Can you tip by card in UAE?

Card terminals sometimes allow a tip, but cash reaches staff far more reliably. Keep 5 and 10 dirham notes.

Cafés · UAE

Do you tip at cafés in UAE?

Short answer

AED 5, or round up

A five dirham note, or round up.

OptionalCash preferred

Counter service needs nothing. For table service at a café, rounding up or leaving five dirhams is the usual gesture.

How much should you tip in cafés in UAE?: AED 5, or round up. A five dirham note, or round up.
Can you tip by card in UAE?: Card terminals sometimes allow a tip, but cash reaches staff far more reliably. Keep 5 and 10 dirham notes.

Reviewed by Greg Kockott on 3 September 2026.

Figures checked against the sources below on 4 September 2026.

Sources