The question of money is one of the most important when planning a trip, especially for tourists from Russia: which cards work, how much cash to bring and where to exchange currency. Let us break it all down so you do not end up without funds in Dubai or lose out on a poor rate.
The UAE Currency
The national currency is the UAE dirham (AED), sometimes written as Dhs or درهم. One dirham is divided into 100 fils. In circulation there are banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 AED and fils coins.
The main feature is that the dirham is firmly pegged to the US dollar: about 3.67 AED per 1 USD. The rate has barely changed for years, so there is no need to worry about currency swings. For convenience, you can keep in mind that 1 AED ≈ 0.27 USD.
Do Russian Cards Work
This is the key point for tourists from Russia:
- Visa and Mastercard cards from Russian banks do not work in the UAE — neither for payments nor for ATM withdrawals — and have not since 2022.
- Mir cards are not accepted in Dubai.
- UnionPay from Russian banks works only in a limited and unreliable way — you should not count on it as your main method.
The conclusion: if you only have Russian cards, plan your trip around cash or get a card from a bank in another country (for example, through a foreign bank). Many tourists bring dollars or euros with them and exchange them on the spot.
Where to Exchange Currency at a Good Rate
The exchange rate depends heavily on where you go:
- City exchange offices — the best rate. Major chains: Al Ansari Exchange, UAE Exchange, Lulu Exchange, Al Fardan. Their branches are in almost every shopping mall.
- The airport — the rate is noticeably worse, so exchange only the minimum “to get going” (for the taxi).
- Hotels — usually the worst-value option.
They exchange dollars, euros and many other currencies. The commission at chain branches is usually minimal or non-existent — the difference is “built into” the rate. Bring your passport with you: for large sums they may ask for it.
Can You Pay by Card
Dubai is a practically cashless city. You can pay by (foreign) card almost everywhere: in shopping malls, restaurants, taxis, hotels and with street vendors via terminals. Apple Pay and Google Pay work. But, as mentioned above, the card must be issued outside Russia.
It is still worth having some cash for:
- traditional markets (the gold and spice souks) — they haggle there and like cash;
- tips and rounding up the bill at cafes;
- small expenses and vending machines.
How Much Cash to Bring
It depends on your style of holiday, but a rough guide is this: for everyday expenses (eating out, taxis, small purchases) budget roughly 200–400 AED per day per person at a mid-range level. Large purchases and restaurants are more convenient to pay for by card. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see the guide to the Dubai trip budget, and for food prices see the overview of food prices in Dubai.
Do not forget that tourists can reclaim 5% VAT on purchases in shops — there is a separate guide on Tax Free in Dubai.
Money is the matter a tourist from Russia should settle while still at home: Russian cards (including Mir) do not work in the UAE, so bring cash dollars or euros and exchange them at city exchange offices like Al Ansari or UAE Exchange rather than at the airport. The dirham is pegged to the dollar, so the rate is stable, and for everyday payments a foreign bank card will come in handy — with this set-up you will have no money problems in Dubai.
