How does the tourist tax work in UAE hotels and what are the beach rules?

To get a drink on the beach you don't have to bring your own — you can go to the beach bar or the pool bar. There's also a cart/car that drives around the beach serving drinks.

Hotel beach bags are not provided automatically — you need to request them at reception or from staff. They are delivered to your room, and staff often bring more than asked: one requested, two delivered.

The tourist tax is paid separately at hotel reception and is not automatically included in package tour prices. It can be paid during the day, not necessarily at the moment of check-in.

You can simply decline the hotel deposit at check-in — just say you don't want to leave one. It's also worth asking staff to clear the minibar to avoid accidental charges.

You can bring your own drinks (cola, fanta, etc.) to the hotel beach. There are special beach cooler boxes where staff will bring ice on request, so you can chill your own beverages.