The United Arab Emirates consists of seven “emirates” – each one more unique than the other. Endless skyscrapers and Dubai’s shopping compete with the culture and heritage of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. With vast desert landscapes and pristine beaches, the UAE offers a fusion of traditional Arabian hospitality and cutting-edge innovation. Understanding cash and cash and ATMs in UAE – the Dirham, and acceptance of card or cash payments is crucial for any visitor. This guide will help ensure that you can explore the UAE with convenience, enjoying the opulent experiences and modern marvels it offers.
You may also enjoy reading Ultimate guide on how to travel on a budget in 2025.
Where can I find ATMs in UAE & Dubai?
There are about 4,500 ATMs in the UAE. These are run by a few foreign banks and the top 15 banks. In the UAE / Dubai, major towns have ATMs, and smaller areas have a few (at most one or two) choices for obtaining cash. However, if you’re visiting far-off places like islands or deserts, don’t expect to find them.
You can find ATMs at:
- All big airports,
- Markets and town squares,
- The primary main streets in large towns,
- Retail centres like shopping malls and shopping streets,
- Bank branches,
- A few office complexes.
It will be difficult to find ATMs in:
- Tiny airports on islands,
- Local bus stations,
- Secluded retreats and resorts,
- Places of worship,
Best ATMs to use in UAE & Dubai for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in UAE and Dubai are those owned by popular banks such as:
Emirates Islamic Bank,
RAK Islamic Bank,
Emirates NBD,
ADCB, and
ADIB.
UAE and Dubai are also home to ATMs from foreign banks like HSBC, Citibank.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In UAE & Dubai, some ATMs may ask – Accept OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion, or Charge in AED).
- If you ‘Accept’ – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate and you pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion also.
- If you ‘Decline’ – ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees while withdrawing cash in UAE & Dubai, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Charge in AED’.
If you’d like to understand more, read ATM fees abroad: Charges to use cards at foreign ATMs explained.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in UAE & Dubai?
Yes, many types of foreign cards are easily accepted at ATMs in UAE & Dubai.
For a detailed guide, read Money and Currency in UAE & Dubai.
What are the ATM opening hours?
Indeed, ATMs are frequently available 24×7. It shouldn’t be a problem to use them whenever you want, day or night, as many of them are standalone ATMs. For ATMs inside some bank branches, they’re probably open only between only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Remember that Thursday and Sunday are UAE’s weekly holidays however, currency exchanges may sometimes work half days on Mondays or Saturdays (its super confusing, we know!).
What do they call ATMs in UAE & Dubai?
The words “ATM” or the bank’s name are typically all that are displayed on an ATM.
PIN type
ATMs in the UAE / Dubai usually accept 4-digit PINs. Some may accept longer ones.
When it comes to swiping, many businesses continue to use old technology that requires a magnetic stripe on the card in place of a chip and pin. So get a card that has that too.
Languages at ATMs in UAE & Dubai
Default: Arabic and English. Some ATMs can also support Urdu and Hindi. You can choose this at the beginning of the transaction.
If you cannot understand these languages, it’s fine. Use the camera feature of Google Translate to translate the selections on your phone in real time! Note: Because these translations are not always accurate, please take your time and finish the transaction without haste.
Do ATMs in UAE & Dubai work similarly as other countries?
Indeed, very much so. Modern UAE ATMs look and operate just like those in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and India. Remember to take your card out of these ATMs after withdrawing cash, as some of them take your card in entirely.
Join the discussion, read and share cash related travel experiences on ATM Fee Saver’s Community Travel Forum at Money & Travel in the Middle East.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in UAE & Dubai?
ATMs in UAE & Dubai dispense only the official currency UAE Dirham (AED). A handful of foreign currency ATMs allow withdrawing USD and few other currencies, however, this is not very common.
ATM withdrawal limits in UAE & Dubai?
ATMs in United Arab Emirates have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of AED 5,000. There are usually no limits on number of transactions per day.
ATM Fees in UAE & Dubai?
There are some fee-free ATMs in United Arab Emirates and Dubai. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between AED 22 to AED 26.26 (UAE Dirham) per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders. Some bank ATMs do not charge fees to some specific foreign cards. So, there are a few fee-free options in the UAE and Dubai for a foreign cardholder.
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in UAE & Dubai – something every traveller handling cash in UAE & Dubai should be aware of. These are:
- Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
- Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in UAE & Dubai?
- Use the fee-free or lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting a fee-free travel card from your home country.
- Get one Visa and one Mastercard fee-free cards as some ATMs abroad accept only Visa and some only Mastercard.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees.
For a detailed guide, read Withdrawing cash abroad? 9 best ways to save foreign ATM fees.
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in UAE & Dubai?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in United Arab Emirates. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including United Arab Emirates.
Download now from the App Store or Play Store.
Download ATM Fee Saver now.
Is it safe to use UAE & Dubai ATMs?
Yes, in general. There are numerous ATMs with cameras and security personnel. The crime rate is low in the vicinity of ATMs. Pickpocketing happens more often.
To be safe, use precautions such as:
- Use the ATMs located inside bank branches instead of standalone ones.
- Avoid using ATMs on empty streets or late at night.
- Keep your card visible at all times.
- Cover the PIN pad with the palm of your hand to avoid revealing your PIN to hidden cameras.
- If you find any suspicious devices attached around the keypad area of the ATM, do not use the ATM.
- Be aware of your surroundings, if you see suspicious people, move away.
- Keep two or more cards as backup.
- If also using your mobile phone for the transaction, avoid using public Wi-Fi. Use VPN for extra protection.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in UAE & Dubai takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs here?
Yes, it is possible. There are some fee-free ATMs in United Arab Emirates and Dubai. Majority of the bank ATMs charge between AED 22 to AED 26.26 (UAE Dirham) per transaction as ATM Fees to foreign cardholders. Some bank ATMs do not charge fees to some specific foreign cards. So, there are a few fee-free options in the UAE and Dubai for a foreign cardholder.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted at ATMs in UAE & Dubai?
Yes. Generally speaking, cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, India and other countries can be used at ATMs in the UAE.
Bitcoin ATMs?
Indeed, there are a few Bitcoin ATMs in the UAE / Dubai.
Foreign bank ATMs’ in UAE & Dubai
Bank of America: No, there aren’t any Bank of America ATMs in the UAE.
Citibank: There are a lot of Citibank ATMs in the UAE / Dubai.
Barclays: No, there aren’t any Barclays Bank ATMs in the UAE.
HSBC: It’s true that there are a lot of HSBC ATMs in the UAE.
Standard Chartered: IThere are a few Standard Chartered ATMs in the UAE.
