Dubai has no tourist tax per person. It has the Tourism Dirham, a flat charge per room and night. A municipality fee and VAT are normally added on the hotel bill.
Tourism Dirham by hotel category
- 5-star: 20 AED per room and night (about 5 EUR)
- 4-star: 15 AED (about 4 EUR)
- 2 and 3-star: 10 AED (about 2.50 EUR)
- 1-star and guesthouses: 7 AED (about 1.75 EUR)
It is charged per room, not per guest, and limited to 30 consecutive nights. The Tourism Dirham itself carries no VAT. On top comes a 7 percent municipality fee on rooms and food and 5 percent VAT, often a service charge as well. The advertised rate often leaves these out, the bill does not.
In spring and May 2026 Dubai approved relief packages for hospitality after the drop in tourism, including a suspension or deferral of the Tourism Dirham and the municipality fee. How and from when that reaches guests is not clear from our sources. Check the charges in your confirmation and on the hotel bill.
Example: five nights in a five-star hotel at 200 EUR a night. Tourism Dirham 100 AED, about 25 EUR, plus 7 percent municipality fee and 5 percent VAT on the room, about 145 EUR extra in total.
From DXB airport into the city
- Metro Red Line: about 5 to 7.50 AED (1.25 to 2 EUR) with a Nol card. Stations serve Terminals 1 and 3. Terminal 2 has no metro station.
- Taxi: about 40 to 55 AED (10 to 14 EUR) to Downtown, with a 25 AED starting fare at the airport.
Car hire
You need a passport, a driving licence and a credit card for the deposit. Depending on your country an international driving permit is also required. Deposits are often between 500 and 2,000 USD and released within about 30 days. Salik toll gates cost about 4 to 6 AED per pass and are billed through the rental company.