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UAE Travel Guide
A practical the United Arab Emirates travel guide for international travellers: the UAE Dirham, cards versus cash, passport-based entry, city budgets, transport, taxes and money tips.
UAE money at a glance
Currency
UAE Dirham (AED), 100 fils. Pegged to the US Dollar at about AED 3.6725. Notes are 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.
Paying
Highly card-first in all emirates; cards, contactless and mobile wallets everywhere. Keep small notes for taxis, souks and tips.
Cash for a week
AED 300 to 700 is practical for card-using visitors; carry smaller notes.
Entry
Depends on the passport held; many nationalities get visa on arrival or an e-visa. See the entry section.
Daily budget
Roughly AED 450 to 900 per person per day for a mid-range trip; luxury hotels and attractions raise this sharply.
Tax and fees
VAT is 5% with a tourist refund on qualifying goods. Hotels add emirate tourism, municipality and service charges.
The UAE is highly card-friendly across all emirates: cards, contactless and mobile wallets work almost everywhere, from malls to taxis. Keep a small AED cash float for souks, smaller vendors and tipping. The dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, so your home-currency cost depends mainly on your provider's fees and cross rates, not day-to-day dirham swings. Choose AED at terminals to avoid dynamic currency conversion, and note that hotel bills add tourism and municipality charges on top of the room rate.
Best places to visit in UAE
Dubai is the easiest Metro-connected base; Abu Dhabi adds culture, museums and island attractions; Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah offer heritage, mountains, beaches and better-value stays.
DubaiDubai
First-timers, skyline, shopping, beaches and family attractions.
Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi
Museums, the Grand Mosque, Yas Island, culture and beaches.
SharjahSharjah
Museums, heritage, family travel and lower hotel costs.
Ras Al KhaimahRas Al Khaimah
Mountain scenery, resorts and outdoor adventure.
FujairahFujairah
East-coast beaches, diving, mountains and road trips.
| City | Region | Daily budget | Paying | In short |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai | AED 550-1,100 | Metro, taxi, tram | First-timers, skyline, shopping, beaches and family attractions. |
| Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi | AED 450-900 | Taxi and bus | Museums, the Grand Mosque, Yas Island, culture and beaches. |
| Sharjah | Sharjah | AED 300-650 | Taxi, bus, car useful | Museums, heritage, family travel and lower hotel costs. |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Ras Al Khaimah | AED 400-850 | Car or taxi | Mountain scenery, resorts and outdoor adventure. |
| Fujairah | Fujairah | AED 350-750 | Car recommended | East-coast beaches, diving, mountains and road trips. |
Dubai Metro offering a fast, modern way to travel through the city.
What things cost in UAE
| Coffee | AED 15 to 30 |
|---|---|
| Casual meal for one | AED 30 to 70 |
| Sit-down dinner for two | AED 200 to 500 |
| Dubai Metro day pass | around AED 20 |
| Mid-range hotel per night | AED 300 to 700, far higher for luxury |
| Airport taxi to central Dubai | AED 50 to 90 |
| Desert safari | AED 150 to 400+ per person |
Budget roughly ₹10,500 to ₹21,000 per person per day on the ground, two sharing a room and excluding flights.
Budget ranges are editorial planning estimates based on typical mid-range travel costs reviewed in July 2026, for one person, two sharing a room, excluding international flights. Actual prices vary by city, season and choices.
Fees and rules to know
5% VAT on most goods and services. Eligible tourists can claim a refund (via Planet) on qualifying purchases above the minimum spend, at the airport on departure. Hotels also add emirate tourism and municipality charges.
UAE Federal Tax Authority →AED 60,000 or equivalent in cash or instruments must be declared to Customs when entering or leaving the UAE.
UAE Federal Customs Authority →Money in UAE, in detail
The United Arab Emirates is highly card-friendly, with significant cost and transport differences between emirates. The dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, so provider fees matter more than daily rate swings. Entry depends on the passport held, with visa on arrival or e-visas for many nationalities. Budget around AED 450 to 900 per person per day for a mid-range trip, more for luxury hotels and premium attractions. VAT is 5% with a tourist refund on qualifying goods, and hotels add tourism and municipality charges. Carry most spending on a low-fee card with a backup, plus a small AED cash float.
Understanding the UAE Dirham exchange rate
Compare the final customer rate after card foreign-transaction fees, ATM charges and any conversion offer rather than a headline number. UAE Dirham is pegged to the US Dollar, so your home-currency cost depends mainly on your provider's fees and cross rates rather than daily rate swings. Make sure your card and any travel-money product handle AED.
How much AED to carry
AED 300 to 700 is practical for card-using visitors. Use bank ATMs to top up, keep smaller notes for taxis, markets and tips, and put larger costs on a low-fee card. Avoid changing large sums at airport counters, where rates are usually poor.
Cards, cash and paying in AED
Cards, contactless and mobile wallets are widely accepted, but keep some cash for smaller vendors and tipping.
- Dynamic currency conversion: when a terminal or ATM offers AED or your home currency, choose AED. Home-currency billing lets the operator set the rate and add a margin.
- Backup: carry a second card from a different provider and a small cash float.
The best ATM approach in the United Arab Emirates
Use ATMs operated by recognised banks, review any operator fee, and withdraw a sensible amount rather than many small ones. Your own issuer may also charge a withdrawal or conversion fee. Decline any offer to convert the withdrawal into your home currency.
Entry and visas
Entry depends on the passport held. Many nationalities receive a visa on arrival or an e-visa; others must arrange a visa in advance. Check the official UAE requirements for your passport before booking.
Getting around the United Arab Emirates
Dubai has Metro, tram, buses, marine transport and taxis; Abu Dhabi is more taxi and bus oriented; a rental car helps for cross-emirate trips, and ride-hailing is widely available.
VAT and hotel charges
The UAE applies 5% VAT, and eligible tourists can claim a refund on qualifying goods at the airport on departure. Hotels also add emirate tourism, municipality and service charges, so the final bill is higher than the room rate. Choose AED at terminals to avoid dynamic currency conversion.
Cash declaration
AED 60,000 or the foreign-currency equivalent, in cash or instruments, must be declared to Customs when entering or leaving the UAE. Declaring is a reporting requirement, not a penalty; keep exchange records where relevant.
UAE money FAQs
It depends on the passport held. Many nationalities get a visa on arrival or an e-visa; others must arrange a visa in advance. Check the official UAE requirements for your passport before booking.
Highly card-first; cards, contactless and mobile wallets work almost everywhere. Keep a small AED cash float for souks, taxis and tips.
Yes. The AED is pegged to the US Dollar at about AED 3.6725, so your home-currency cost depends mainly on your provider's fees and cross rates.
Eligible tourists can claim a refund of the 5% VAT on qualifying purchases above the minimum spend, processed (via Planet) at the airport on departure.
Beyond the room rate and 5% VAT, hotels add emirate-specific tourism, municipality and service charges, so the final bill is higher than the advertised rate.
AED 300 to 700 is practical for card-using visitors; carry smaller notes for taxis, souks and tips, and top up at bank ATMs.
AED 60,000 or equivalent in cash or instruments must be declared to Customs when entering or leaving.
Choose dirhams (AED). Home-currency billing (dynamic currency conversion) usually gives a poorer rate.
A low-foreign-transaction-fee card or multi-currency travel card, a backup card, and a small AED cash float. Compare rates and fees before travel.
Dubai has Metro, tram, buses, marine transport and taxis; Abu Dhabi is more taxi and bus oriented; a car helps for cross-emirate trips.
November to March is cooler and most comfortable; summer is very hot, though indoor attractions and hotels are heavily air-conditioned.
Tipping is customary but modest: round up taxis, and around 10 to 15% at restaurants if a service charge is not already included.
Sort your UAE Dirham before you fly
Lock the rate, carry the right mix of cash and card, and know today’s AED rate before you book.
Official sources reviewed
- UAE Central Bank — Currency and the dollar peg
- UAE Federal Tax Authority — VAT and tourist refunds
- UAE Federal Customs Authority — Cash declaration
- UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Visa and entry requirements
- Visit Dubai / Visit Abu Dhabi — General travel guidance
Last reviewed 31 July 2026 by Matrix Forex Editorial Team. Next review due 31 October 2026.
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