United Arab Emirates
Last checked:
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
- Currency
- AED · UAE dirham
- Languages
- Arabic, English (widely used)
- Plugs
- Type G · 230 V
Emergency numbers
Top 5 places
- Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall · Dubai
World's tallest building with observation decks, next to the fountain shows.
- Al Fahidi and the Creek souks · Dubai
Old Dubai: wind-tower houses, abra boat crossing and the Gold and Spice souks.
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque · Abu Dhabi
Huge white marble mosque open to visitors with free entry (book a time slot, strict dress code).
- Louvre Abu Dhabi · Abu Dhabi
Art museum under a floating dome on Saadiyat Island.
- Desert safari and dunes · Dubai / Abu Dhabi deserts
Dune drives, camel rides and desert camps; book only with licensed operators.
Getting around
Public transport
Dubai Metro, Tram and buses (Nol card)
Fast, cheap and air-conditioned. Get a Nol Silver card (about 25 AED including 19 AED credit) or use the RTA/Nol Pay app. Gold class carriages cost double; women-and-children sections are enforced. No eating or drinking on board (fines).
Ride-hailing app
Careem
Widely used across the UAE. Can book private cars and also regular RTA taxis through the app (Careem Hala in Dubai).
Ride-hailing app
Uber
Works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, including options that send official taxis. Prices similar to or slightly above metered taxis.
Taxi
RTA taxis
Cream taxis with coloured roofs, always metered; pink-roofed taxis have female drivers for women and families. Minimum fare applies and airport pickups cost more. Pay by card in most cars.
Ride-hailing app
Bolt
Available in Dubai (varies by area); compare with Careem and Uber.
Buses
Abu Dhabi buses (Hafilat card)
Abu Dhabi uses the Hafilat card for city buses. Intercity buses connect Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah cheaply.
Ferries
Abra water taxi
Traditional wooden boats cross Dubai Creek for a small fare, paid in cash or by Nol on some routes.
Money and cash
Currency: AED · UAE dirham
Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, including taxis, metro top-up machines and most souk shops. Carry some small notes (5-20 AED) for tips, abra boat rides and small stalls. When a taxi driver or shop quotes a price, confirm it is in dirhams, and always choose to be charged in AED on card terminals.
Tipping
Tipping is not required by law but is common, since many service workers earn low wages. About 10% at restaurants without a service charge is standard. Bills often show 5% VAT and, in Dubai hotels, a 7% municipality fee and a 10% service charge; only the service charge relates to service.
| Restaurants | About 10-15% if no service charge is listed. If a 10% service charge is already on the bill, an extra tip is optional; many people leave a few dirhams in cash so the server gets it directly. |
|---|---|
| Cafés and bars | Round up or leave 5-10 AED for table service. |
| Taxis and ride apps | Round up to the nearest 5 AED; not expected. App tips are optional. |
| Hotels | 5-10 AED per bag for porters and a similar amount per day for housekeeping is appreciated. |
| Tours and guides | Around 10% or 20-50 AED for a good guide or safari driver (varies). |
| Food delivery | 5-10 AED or an in-app tip is common; riders earn low pay. |
Service charge: what’s true
Dubai authorities say a 10% service charge is only allowed at restaurants inside hotels (and in some special zones such as DIFC); standalone restaurants were told in 2010 to stop adding it. It must appear as a separate line. There is no rule that it is passed on to the waiter; it is often kept by the business or shared among all staff. VAT (5%) and the Dubai 7% municipality fee are taxes, not tips.
Pressure tactics to watch for
Staff may imply the service charge or municipality fee is a tip, or hand over a card machine with a tip prompt already selected. Check the bill: VAT and municipality fees are government charges, and a service charge outside a hotel venue may not be allowed in Dubai. Politely say you have already paid the service charge, or tip in cash to the person who served you if you choose.
Useful phrases
- الحساب لو سمحت (al-hisaab law samaht) The bill, please.
- هل الخدمة محسوبة؟ (hal al-khidma mahsooba?) Is service included?
- شكراً (shukran) Thank you.
Etiquette
- Dress modestly in malls, souks and government buildings: cover shoulders and knees. Swimwear is for beaches and pools only; topless sunbathing is not allowed.
- At mosques, women cover hair, arms and legs (abayas are provided at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque) and everyone removes shoes.
- Public displays of affection beyond holding hands can lead to arrest. Swearing and rude gestures, including online and in messages, are criminal offences.
- Do not photograph people, especially women, without permission, or government and military sites. Posting photos of others without consent is illegal.
- Alcohol is only allowed in licensed venues (hotels, licensed bars) and at home; drinking or being drunk in public is illegal. Sharjah is fully dry.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking openly in public during daylight, even though rules have relaxed in Dubai.
- Use your right hand to give and receive things, and do not point the soles of your feet at people.
Scams and how to handle them
Fake holiday home and hotel listings
Where: Social media, fake booking websites
How it works: Scammers copy real listings and photos, post them cheaply, and pressure you to pay by bank transfer before 'the offer expires'. Dubai Police repeatedly warn about this.
How to avoid it: Book only via established platforms or licensed agents, never pay by direct transfer to a person, and check the company on the Dubai DET or police channels.
Fake tour and attraction tickets
Where: Instagram and WhatsApp sellers, unofficial websites
How it works: Discounted desert safari, Burj Khalifa or event tickets that do not exist or are not valid.
How to avoid it: Buy from official attraction sites or well-known platforms; desert safari operators must be licensed by DET.
Phishing texts about fines, parcels or Salik
Where: SMS and WhatsApp messages to visitors' phones
How it works: Messages claim an unpaid traffic fine, toll or parcel fee and link to a fake payment page to steal card details.
How to avoid it: Do not click links; check fines only on official RTA, Dubai Police or Abu Dhabi Police apps.
Currency confusion in taxis and shops
Where: Taxis, souks
How it works: A price is agreed and the driver or seller then claims it was in US dollars or euros, not dirhams.
How to avoid it: Use metered taxis or apps, and confirm 'dirhams' before agreeing a price.
Souk overpricing and counterfeit goods
Where: Gold and Spice souks, Karama, Deira touts
How it works: Inflated prices for tourists, low-quality saffron or fake designer goods sold from back rooms. Buying counterfeits can be illegal.
How to avoid it: Compare prices, bargain politely in souks, and buy gold from shops that show the daily gold rate and give a receipt.
Unlicensed taxis and private drivers
Where: Airport, malls, hotel entrances
How it works: Private cars offer rides at a flat rate far above the meter, without insurance or licences.
How to avoid it: Use the RTA taxi queue, Careem or Uber.
Card skimming and dynamic currency conversion
Where: Shops, restaurants, standalone ATMs
How it works: Card machines offer to charge in your home currency at a poor rate; cards may be copied.
How to avoid it: Pay in AED and use bank ATMs in malls or banks.
Safety
- Violent and street crime are low; the main risks are online and booking fraud, road accidents and breaking strict local laws.
- Drink spiking can happen: do not accept drinks from strangers, and be careful walking alone at night.
- Controlled or strong medicines (some painkillers, sleeping pills, ADHD and anxiety drugs) need prior approval from the Ministry of Health (MOHAP) or must be declared with a prescription; bring at most 3 months' supply. CBD products are illegal.
- Zero tolerance for drugs, including traces in blood; transit passengers have been prosecuted.
- Summer heat often exceeds 40 C: carry water, avoid midday walks and be careful in the desert.
- Driving standards can be poor and speeding is common; any alcohol before driving is illegal.
- Check government travel advice for regional security alerts before travelling.
How widely English is spoken
Very high. English is the working language of hotels, shops, taxis and signs; most service staff are expatriates who speak English.
Sources
- GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: UAE, safety and security
- Wikivoyage: Dubai
- Gulf News: 10% service fee in some Dubai restaurants legal (2018)
- Khaleej Times: Dubai Police warn against fake travel bookings
- Khaleej Times: How to bring medicines into the UAE
- Property Finder: Tipping in Dubai
We check these guides against official and well-known sources, but rules and prices change. Spot something out of date? Email support@tourits.app.