Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for the United Arab Emirates
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Pegged to the US dollar, so it tracks the AUD/USD rate. Around AED 2.60 to the AUD.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in United Arab Emirates, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for United Arab Emirates, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in United Arab Emirates
Can you pay by card in United Arab Emirates?
Universal. Contactless everywhere including the Dubai Metro.
Cash and ATMs in United Arab Emirates
Everywhere. Local fees are typically AED 20-30.
Very little - mostly for souks and taxis in older areas.
Do you tip in United Arab Emirates?
Appreciated but not compulsory. 10-15% at restaurants (many add a service charge), AED 5-10 for porters and drivers.
Worth knowing about paying in United Arab Emirates
Decline dynamic currency conversion and pay in dirhams.
Before you pay for anything in United Arab Emirates
Pay in UAE dirham or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in United Arab Emirates
د.إ2.55 AED per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More United Arab Emirates essentials
United Arab Emirates visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to United Arab Emirates
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
United Arab Emirates eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
United Arab Emirates travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
United Arab Emirates airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in United Arab Emirates
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
United Arab Emirates travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in United Arab Emirates
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning United Arab Emirates?
We will send you the United Arab Emirates guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.