Destination Guides
United Arab Emirates

 
oney
 
Currency

UAE Dirham (AED) = 100 fils. Notes are in denominations of AED1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of AED1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 fils (10 and 5 fils coins are rarely used).

 
Note

The Dirham is tied to the US Dollar.

 
Currency exchange

Most hotels will handle the exchange of foreign currency.

 
Credit & debit cards

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted.

 
Traveller's cheques

These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

 
Currency restrictions

The import and export of both local and foreign currency are limited to AED40,000 or equivalent. Amounts over this must be declared at the Customs Counter at Dubai International Airport.

 
Exchange rate indicators

Date Jul 06
£1.00= AED6.69
$1.00= AED3.67

 
Banking hours

Sat-Wed 0800-1300, Thurs 0800-1200. Some also open Sat-Wed 1630-1800.

 
 
uty Free
 

The following items may be imported into the United Arab Emirates without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes and cigars up to AED3000 in value (for personal use) and 2kg of tobacco; 4l of spirits or 24 cans of beer (non-Muslims over 18 years only); a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Note: It is prohibited to bring alcohol into Sharjah and usually not allowed if entering the UAE by land.

 
Prohibited items

Firearms and dangerous weapons, religious propaganda, unstrung pearls except for personal use, raw seafood (only when visiting Dubai and/or Sharjah), fruit and vegetables from cholera-infected areas.