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Practical Guides

Tipping in Dubai and Money Across the Middle East

Tipping in Dubai and the wider region is simple once you know the customs, and money is easier still: most Gulf currencies are pegged to the US dollar. This guide covers Middle East currencies with approximate dollar rates, when to use cards or cash, and what to tip, country by country.

Updated October 18, 2026

At a glance

Money and Tipping at a glance

UAE dirham: About AED 3.67 to US$1 (pegged; approximate)
Saudi riyal: About SAR 3.75 to US$1 (pegged; approximate)
Restaurant tip in the Gulf: About 10 to 15 percent if service is not included
Cards: Widely accepted; contactless and mobile wallets everywhere in the Gulf cities

Middle East currency

Middle East currency and approximate dollar rates

Country	Currency	Approx. per US$1	US$1 buys / 100 local ≈
United Arab Emirates	Dirham (AED)	3.6725 (pegged)	AED 100 ≈ US$27
Saudi Arabia	Riyal (SAR)	3.75 (pegged)	SAR 100 ≈ US$27
Qatar	Riyal (QAR)	3.64 (pegged)	QAR 100 ≈ US$27
Oman	Rial (OMR)	0.3845 (pegged)	OMR 1 ≈ US$2.60
Bahrain	Dinar (BHD)	0.376 (pegged)	BHD 1 ≈ US$2.66
Kuwait	Dinar (KWD)	About 0.31 (managed, floats)	KWD 1 ≈ US$3.25
Jordan	Dinar (JOD)	About 0.71 (pegged)	JOD 1 ≈ US$1.41
Egypt	Pound (EGP)	Floats; check before you travel	Varies
Morocco	Dirham (MAD)	About 9 to 10 (varies)	MAD 100 ≈ US$10 to 11
Israel	New shekel (ILS)	Floats; roughly 3.0 to 3.3	Varies
Türkiye	Lira (TRY)	Floats; check before you travel	Varies
Cyprus	Euro (EUR)	Floats; roughly 0.85 to 0.95	Varies

Traditional abra water taxis flying UAE flags along Dubai Creek at sunset. — Photo: Phil6007 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A note on the rates

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Jordan peg their currencies to the US dollar, so the rates above hold steady and make mental math easy: in Dubai or Riyadh, simply divide by about 3.7 (or multiply by 0.27) to get dollars. Kuwait's dinar is managed against a basket of currencies and moves only slightly. The floating currencies, such as the Egyptian pound and Turkish lira, can change noticeably, so check a live rate before you travel. All rates on this page are approximate and for guidance only.

Cards, cash and ATMs

In the Gulf cities, cards are accepted almost everywhere, from taxis to souk stalls, and Apple Pay, Google Pay and contactless cards are routine. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted; American Express is welcome at most luxury hotels, malls and restaurants but not everywhere. Use a card with no foreign transaction fees, and when a terminal offers to charge you in US dollars, choose the local currency instead for a better rate.

Keep a little cash for tips, small cafes, traditional souks and markets. ATMs are plentiful in airports, malls and hotels. In Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Türkiye, cash is used more often, especially outside the big cities, and small notes are useful for tips. Let your bank know your travel dates before you go.

Tipping in Dubai

Tipping in Dubai and across the region

Country	Restaurants	Hotel staff	Drivers and guides
United Arab Emirates	10–15% if no service charge; round up in cafes	Porter AED 10–20 (US$3–5) per bag; housekeeping AED 20–50 (US$5–14) per day	Round up taxis; private guide AED 100–200 (US$27–54) a day
Saudi Arabia	10–15% if no service charge	Porter SAR 10–20 (US$3–5); housekeeping SAR 20–50 (US$5–13) per day	Driver or guide SAR 100–200 (US$27–53) a day
Qatar	10–15% if no service charge	Porter QAR 10–20 (US$3–5)	Round up taxis; guide QAR 100–200 (US$27–55) a day
Oman	About 10%	Porter OMR 1–2 (US$2.60–5)	Guide or driver OMR 10–20 (US$26–52) a day
Bahrain	10% if no service charge	Porter BHD 1–2 (US$2.70–5)	Round up taxis
Kuwait	10% if no service charge	Porter KWD 1 (about US$3)	Round up taxis
Jordan	10% (on top of any service charge in tourist areas)	Porter JOD 1–2 (US$1.40–2.80)	Guide JOD 20–30 (US$28–42) a day; driver JOD 10–15
Egypt	10–15%; small tips (baksheesh) are part of daily life	Porter about US$1–2 per bag in local currency	Guide about US$10–20 a day; Nile cruise crews often share a pooled tip
Morocco	About 10%	Porter MAD 10–20 (US$1–2)	Guide MAD 150–300 (US$15–30) a day
Israel	12–15% (often expected)	Porter ILS 5–10 per bag	Guide about US$20–40 a day
Türkiye	10% in restaurants	Porter a few dollars' worth of lira	Round up taxis; tip guides at the end of a tour

How tipping works in practice

Check the bill first. Many hotels and restaurants in the Gulf add a service charge, and in some countries a separate tourism fee or municipality fee appears too. A service charge does not always reach the person who served you, so if service was lovely, a small extra amount in cash is appreciated. Where no service charge appears, 10 to 15 percent is generous and appropriate.

At five-star hotels, it is customary to tip the porter who brings your bags, leave something for housekeeping each day rather than only at the end, and thank a concierge who has gone out of their way with a gesture in proportion to the favor. Spa therapists, valets, butlers and private drivers all appreciate a tip. On a yacht charter, a crew gratuity of around 10 to 15 percent of the charter fee is common, and on a Nile cruise, many guests contribute to a shared envelope for the crew.

Tipping is always a thank-you, never an obligation, and a warm word of thanks counts too. For more on local manners, see customs and etiquette.

VAT, tax refunds and shopping

VAT applies in the UAE (5 percent), Saudi Arabia (15 percent), Bahrain (10 percent) and Oman (5 percent); prices are usually shown including tax. Visitors to the UAE and Saudi Arabia can reclaim VAT on eligible purchases from participating stores through a tourist refund system at the airport, so keep your receipts and ask the shop to register the purchase. Qatar and Kuwait do not currently charge VAT. See our guides to malls and souks and jewelers and the Gold Souk.

Banking and investing

Banking and investing in the region

For those buying property or moving here, the dollar pegs are a real advantage: no currency risk between US dollars and dirhams or riyals. Our guides to private banks and advisers and Dubai Luxury Real Estate explain how to bank, invest and buy with confidence.

Questions

Questions about money and tipping

Is tipping expected in Dubai?

It is appreciated rather than required. If a service charge is not included, around 10 to 15 percent in restaurants is customary, with small tips for porters, housekeeping, valets and drivers.

Can I pay in US dollars?

Some hotels and shops accept dollars, but you will usually get a better rate paying in local currency by card. In Egypt and Jordan, dollars are sometimes accepted for tours and tips.

How much is the UAE dirham to the dollar?

About AED 3.6725 to US$1. The dirham is pegged to the dollar, so this approximate rate barely changes.

Do I need cash in the Gulf?

Very little. Cards and mobile wallets work almost everywhere. Carry a small amount for tips and traditional souks.

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Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.