When I started traveling to Dubai, one of the first questions that popped up was that, would merchants in Dubai even accept an American Express card? They sure do and here’s a list (and it keeps growing)

This list is useful especially when you’re here in Dubai and you may need to meet minimum spend on your card, use a business or corporate card, reach a signup bonus or to reach status with spend etc., and you really NEED to swipe that AMEX card.

Related: Don’t forget these online promo codes when shopping in UAE

  • NowNow UAE: “N20″/”FUN49”/“FUN86” – 10% off NowNow for Groceries/Snacks at Waitrose, Choithrams, Spinneys, Organic Foods & Cafe, Al Maya, WMart, Paul Bakery, Marks & Spencer Food, Aster Pharmacy.🤩
  • Carrefour UAE & Carrefour KSA: “OFF15“/“ON38” – AED 20 off AED 200+ Carrefour Promo Code. 🤗
  • Noon.com UAE: “POINTSHABIBI” for 10% off existing customers. Max AED 50. 15% off for new customers.
  • Bath & Body Works: “O3073” – 5% off Bath & Body Works Promo Code.
  • NAMSHI: “DD47“/”NM134“/”FUN227” – 15-20% off Namshi Promo Code.
  • Victoria’s Secret UAE and KSA: “YMUY” – 10% off all orders, including sale items.
  • Mumzworld: “FZ560” – 10% off Mumzworld Promo Code. 🤱🏻
  • H&M UAE / GCC / Egypt: “E0160” – 10% off H&M Promo Code. 👗
  • Boots UAE, KSA, Kuwait: “F6601” – 5% off Boots Promo Code.
  • Mothercare: “EXN9K” – 10% off Mothercare Promo Code.
  • Pottery Barn UAE, Kuwait, KSA: “GPBX6F” – 15% off all orders.
  • Pottery Barn Kids UAE, Kuwait, KSA: “DPK5112” – 15% off all orders.
  • West Elm UAE: “A1JK” – 15% off everything with this West Elm Promo Code.
  • American Eagle UAE, Egypt, KSA, Kuwait: “PW2L” – 10% off American Eagle.
  • Desert Cart: “DCM180” – 10% off all DesertCart.ae orders.
  • DragonMart UAE: “DM18” – 20% off everything at Dragon Mart.
  • Toys R Us UAE: “TRU59” – 10% off Toys R Us MENA Promo Code.
  • FirstCry UAE: “AFE1” / “AFE2” – 10% off FirstCry Promo Code.
  • Hibobi: “FF42” – 10% of all Hibobi orders.
  • Mamas & Papas: “M106” – 5% off Mamas & Papas Promo Code. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
  • SIVVI UAE & KSA: “si15” – 35%-50% off all orders. 🥳
  • RIVA Fashion UAE: “YAY154” – 10% off Riva Fashion Promo Code.
  • Styli UAE and KSA: “BJJ” – 15% off Styli Promo Code.
  • KUL.com: “AA185” – 10% off all KUL orders.
  • Noon Egypt – “FRI9” / “FRI10” – 10% off Noon Promo Code.
  • 1Zillion KSA: “Z139” – 10% off 1Zillion Promo Code.
  • BioBox UAE: “dcm21389” – 10% off BioBox Promo Code.
  • Eyewa: “DCM14” – 10% off Eyewa Promo Code. 👀
  • Vogacloset: “EHZ” – 15% off Vogacloset Promo Code.
  • ACE Hardware: “ACH92” – 10% off ACE Promo Code.
  • KIABI UAE: “KAB52” – 10% off Kiabi Promo Code.
  • Chicy UAE/KSA/Kuwait/Oman: “CH67” – 10% off Chicy Promo Code
  • Muji UAE / KSA / Kuwait / Bahrain: “A9333” – 12% off Muji Promo Code.
  • Joboy UAE: “POINTSHABIBI” – Use this sign-up / referral code to get 30% off on Sanitization / Deep Cleaning / Sofa & Carpet Cleaning / AC Maintenance, and 20% off Salon Services.
  • Noon Daily KSA: “NND31” – 10% Noon Daily Promo Code

So, here’s the list – where AMEX is accepted in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain and other emirates in the United Arab Emirates:

At the airport:

Marhaba Visa on Arrival Counter

Emirates Potter Service

Dubai Duty Free shops

Costa Coffee

Rideshare:

Uber

Careem

Airlines:

Emirates

SpiceJet

Car Rentals:

Grocery Stores:

Carrefour Hypermarket (not Carrefour Online)

Hotels:

Mostly, all large chain hotels like Marriott, Hilton, Le Club Accor, etc.

Tourist Attractions:

Burj Khalifa

Dubai Frame

Restaurants:

Trader Vics

Peppermill

Salmontini

Yamanote Atelier

Costa Coffee

Nandos

Azkadenya

Omnia Baharat

More Cafe

Zaatar w Zeit

Shake Shack

Little Miss India

And almost all fine dining restaurants

Malls and Department Stores:

Zara

Debenhams

Next

Patchi

Accesorize

Pablosky

Areej

Charles & Keith

Splash

Vero Moda

Stradivarius

Adventure HQ

Daiso

And all majjor brand department stores

Salons:

La Loge Beauty Salon

Hospitals:

Saudi German Hospital

Kids Stores and Play Areas:

Magic Planet

Toy Store

Schools:

Little Gems International

And other GEMS Schools

Pharmacy:

Aster Pharmacy (not all, it worked in the City Centre Shindagha)

Real Estate:

The First Group

Where Visa and Mastercard are accepted (but AMEX is not):

Transit:

Dubai Metro nol

Dubai Taxi

Visa:

Online UAE Visa on Arrival Renewal

India eVisa

US Visa Payment

Online:

Souq.com

Beam

Ebarza

Cell Phone:

Du

Stores:

Union Co-op

W Mart

Aswaaq

Zoom

Threads

Homes R Us

Movie Halls:

Vox Cinemas

Tourist Attractions:

Dubai Garden Glow

Museum of Illusions

Al Ain Zoo

Restaurants:

Most restaurants do NOT accept AMEX (except the ones listed above)

Driving Schools:

Galadari Motor Driving School

Schools:

Nursery

Kids Play Areas:

Little Explorers

Flip Out

Ideally, you should be using your AMEX card with NO foreign transaction fees. Many American Express cards do NOT have a foreign transaction fee (like Amex Platinum, SPG Luxury, SPG, Hilton Aspire, Hilton Ascend, Hilton Honors Card)

To summarize, most small businesses in Dubai mainly accept Visa and Mastercard. Typically, it’s only the large department stores in the malls, fine dining restaurants and the brand hotels that accept AMEX here in Dubai.

Do you know any stores that accept AMEX that are not listed above? Feel free to add them in the comments and I’ll continue updating the list.

Don’t forget these promo codes when you’re shopping online in Dubai and UAE:

  • NowNow UAE: “N20″/”FUN49”/“FUN86” – 10% off NowNow for Groceries/Snacks at Waitrose, Choithrams, Spinneys, Organic Foods & Cafe, Al Maya, WMart, Paul Bakery, Marks & Spencer Food, Aster Pharmacy.🤩
  • Carrefour UAE & Carrefour KSA: “OFF15“/“ON38” – AED 20 off AED 200+ Carrefour Promo Code. 🤗
  • Noon.com UAE: “POINTSHABIBI” for 10% off existing customers. Max AED 50. 15% off for new customers.
  • Bath & Body Works: “O3073” – 5% off Bath & Body Works Promo Code.
  • NAMSHI: “DD47“/”NM134“/”FUN227” – 15-20% off Namshi Promo Code.
  • Victoria’s Secret UAE and KSA: “YMUY” – 10% off all orders, including sale items.
  • Mumzworld: “FZ560” – 10% off Mumzworld Promo Code. 🤱🏻
  • H&M UAE / GCC / Egypt: “E0160” – 10% off H&M Promo Code. 👗
  • Boots UAE, KSA, Kuwait: “F6601” – 5% off Boots Promo Code.
  • Mothercare: “EXN9K” – 10% off Mothercare Promo Code.
  • Pottery Barn UAE, Kuwait, KSA: “GPBX6F” – 15% off all orders.
  • Pottery Barn Kids UAE, Kuwait, KSA: “DPK5112” – 15% off all orders.
  • West Elm UAE: “A1JK” – 15% off everything with this West Elm Promo Code.
  • American Eagle UAE, Egypt, KSA, Kuwait: “PW2L” – 10% off American Eagle.
  • Desert Cart: “DCM180” – 10% off all DesertCart.ae orders.
  • DragonMart UAE: “DM18” – 20% off everything at Dragon Mart.
  • Toys R Us UAE: “TRU59” – 10% off Toys R Us MENA Promo Code.
  • FirstCry UAE: “AFE1” / “AFE2” – 10% off FirstCry Promo Code.
  • Hibobi: “FF42” – 10% of all Hibobi orders.
  • Mamas & Papas: “M106” – 5% off Mamas & Papas Promo Code. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
  • SIVVI UAE & KSA: “si15” – 35%-50% off all orders. 🥳
  • RIVA Fashion UAE: “YAY154” – 10% off Riva Fashion Promo Code.
  • Styli UAE and KSA: “BJJ” – 15% off Styli Promo Code.
  • KUL.com: “AA185” – 10% off all KUL orders.
  • Noon Egypt – “FRI9” / “FRI10” – 10% off Noon Promo Code.
  • 1Zillion KSA: “Z139” – 10% off 1Zillion Promo Code.
  • BioBox UAE: “dcm21389” – 10% off BioBox Promo Code.
  • Eyewa: “DCM14” – 10% off Eyewa Promo Code. 👀
  • Vogacloset: “EHZ” – 15% off Vogacloset Promo Code.
  • ACE Hardware: “ACH92” – 10% off ACE Promo Code.
  • KIABI UAE: “KAB52” – 10% off Kiabi Promo Code.
  • Chicy UAE/KSA/Kuwait/Oman: “CH67” – 10% off Chicy Promo Code
  • Muji UAE / KSA / Kuwait / Bahrain: “A9333” – 12% off Muji Promo Code.
  • Joboy UAE: “POINTSHABIBI” – Use this sign-up / referral code to get 30% off on Sanitization / Deep Cleaning / Sofa & Carpet Cleaning / AC Maintenance, and 20% off Salon Services.
  • Noon Daily KSA: “NND31” – 10% Noon Daily Promo Code