Before heading to Dubai or anywhere else in the United Arab Emirates, it's best to understand the dirham (AED), its peg to the dollar and the right balance between cash and card so you can travel with peace of mind.
The UAE dirham (AED): a currency pegged to the dollar
The official currency of the United Arab Emirates is the UAE dirham, abbreviated AED or sometimes Dhs. Its key feature: it has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, at a fixed rate of about 3.6725 AED to 1 USD. This peg almost never moves. However, since you are travelling with euros, the euro/dirham rate you get depends on the euro/dollar rate at the time: it therefore fluctuates every day. That is why the rates displayed in store are indicative counter rates, revised daily.
One dirham is divided into 100 fils. Banknotes range from 5 to 1,000 AED (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000), with a very legible colour code. Remember to keep small denominations (5, 10, 20 AED): they are invaluable for taxis, tips and purchases in the souks.
Cash or card in Dubai: which to favour?
The Emirates are an extremely digitalised country. Payment by contactless card is accepted almost everywhere: shopping malls (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates), restaurants, hotels, official taxis, the metro and ride-hailing apps. For the majority of your spending, a card is more than enough.
Cash nonetheless remains useful, even indispensable, in several situations:
- The souks (gold, spices, textiles in Deira), where you bargain in cash and where paying with notes often brings the price down;
- Tips and service staff (porters, valets, housekeeping);
- Small shops, markets and neighbourhood taxis;
- Excursions into the desert or outside the big cities.
Beware of a classic trap at the ATM and in stores on site: dynamic currency conversion. If the terminal offers to charge you "in euros" rather than in dirhams, refuse and always choose to pay in AED: the local conversion often applies an unfavourable rate. Likewise, withdrawals from Emirati ATMs frequently incur fixed fees from the local bank, on top of your French bank's fees. Leaving Paris with a reserve of dirhams avoids these unpleasant surprises.
Tipping in the Emirates
Tipping is part of the customs, without being as systematic as in the United States. A few practical guidelines:
- Restaurants: 10 to 15% if service is not already included. Check for a "service charge" line on the bill, as it does not always go to the waiter.
- Taxis: rounding up to the next note is enough.
- Hotels: a few dirhams for the porter, 10 to 20 AED per day for housekeeping.
- Valets and guides: a small note handed over in person is always appreciated.
How much cash in dirhams should you plan for?
It all depends on your travel style, but for the portion paid in cash (tips, souks, taxis, small extras), as a rough guide allow the equivalent of €40 to €70 per day per person. For a one-week stay for two, an envelope of a few hundred euros converted into dirhams comfortably covers these expenses, with the rest going on the card. There's no need to change everything into cash: Dubai is a destination where electronic payment dominates.
Good to know: the Emirates apply a 5% VAT, and tourists can reclaim part of this tax on certain purchases, via the tax-refund kiosks at the airport, on presentation of receipts and passport.
Cash and customs rules
When leaving the European Union, carrying €10,000 or more in cash (or the equivalent in foreign currency) requires a mandatory customs declaration. On arrival, the Emirates also apply a declaration threshold for large sums of cash: check the amount in force with Emirati customs before departure. For a typical tourist stay, you will remain well below these ceilings.
Changing your euros into dirhams in Paris, before departure
Preparing your dirhams from Paris remains the simplest and most economical solution. At Paris Change, a bureau de change approved by the ACPR (Banque de France), you exchange your euros commission-free, among more than 53 currencies including the UAE dirham. You can order your currency online and then come and collect it in store, at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75005 Paris, in the heart of the Latin Quarter (Saint-Michel metro line 4, RER B and C Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame). A rare advantage in Paris: our shop is open 7 days a week, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:30 pm, ideal for a last-minute departure.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to change my euros in France or in Dubai?
Changing in France saves you from dynamic currency conversion and local ATM fees, and you arrive with cash ready to use. Ordering online followed by in-store collection lets you know your amount in dirhams before departure.
Is the dollar accepted in Dubai?
Some hotels and tourist shops sometimes accept dollars or euros, but at an unfavourable rate. The dirham remains the only currency that is genuinely practical for your day-to-day spending on site.
Is the euro/dirham rate fixed?
No. The dirham is fixed against the dollar, but the euro/dirham rate varies each day depending on how the euro moves against the dollar. The displayed rates are indicative and updated daily.
Prepare for your trip to Dubai with peace of mind: order your currency online and come and collect your dirhams at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 7 days a week, commission-free.
