Terms & Conditions
Last Updated: 24th September 2026
Welcome to Meet The Locals. These Terms & Conditions apply to bookings, experiences and
services provided by Meet The Locals through our website, directly through our team, or through
authorised booking and distribution partners.
By making a booking, submitting a confirmed service request, or participating in one of our
experiences, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
1. Bookings & Confirmation
All bookings are subject to availability.
A booking is only considered confirmed once you receive an official booking confirmation from
Meet The Locals and any required payment has been successfully received.
Submitting an enquiry, private booking request, cultural services request or partnership enquiry
does not constitute a confirmed booking.
Guests are responsible for ensuring that all information provided at the time of booking is
complete and accurate.
The person making the booking is responsible for ensuring that all participants included in the
booking are aware of the relevant booking details, requirements and these Terms & Conditions.
Online bookings and payments must be made by a person aged 18 years or above.
2. Experience Information & Itinerary Changes
We make every effort to ensure that experience descriptions, durations, inclusions, meeting
points, itineraries and other information provided on our website and booking channels are
accurate at the time of publication.
However, certain elements may occasionally need to be adjusted due to operational
requirements, venue availability, weather or sea conditions, road or area closures, government or
authority instructions, cultural considerations, safety requirements, public events or
circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Where necessary, Meet The Locals reserves the right to make reasonable changes to an
experience, including its route, timing, sequence, meeting point, stops, venue or individual
elements. Where reasonably possible, we will seek to provide a suitable alternative while
maintaining the overall quality, cultural value and purpose of the experience.
Minor or reasonable changes to an experience do not automatically entitle guests to a refund
where the overall experience can still be delivered.
3. Prices & Payment
All prices will be displayed or communicated at the time of booking or quotation.
Prices are stated in UAE Dirhams (AED) unless otherwise indicated and will specify whether
applicable taxes or additional charges are included.
Published prices may be amended from time to time. Unless otherwise stated, price changes will
not affect a booking that has already been confirmed and paid, except where the guest
subsequently requests changes or additional services.
Full or partial advance payment may be required depending on the experience or service booked.
Any additional services requested after confirmation may be subject to additional charges.
Payments made through our website may be processed by authorised third-party payment service
providers and may be subject to their applicable processing requirements.
4. Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellation and refund conditions may vary depending on the experience, service, group size
and third-party arrangements involved.
The applicable cancellation policy will be communicated during the booking process and/or
included in your booking confirmation or quotation.
Where a booking includes non-refundable third-party costs, venue reservations, transportation,
catering, materials, permits or other pre-arranged services, these costs may remain payable even
when a booking is cancelled.
No-shows are generally considered non-refundable unless otherwise stated in the applicable
booking conditions.
If a guest fails to join an experience, arrives after it is no longer operationally possible to
participate, or voluntarily leaves an experience before its completion, no full or partial refund
will normally be provided.
Where an experience is unable to proceed due to circumstances such as unsafe weather or sea
conditions, operational restrictions or other circumstances affecting safe or reasonable delivery,
Meet The Locals may offer an alternative date, suitable alternative arrangement or refund,
depending on the circumstances and any non-refundable third-party commitments.
Reasonable delays, changes, curtailments or modifications that do not prevent the overall
experience from being delivered do not automatically entitle guests to a full or partial refund.
Any approved refund will be processed to the original payment method and in accordance with
the applicable payment provider's processing timelines. Refund processing or transaction fees
may apply and, where applicable, may be deducted from the refunded amount.
Guests are encouraged to consider appropriate travel insurance where relevant to their
circumstances, particularly where travel arrangements or other non-refundable costs are
involved.
5. Changes by Guests
Requests to change the booking date, time, number of participants or experience details are
subject to availability and may result in additional charges.
We will always try to accommodate reasonable requests, but changes cannot be guaranteed.
Where a requested change results in additional third-party, venue, catering, transportation,
staffing or operational costs, these may be charged to the guest.
6. Late Arrivals
Guests are responsible for arriving at the communicated meeting point at the required time.
We recommend arriving within the timeframe communicated in your booking confirmation or
experience information.
Late arrival may result in the experience being shortened, adjusted or, where it is no longer
operationally possible to proceed, treated as a no-show.
Meet The Locals cannot guarantee an extension beyond the originally scheduled finishing time,
as guides, hosts, venues, boats and other suppliers may have subsequent operational
commitments.
7. Minimum Participant Requirements
Certain shared experiences may require a minimum number of participants to operate.
Where a minimum participant requirement applies, this will be communicated where relevant.
If an experience cannot operate because the required minimum number of participants has not
been reached, Meet The Locals may offer an alternative date, another suitable experience or a
refund of the applicable amount paid.
This provision does not apply to experiences specifically confirmed as private bookings unless
otherwise stated.
8. Private Bookings
Private booking requests are subject to availability and confirmation.
Guests may request an existing experience, combine elements from several experiences, or share
an idea for a customised experience.
The final itinerary, inclusions, price, duration and conditions will be confirmed by our team
before the booking is considered final.
Changes requested after confirmation may affect the price and availability of the experience.
Private or customised experiences may involve non-refundable deposits, supplier commitments
or other specific cancellation conditions, which will be communicated before confirmation.
9. Cultural Services & Bespoke Programs
Cultural services, corporate programs, cultural inductions, events, workshops and other bespoke
services may be subject to separate proposals, quotations and service-specific terms.
Where separate written terms have been agreed for a particular project or service, those terms
will apply in addition to these general Terms & Conditions. In the event of a conflict, the specific
terms agreed for that service will take precedence.
10. Third-Party Suppliers & Venues
Some experiences may include services provided by third parties, such as restaurants,
transportation providers, attractions, venues, marine operators, activity providers or other
suppliers.
Their services may be subject to their own operating rules, availability, safety requirements and
terms and conditions.
Meet The Locals will take reasonable care when selecting and coordinating suppliers but cannot
control circumstances or operational decisions that are solely within a third-party provider's
responsibility.
Guests may be required to comply with the reasonable rules and instructions of third-party
venues, operators or suppliers while participating in an experience.
Where reasonably necessary to deliver a booked experience, relevant booking information may
be shared with the supplier involved in providing that service in accordance with our Privacy
Policy.
11. Weather & Unforeseen Circumstances
Some experiences may be affected by weather, sea conditions, road closures, government or
authority instructions, attraction or venue closures, public events, transportation disruption or
other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Where an experience cannot proceed as originally planned, we may offer an alternative
arrangement, rescheduling, modification or other appropriate solution depending on the
circumstances and any non-refundable third-party commitments.
The safety of our guests, hosts, guides and partners will always be considered when deciding
whether an experience can reasonably proceed.
12. Guest Responsibilities & Conduct
Guests are expected to behave respectfully toward our hosts, guides, team members, suppliers,
local communities and other participants.
As many of our experiences introduce guests to Emirati culture, traditions and local
communities, we kindly ask guests to respect local customs, privacy and cultural sensitivities.
Guests must comply with reasonable instructions provided by Meet The Locals representatives,
guides, hosts, captains, crew members, venues and experience partners, particularly instructions
relating to safety, timing, guest conduct and local requirements.
Meet The Locals reserves the right to refuse participation or discontinue a guest's participation
where behaviour is unsafe, abusive, threatening, disruptive, discriminatory, seriously
disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate, or where the guest's conduct places themselves or others
at risk.
Where participation is refused or discontinued due to such behaviour, the guest will be
responsible for their own onward arrangements and will not normally be entitled to a refund.
13. Health, Safety & Accessibility
Guests are responsible for considering whether an experience is appropriate for their personal
circumstances and for informing us in advance of any accessibility or other relevant
requirements that may affect participation.
Some experiences may involve walking, stairs, uneven or traditional surfaces, outdoor
environments, boarding or travelling aboard traditional boats, traditional seating arrangements or
other activities requiring a reasonable level of mobility.
Guests must follow all reasonable safety instructions and use any safety equipment provided or
required by an operator, venue or relevant authority.
Guests are responsible for acting with reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of
others while participating in an experience.
We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate accessibility requirements where possible, but
this may depend on the nature of the experience and the accessibility of third-party locations,
vessels or facilities.
Guests with accessibility or mobility requirements are encouraged to contact Meet The Locals
before booking so that we can provide available information about the suitability of the
experience.
14. Children
Children must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times unless an experience specifically
states otherwise.
The accompanying adult remains responsible for the child's behaviour, safety and compliance
with instructions throughout the experience.
Age restrictions may apply to certain experiences or activities and will be communicated where
relevant.
For experiences involving boats, vehicles, venues or third-party operators, additional child-safety
requirements or restrictions may apply.
Meet The Locals and/or the relevant operator may restrict participation where reasonably
necessary for the child's safety.
15. Food, Allergies & Dietary Requirements
For experiences involving food or beverages, guests should inform us of allergies, intolerances,
dietary requirements or food restrictions when making the booking and within any deadline
communicated by our team.
Emirati cuisine and food served during our experiences may contain or come into contact with
common allergens including, depending on the menu, nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, seafood and
other ingredients.
We will make reasonable efforts to communicate disclosed requirements to the relevant venue or
food provider. However, where food is prepared by third-party establishments, Meet The Locals
cannot independently guarantee an allergen-free environment or the complete absence of cross-
contact.
Guests with severe or potentially life-threatening allergies are strongly encouraged to contact us
before booking so that we can provide available information about the relevant experience and
food provider.
16. Smoking, Vaping & Prohibited Items
Smoking and vaping are not permitted during any Meet The Locals experience, whether the
experience takes place indoors or outdoors.
Guests must also comply with applicable UAE laws and any venue or operator rules regarding
alcohol, prohibited substances and restricted items.
17. Personal Belongings
Guests are responsible for their personal belongings throughout the experience.
Meet The Locals is not responsible for items that are lost, forgotten, damaged or stolen.
Guests are encouraged to keep valuables secure and to check their belongings before leaving an
experience, venue, vehicle or vessel.
18. Photography, Filming & Drones
Guests are welcome to take personal photographs and videos during experiences unless
photography or filming is restricted at a particular location or by applicable rules.
Guests are expected to respect the privacy of others and should seek permission before taking
photographs or videos that clearly feature other guests, hosts, guides, crew members or local
residents.
Commercial photography, professional filming, media production or organised photoshoots may
require prior written approval.
The use of drones by guests is not permitted during any Meet The Locals experience.
Meet The Locals may photograph or film its experiences and activities. By participating in an
experience, guests acknowledge and agree that photographs or video footage taken during the
experience may be used by Meet The Locals for marketing, promotional, social media, website
and other business-related purposes, without the need for additional approval or compensation.
19. Cultural Content, Intellectual Property & Trademark
Our experience concepts, cultural programs, workshop formats, written and educational
materials, itineraries, photographs, videos, graphics, designs, website content, branding and other
original materials are the intellectual property of Meet The Locals or the respective rights holder
and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
Meet The Locals® is a registered trademark. The Meet The Locals name, trademark, logo,
brand identity and associated branding may not be used, copied, reproduced, imitated, modified
or presented in any manner without our prior written permission.
Photographs, videos and other visual content displayed on the Meet The Locals website, social
media channels or other official platforms may not be copied, reproduced, downloaded,
republished, distributed, modified or used for any commercial, promotional, public relations
(PR), advertising or business purpose without prior written permission from Meet The Locals.
Our experiences, programs, materials and other original content may not be copied, reproduced,
commercially used, repackaged, adapted or presented as another individual’s or organisation’s
product or service without prior written permission.
Any unauthorised use of our intellectual property, visual content or registered trademark may
result in legal action in accordance with applicable laws.
20. Accuracy of Cultural Information
Meet The Locals is committed to presenting Emirati culture and heritage respectfully and
authentically.
Cultural traditions, terminology and practices may vary between families, communities, Emirates
and generations. Information shared during our experiences is intended to provide cultural
understanding and should not necessarily be interpreted as representing every individual or
community in exactly the same way.
21. Liability
Meet The Locals will take reasonable care in the planning, coordination and delivery of its
experiences and services.
Participation in tours and experiences may involve ordinary risks associated with walking,
outdoor environments, transportation, boats, public spaces, venues and other activities forming
part of the booked experience.
Guests are expected to follow communicated safety instructions and exercise reasonable care
during participation.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, Meet The Locals will not be responsible for loss,
damage, delay, interruption, injury or additional expenses resulting from circumstances outside
its reasonable control, the independent acts or omissions of third-party providers, or a guest's
failure to follow communicated instructions or exercise reasonable care.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude or limit any rights or liabilities that
cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable UAE law.
22. Force Majeure
Meet The Locals will not be considered in breach of its obligations where performance is
prevented or materially affected by circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
Such circumstances may include severe weather, natural events, government or authority
restrictions, public emergencies, transportation disruption, venue closures, major public events or
other extraordinary events.
Where possible, our team will communicate with affected guests and seek a reasonable
alternative solution.
23. Promotions & Discount Codes
Promotional offers and discount codes may be subject to specific validity periods and conditions.
Unless otherwise stated, promotions cannot be combined, exchanged for cash or applied
retrospectively to previously confirmed bookings.
Meet The Locals reserves the right to withdraw or amend promotional offers where reasonably
necessary.
24. Website & Booking Availability
We aim to keep our website and booking services available and accurate; however, temporary
technical issues may occur.
A displayed date, time, price or experience does not guarantee availability until the booking has
been successfully completed and confirmed.
Where an obvious pricing, availability, description or technical error occurs, we reserve the right
to correct the error and contact the customer to arrange an appropriate solution.
25. Privacy & Personal Information
Personal information provided to Meet The Locals will be handled in accordance with our
Privacy Policy and applicable data protection requirements.
We may collect and use information reasonably necessary to process bookings, communicate
with guests, deliver experiences, respond to enquiries, accommodate disclosed dietary or
accessibility requirements, process payments and refunds, maintain our website and services, and
meet applicable legal or operational requirements.
Where necessary to fulfil a booking, relevant information may be shared with third-party
suppliers involved in delivering the requested experience or service.
Our website may use cookies, analytics or other technologies as described in our Privacy Policy.
Marketing communications will be handled in accordance with applicable requirements, and
guests will be provided with an appropriate way to unsubscribe from promotional
communications.
Further information about the types of personal information we collect, how we use and protect
it, how long it may be retained, third parties with whom it may be shared and applicable privacy
rights is provided in our separate Privacy Policy.
26. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the applicable laws of the United Arab Emirates and
the Emirate in which Meet The Locals is legally established, subject to any mandatory consumer
protection or other applicable legal requirements.
Any dispute arising in connection with these Terms & Conditions or the services provided by
Meet The Locals will be handled in accordance with applicable UAE laws and the jurisdiction of
the competent courts, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
27. Updates to These Terms
Meet The Locals may update these Terms & Conditions from time to time to reflect changes to
our services, operational requirements or applicable regulations.
The version published on our website at the time of booking will generally apply to that booking
unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law.
28. Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms & Conditions, a booking or one of our services,
please contact the Meet The Locals team through the contact details provided on our website.
We believe great experiences begin with clear communication, and our team will be happy to
assist with any questions before you book.