Money at Zayed International Airport (AUH)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Abu Dhabi uses the AED (AED). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly AED 75–110. Card accepted at RTA taxis; small AED for street.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Zayed International Airport (AUH)?
United Arab Emirates uses the AED (AED). Airport ATMs dispense AED directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from AUH to the city cost?
Expected fare on the AUH → City Centre route is roughly AED 75–110. Around AED 180+ is already high, and AED 250+ private is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at AUH?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in United Arab Emirates don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at AUH?
Card accepted at RTA taxis; small AED for street. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of AED notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at AUH?
Only if you need $10–20 of AED to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.