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Buy dirham

How much would you like?

= AED=1 GBP
Looking for a different currency?

What to spend your dirham on:

  • *

    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 *

How many dirham will I need?

Please select your budget above.


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Total spending money needed:

  • *A budget
  • *for people for
  • * nights


*Recalculate

Must-sees in United Arab Emirates

Dubai United Arab Emirates Persian Gulf luxury shopping ultramodern architecture
  • Dubai
  • Dubai is every shopper’s paradise, with over 70 malls across the city. When you’ve finished spending, marvel at the grandeur of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Persian Gulf skyline modern towers
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Abu Dhabi is a smorgasbord of old and new. The splendour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is awe-inspiring, whilst the Manarat al Saadiyat art centre is a must for art lovers.
Sharjah United Arab Emirates Al Noor Mosque port skyline towers
  • Sharjah
  • Here you can enjoy the hustle and bustle of the UAE’s oldest market: the Souk Al Arsah, but you can also seek the tranquility of the stunning white beaches at Ajman.

Shell out your dirham

The United Arab Emirates dirham 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%!

Frequently used banknotes

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) as well as a number of coins. 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 here.

Buying UAE dirham online is easy

Free next-day home delivery on orders over £600

  • 1. Select your currency
  • Just tell us how much you need and where you’re going

  • 2. Choose how to get it
  • Get your currency delivered to your door or collect at over 50 Travelex stores

  • 3. Pay online
  • Use either your debit card or credit card and you’re all set

*The figures provided are indicative only and are there to provide an idea of the amount of travel money you may need during your trip.

Another great option for your holiday is our Travelex Money Card. A pre-paid card that works exactly like your debit or credit card, take the stress out of carrying cash by loading all of your travel money onto your card before you leave. And if you underestimate how much you need, it’s super easy to top up your card online.

Order your card

Need a different currency?

Whether you’re looking for dollars or dirham, we can deliver to your home or you can pick up from us in store.