UAE Dirham (AED)
The currency of Dubai and the UAE, pegged at 3.6725 to the US dollar since 1997 — so prices are stable, cards work everywhere, and you rarely need much cash.
The dirham (AED, locally 'Dhs') has been fixed to the US dollar since 1997: 1 USD = 3.6725 AED, so 100 AED is about 27 USD and never far from it. Notes run from 5 to 1,000 dirhams; coins are 25 fils, 50 fils and 1 dirham. Prices in shops are fixed and include 5% VAT; in souks and for taxis-by-negotiation they are not.
Cash, cards and exchange
- Cards: Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and most souk shops. Choose to pay in AED, never in your home currency, when the terminal asks.
- Cash: AED 200–300 per person covers abras, small cafés, tips and souk bargains for a few days.
- Exchange: bureaux in malls and Deira (Al Ansari, Al Fardan, Lulu Exchange) beat the airport rate by 3–5%; ATMs of local banks charge a fixed fee per withdrawal.
- Currencies: US dollars and Saudi riyals are widely accepted in exchange; Turkish lira and Iranian rial are not — change them before you fly.
VAT refund and tipping
Tourists can reclaim the 5% VAT on purchases of AED 250 or more from participating shops: ask for the tax-free tag, then validate at the airport kiosks before check-in. Tipping is appreciated, not expected: round up taxis, leave 10% in restaurants unless a service charge is already on the bill, and AED 5–10 for porters and valets.
Frequently asked questions
A small amount — AED 200–300 per person is plenty for a few days, since cards and phone payments work almost everywhere.
