for you if you use a VPN to engage in gambling in Dubai. The government of the United Arab Emirates keeps a careful eye on all internet activity and has strict measures to enforce rules. Further, the morality and possible societal effects of breaking laws meant to safeguard the public welfare give rise to ethical concerns.
People in Dubai have other, more moral options than using VPNs to access gambling sites. For example, you could visit a licensed location to gamble on a sporting event or attend a horse race. Furthermore, people can engage in non-gambling forms of recreation and enjoyment to encourage responsible conduct and adherence to local regulations.
There are serious ethical concerns and risks associated with using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access online betting platforms in Dubai. While interacting with others online, people should think carefully about the repercussions of their actions and make sure they follow all applicable laws and ethical guidelines. One can responsibly and prudently handle the intricacies of online betting in Dubai by combining the demand for access with a commitment to responsible activity.
Online betting transactions in the UAE cannot be funded using the local currency, the UAE Dirham (AED), due to the country's stringent regulations or outright ban on betting. Instead, US dollars (USD), euros (EUR), or British pounds (GBP) are the most common alternative currencies used by UAE residents who want to play online, but this varies per betting site. Since players in the UAE cannot use the national currency, residents who want to gamble online must find another way to pay for their wagers.
If you’re asking is betting legal in Dubai, it’s not. However, law enforcement doesn’t target individual gamblers who wager on sports privately.
If you’re looking for the most reputed online betting site in Dubai, nothing can bet bet365 just yet.
There is betting in Dubai but on a very limited scale. The government only allows lotteries and raffles, both online and offline. The rest of the betting takes place behind closed doors.
First, you need to find a betting site that accepts customers from Dubai. If you’re 18, you can sign up and start betting. Just make sure you don’t tell a lot of people about it.
Of course. If the online betting site of your choice is offering a welcome bonus, you can claim it and withdraw it after wagering.
