Tipping in Dubai

Tipping customs vary wildly around the world. In New Zealand tipping even 5% can be frowned upon as an ostentatious sign of wealth, whereas in New York 20-25% has become the norm, with some customers even taking pride in tipping more. Dubai is somewhere in the middle of these two extremes. Here’s everything you need to know..

Restaurants

Typically your bill in Dubai will come with a 10% service charge already included in the bill. This is particularly true of hotel restaurants. Most patrons will leave a small cash tip on top of that, generally no more than 5%, if the service has been good.

If the bill does not include the 10% charge, adding somewhere between 10-15% is customary.

It is important to leave a cash tip to be sure that your server receives the money. Tips added to credit card bills will sometimes be taken by unscrupulous owners, whereas a cash tip will either go straight to your server, or into a shared pool for the servers and kitchen staff.

Many of the waiters in Dubai are paid very little, and live in cramped accommodation outside of town. Their families are often left in their home country, typically India or the Philippines, and depend on remittances sent home from Dubai.

Bars

Tipping is not generally expected on drinks orders, but rounding up the bill by around 5% is a nice gesture. Barmen in Dubai, like waiters, are often paid very little and send most of their money home to their families.

In busy New York bars, a customer who doesn’t tip on his first drink may find himself being ignored by the barman for the rest of the night. There is no such attitude in Dubai, but small cash tips are appreciated.

Taxis

All taxis in Dubai are metered, so you need not worry about getting ‘taken for a ride’. They generally cost very little, at least by European standards, so rounding up and adding 5-10% to the bill won’t hurt your wallet too much.

To Summarise..

Restaurants 10-15%

Bars 5-10%

Taxis 5-10%