What a trip to the UAE costs and how to pay in dirhams

Why the dirham is pegged to the dollar, which fees are added to hotel and restaurant prices, where to exchange cash and when to pay by card.

The UAE dirham is tightly pegged to the dollar, so its rate is stable and converting costs is easy: you only need the dollar rate against your currency, and our converter will show the exact total. Accommodation in season, restaurants in tourist areas and entertainment are usually expensive, while transport, food in inexpensive cafés and public places are cheaper than in Europe.

What gets added to the price

Hotel and restaurant prices often have tax and a service charge added, and in Dubai also a tourism fee per room per night paid on the spot. Check the final amount, not the price on the booking page. Value-added tax can in some cases be refunded to tourists on departure; check the conditions.

Card and cash

You can pay by card almost everywhere in the UAE, including taxis and small shops, so you need only a little cash: for markets, tips and small purchases. If a terminal offers to charge "in your own currency", choose dirhams: the terminal's conversion is usually worse than your bank's rate. In the cities local transport cards are convenient for the metro and buses.

Where to exchange money

At the airport and in a hotel the rate is usually worse than at licensed exchange offices in the city. Compare two or three and go by the amount you get in hand. ATMs charge a fee for withdrawals with a foreign card, so withdraw less often and more. Before you go, ask your bank whether your card works abroad.