Payments in the UAE: Where Virtual Cards Face Issues

The UAE is a country where cash is rarely used. Cards, Apple Pay, digital wallets are everywhere. It is all the more surprising that virtual cards sometimes fail here.

What Works Well

Visa and Mastercard in most places. Malls, restaurants, hotels, taxis – all accept cards.

Apple Pay and Google Pay. Very widespread. Most POS terminals have NFC.

UnionPay. Widely accepted, especially for Chinese tourists.

MIR. Worked until 2022; after sanctions, it is disabled almost everywhere. Used at some acquirers but unpredictably.

Where Virtual Cards May Not Work

Transit/guest context in hotels. Some hotels require a credit card in the guest's name. A virtual card under a different name may be rejected. Large international chains (Hilton, Marriott, Accor) are usually tolerant; small boutique hotels are stricter.

Car rental. Hertz, Avis in Dubai and Abu Dhabi often refuse prepaid and virtual cards. Solution: an international credit card from a bank, or Bolt/Careem (without rental).

Subscriptions to local services. Stcpay, Etisalat Wallet, du Pay – sometimes do not accept international virtual cards.

Booking through local platforms. Almosafer, RaynaTours – sometimes have issues with virtual cards.

Local Payment Systems

Stcpay (Saudi Telecom Pay). Dominant in Saudi Arabia, works less often in the UAE.

e& money (Etisalat Wallet). Wallet from Etisalat. Requires linking a local phone number.

du Pay. Analog from du.

For tourists, local wallets are usually unnecessary – Visa/Mastercard and Apple Pay suffice.

Opening a Bank Account in the UAE

For residents – easy. For tourists – almost impossible. The most accessible options:

• Resident visa (Golden Visa, Investor Visa). After obtaining, you can open an account at Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq, FAB.
• Wio Bank. Digital-only business bank. Requires UAE residency and a legal entity.
• Liv. (from Emirates NBD). Youth digital bank. Again, requires residency.

Tips and Taxes

VAT 5% is included in most prices. In restaurants, a service charge of 10% is usually already on the bill. Tips are not mandatory, but 10-15% for a driver or guide is customary.

Exchange

The dirham (AED) exchange rate is pegged to the US dollar (around 3.67 AED/USD, stable). Exchange offices in malls (Al Ansari, UAE Exchange) offer fair rates. At the airport, rates are worse.

Practical Advice

For a trip to the UAE: one international credit card from a bank (for rentals and insurance), a virtual card (for everyday payments and online), and a small amount of dirhams in cash (though not necessary).