I live here full-time and always tell visitors to skip the airport exchange desks unless they’re really stuck. The rates are inflated and usually come...

I’ve seen this happen a few times. If the card was taken by an ATM not attached to a branch, you’re probably out of luck. Even if it’s from a major ba...

Dubai RTA taxis are generally well-equipped with working card machines now, and you can also use Careem or Uber, both of which accept international ca...

In both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, public transport is built around prepaid smart cards. For Dubai, that’s the Nol card. For Abu Dhabi buses, you need a Haf...

Some hostels will let you pay by card at check-in, especially newer ones near tourist hubs. But there’s always the chance of “machine not working” or ...

Been living in UAE for a year - Amex works in big-name stores and luxury hotels, but I wouldn’t use it as your main card. Even places that technically...

Living in Dubai, I always tell friends landing here to avoid exchanging too much at the airport. You’ll lose 5-8% minimum. ATMs from Emirates NBD, ADC...

I've seen this happen a lot to travelers. The ATM swallows your card, and unless you're using a local UAE-issued card, banks will destroy it for fraud...

I live in the UAE and still see that prompt now and then - especially at airport ATMs or hotels. It’s basically a rip-off. You’ll see a clean-looking ...