The United Arab Emirates is a country of contrasts in both its culture and landscape, where you’ll discover a wealth of things to spend your dirhams on! We’re offering great rates when you order your UAE dirhams online.
Soft drink in a restaurant
2 AED 
10km taxi ride to see the sharks at Dubai Mall
18.5 AED
Paintballing at Zayed City
180 AED
Entrance to Burj Khalifa in the afternoon
200 AED
Buggy ride for two across the sand dunes
695 AED
The United Arab Emirates Dirham is known by its currency code (AED) and symbol (₺). The currency began circulation in 1973 and gets its name from the word "Drachmae", which translates from Greek to English as "handful".
Expect to pay premium prices for most things in the United Arab Emirates, especially in restaurants and hotel bars. Tipping between 10-15% is the norm, but only if the service is good!
In the many souks around the UAE (especially Dubai), the expectation is that you will haggle with the sellers. A typical achievable discount is 50%!
Dirham notes come in seven different denominations: 5 (brown), 10 (green), 20 (light blue), 50 (purple), 100 (pink), 200 (green and brown), 500 (dark blue) and 1,000 (turquoise) .There are also a number of coins: 1 fils (rarely used). 5 fils (rarely used), 10 fils (rarely used), 25 fils, 50 fils and Dh1. Try to keep plenty of smaller denomination notes as well as coins, as it can be tricky to get change from 500 and 1,000 dirham notes.
Find out more about the Dirham and its performance against the British pound.
Free next-day home delivery on orders over £500
Another great option for spending in UAE dirham is our Travelex Money Card.
Getting the best rates for UAE dirham can be tricky. Pegged to the US Dollar, the Dirham's fluctuations are more subtle but can still impact your travel budget. Use our rate tracker to plan your trip to the UAE's modern landscapes and traditional souks.
You can only spend UAE dirham in the United Arab Emirates.
You can purchase your UAE dirham from us via credit or debit card. When you purchase UAE dirham through us, either online or in-store, we don't apply credit card handling fees. Do check for any potential charges from your card issuer.
Yes, you can! With our Buy Back Promise we can buy back your unused UAE dirham notes at any one of our UK retail stores at the original transaction exchange rate up to a maximum value of £250, for just a fee of £4.99. Learn more about our Buy Back Promise. T&Cs apply.
The UAE is card-friendly, but using your card for AED transactions may lead to fees from your bank. See how the Travelex Money Card can help you spend abroad.
Yes, cash is still frequently used in the UAE. In the UAE, combine the convenience of UAE dirham in cash and the Travelex Money Card for a worry-free bigger purchase experience.
No, you can’t use UAE dirham in Morocco. Although Morocco also uses a currency known as the Moroccan Dirham (MAD), it is different to Emirati Dirham (AED). Learn more about the currency in Morocco.
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