Tipping Culture in Dubai: When, Where, and How Much to Leave.

A bill for 780 dirhams at a restaurant. At the bottom, in small print: "Service Charge 10%." The waiter was impeccable. Do you need to leave anything on top of that? And if so, how much? 20, 50, or 100 dirhams? In cash or by card? This awkwardness is familiar to many tourists in Dubai. Forget about this awkwardness. This guide is your personal "translator" of Dubai's hospitality etiquette. No fluff—just clear figures, easy-to-understand percentages, and step-by-step instructions for any situation: from a luxurious dinner in Burj Khalifa to thanking a hotel housekeeper. After reading it, you’ll tip not because "you have to," but because you know how to do it confidently and appropriately.

Why things aren’t so simple in Dubai: Understanding the service charge and local culture

To understand how to tip correctly, you need to know two things: who your money goes to and what the lines on the receipt mean.

The human factor: why your tips really matter here

To appreciate the value of your tips, take a look behind the polished facade of Dubai’s service industry. Your smiling waiter most likely comes from the Philippines, Nepal, or India. A concierge who expertly solves your problems may well be from Eastern Europe. Dubai is a Babylon of hospitality, and for the thousands of expats working here, your tips are not just a compliment—they are a significant part of their income, helping them support their families thousands of kilometers away. That’s why every dirham handed directly to the staff is not a mere formality but a genuine and highly valued gesture of gratitude.

The math behind the bill: service charge, municipality fee, and other charges

Now let’s take a closer look at the bill you receive. In addition to the cost of the dishes, you’ll almost always see two additional items:

• Municipality Fee (5–7%): This is a city tax that goes directly to the emirate’s treasury and has nothing to do with service.
• Service Charge (10–15%): Here lies the main catch. Formally, this is a fee for service. However, these funds do not always go directly to your server; more often, they are distributed among all staff members, including chefs and cleaners, at the management’s discretion. [chart/diagram/map description="Infographic showing the structure of a bill in a Dubai restaurant: the cost of dishes, municipal tax, service charge, and VAT, and how the final amount is calculated."]

That’s why, even if a service charge is included in the bill, your personal tips left in cash are the only guaranteed way to thank a specific person for their outstanding service.

A guide to tipping: From restaurants to desert safaris

Let’s move on to practice. How much, where, and most importantly, how should you leave a tip?

In restaurants, cafes, and bars

This is the most common situation. The main rule is to check the bill.

• If a service charge is included (almost always): You are not required to leave anything extra. However, if the service was excellent, leave 5–10% of the bill amount in cash in the bill folder after paying by card.
• If no service charge is included (in small, non-touristy cafes): In this case, it is customary to leave 10–15% of the bill amount in cash or include it with the main payment.
• In a bar: For each order, you can leave the bartender 5–10 dirhams directly on the bar counter or add 10% to the total bill at the end of the evening when you leave.

In your hotel

Here, gratitude is expressed for specific services.

• Bellboy: For help with luggage, thank the bellboy personally by giving him 5–10 AED per bag in your room.
• Housekeeping: For perfect cleanliness, it is customary to leave 5–10 AED daily. It’s best to place money in a visible spot—such as on the pillow or nightstand—perhaps with a short note saying “Thank you.” Daily gratitude is important, as housekeeping staff may change.
• Concierge: If someone helped you with something complex (obtained tickets for a sold-out show, booked a table at an elusive restaurant), thank the concierge in person by giving them 20–50 AED or more, possibly in an envelope.

In taxis and transfers

Large tips are not customary in taxis; instead, a polite rounding-up rule applies.

• Official Taxi (RTA): Simply round up the fare to the nearest 5 or 10 dirhams. For example, if your ride costs 32 AED, give 35 or 40 and say to the driver, “Keep the change.”
• Uber/Careem: For a comfortable ride, you can add 5–10 AED via the “leave a tip” option directly in the app after the trip ends.

On tours and in the service industry

• Guides and Drivers: At the end of a group tour, it’s customary to hand a guide 20–30 AED in person. For a full-day private tour, a tip of 50–100 AED is appropriate. You can give a tour bus driver 10–15 AED.
• Food Delivery Drivers: When receiving your order, thank the delivery person with 5–10 AED in cash or simply round up the total amount.

Key tips rules in Dubai: Your final checklist

Don’t want to remember all the details? No problem. Here are six main rules that will help you act confidently in 99% of situations. Consider this your ultimate cheat sheet for tipping in Dubai:

• Always check your bill for a “Service Charge” line. This is your starting point.
• Remember: the service charge is not a tip. It’s a fee charged by the hotel or restaurant. Your personal token of appreciation is cash left on top of this amount.
• Cash is king. Despite Dubai being a supermodern metropolis, keep small bills (5, 10, 20 AED) handy. These are the most convenient “currency” for showing your gratitude.
• Gratitude, not obligation. If the service was frankly poor, you’re under no obligation to leave a tip.
• When in doubt, round up. In any unclear situation, rounding up the bill amount is a polite and safe gesture.
• Hand it over in person. Handing the money directly to the person is the best way to ensure your gratitude reaches the right recipient.