Travel · UAE · Type G · 220V
UAE: it's the British plug, at 220V.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi surprise people: the socket is Type G, the big three-rectangular-pin British fitting, at 220V and 50Hz. Anyone who has been to London already owns the right adapter. Anyone who packed a European two-pin adapter is going shopping.
The specification
| Spec | United Arab Emirates |
|---|---|
| Plug type | Type G — three rectangular pins, same as the United Kingdom |
| Voltage | 220V |
| Frequency | 50Hz |
| What fits | Any Type G plug; adapters sold for the UK, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Kenya |
| What doesn't | US Type A/B flat blades, European Type C/F round pins, Israeli Type H, Type D |
220V versus the UK's 230V changes nothing you can act on: both sit comfortably inside the 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz range printed on every US-sold charger. The adapter you want is a plug adapter, a passive change of pin shape. The full logic is on converters vs adapters.
The Type G design detail that breaks cheap adapters
A Type G socket keeps its live and neutral holes behind shutters. The shutters are opened by the earth pin, which is longer than the other two and enters first. That is why a proper two-pin-to-Type-G adapter still has a full-length earth pin, usually plastic on ungrounded models — without it, the shutters stay closed and the adapter simply will not go in. It is also why Type G plugs contain a fuse: protection lives in the plug rather than only in the panel.
What to pack
- Type G
Fused Type G (UK) plug adapter
The single correct item for the UAE. One passive fitting also covers the UK, Ireland, Kenya, Singapore and Malaysia.
- Fits
- Type G sockets
- Fuse
- Replaceable
- Earth pin
- Full length
- 4-in-1
EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter
Its Type G position handles the UAE while the C position handles a European leg — sensible for a multi-stop route.
- Plug types
- A, C, G, I
- USB
- 3× A, 1× C
- Spare fuse
- Included
- 100W
Anker Prime 100W GaN
The brick to put behind the adapter: laptop-class output plus phones from one Emirati socket.
- Output
- 100W class
- Ports
- Multi-port
- Input
- 100–240V
Pair one adapter with one multi-port charger and you have solved every socket on the trip. Wattage guidance on 65W adapters.
What works as-is, and what does not
Works untouched behind a plug adapter: phones, tablets, laptops, camera and drone battery chargers, e-readers, electric shaver and toothbrush bases, portable power banks. All are marked 100–240V. Needs a converter or a dual-voltage replacement: hair dryers, flat irons, curling wands, travel kettles, garment steamers — anything whose job is heat or rotation and whose label shows a single voltage. That split is the whole subject; see travel adapter vs converter.
Around the region
Saudi Arabia also standardises on Type G but runs 60Hz and has legacy sockets in older buildings. Israel needs Type H, Egypt and Turkey need Schuko. Country index at the travel hub.
FAQ
Does the UAE use the same plug as the UK?
Yes — Type G, the three-rectangular-pin British plug, at 220V and 50Hz. A UK travel adapter is exactly the right item for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Do I need a voltage converter in the UAE?
Not for electronics. Every US-sold phone, laptop and camera charger is rated 100-240V, which covers the UAE's 220V. Only single-voltage heating and motor appliances need a converter.
Will a European two-pin adapter work in the UAE?
No. European Type C plugs are round-pin and cannot enter a Type G socket, whose shuttered holes only open when a full-length earth pin goes in first.
What else does a Type G adapter cover?
The UK, Ireland, Kenya, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong among others, which makes it one of the most reusable adapters to own.