Dubai Money & Costs

The monetary unit of the UAE is the dirham (designated as Dhs. or AED, which stands for Arab Emirate Dirham), which is divided into 100 fils. Bills come in the following denominations: 5 (brown note), 10 (green), 20 (light blue), types of silver coins written in Arabic representing 25 fils, 50 fils, and 1 dirham.

The dirham is pegged to the U.S. dollar at $1=AED 3.67. The exchange rate with the British pound at press time was £1=AED 7.25. For up-to-the-minute currency conversions, visit www.oanda.com Dubai is increasingly expensive, with inflation on the rise. Hotel prices have roughly doubled in the past 5 years, and the price of everything from food to entertainment continues to climb. It is difficult to find a moderate hotel for under $200 in the high season (luxury hotels often go for $400 and up), and a three-course dinner without alcohol will 50 (purple), 100 (pink), 500 (blue), and 1,000 (burgundy).

The notes are written in English on one side and Arabic on the other. To see examples of the different dirham notes, visit the “currency” section of www.centralbank.ae There are three cost about $40 per person. Taxis remain relatively inexpensive. Cash is the prevalent means of paying in Dubai, although credit and debit cards are widely accepted. This is the case just about everywhere except in the souks. ATMs are prevalent throughout the city, available not just in banks but in many supermarkets and shopping centers, as well. Most accept a wide range of cards, including those linked to the Plus system, American Express, Global Access, MasterCard, and Visa. Currency and traveler’s check exchange is possible in most banks, exchange houses, and many hotels.