Cash and Cards in the UAE
The UAE widely accepts cards but cash is still required.
Using Cards in the UAE
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in the UAE. American Express is also widely taken in hotels, restaurants and larger retailers.
The UAE is a card-first destination, especially in hotels, shopping malls and restaurants. Contactless payments are everywhere, including taxis.
- Contactless limit: AED 500 (around £120)
- Apple Pay and Google Pay work reliably
- Taxis in Dubai must accept card, but cash is often preferred
The issue for UK travellers isn’t acceptance, it’s fees. Using the wrong debit or credit card can mean:
- £5–£9 per cash withdrawal
- 99%–5.99% added to card purchases
Before travelling, always check your UK bank’s overseas fees. Even a £100 purchase can quietly cost £3–£6 more if you use the wrong card. That’s why many people buy UAE Dirhams online before travel, using cash for small spends and a fee-free card for everything else.
Using Cash in the UAE
Cash is still useful for souks, small cafés, tipping and occasional taxis that prefer cash.
Over the past three months, the pound has weakened against the United Arab Emirates Dirham. The best United Arab Emirates Dirham rate fell by 2.10%, from 4.8782 on 14 August 2026 to 4.7760 on 13 November 2026.
This means £1 buys less United Arab Emirates Dirham today than it did at the start of the period.
On a £750 purchase, you would receive about د.إ3,582.00 today, around د.إ76.65 less than on 14 August 2026.
United Arab Emirates Dirham rates moved around during the past three months, ranging from 4.7574 on 8 October to 4.9553 on 21 August. That shows why checking live rates before you buy can make a real difference.
Last refreshed at 12:00 on 13 November 2026.