Tipping Culture in the UAE: Expected in Many Situations

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tipping is common and often expected, especially in service industries. While some places include a 10% service charge, extra tipping is still a frequent practice.In restaurants, tipping 10–15% is standard if a service charge is not already added. In cafés and casual eateries, rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10 AED is appreciated.Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up the fare or adding 5–10 AED is common. In hotels, porters typically receive 5–20 AED per bag, and housekeeping staff 10–20 AED per night.Salon and spa workers generally receive 10–20 AED per service, while valet attendants are usually tipped 5–10 AED.Although tipping is not legally required in the UAE, it is a cultural norm in many situations, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where hospitality services cater to international visitors.