Destinations › United Arab Emirates › Dubai › Scams
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
13 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Dubai, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Fake short-term rental listings in Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah use stolen photos of real luxury units and collect a full deposit before going unreachable.
Unlicensed "tour operators" demand full advance payment for a desert safari or excursion, then deliver a substandard experience or cancel outright.
Gold and jewelry sold in older souks sometimes misrepresents purity — buy only from reputable, licensed dealers.
Self-appointed "guides" in older districts offer to show tourists "hidden" spots, then demand a fee for the unrequested tour.
Drinks are sometimes spiked at bars/pubs targeting tourists, intended to make robbery easier.
Some tourist-area restaurants and lounges add large unlisted "entertainment" or service charges to the bill.
Dating-app invitations directing tourists to a specific lounge or bar with heavily inflated, undisclosed bottle-service and drink minimums.
Unlicensed street money changers and currency counters in tourist areas advertising a rate that doesn't match what's actually applied.
Market stalls in areas like Deira selling counterfeit branded watches and goods presented as genuine.
Unlicensed drivers outside malls and hotels quoting flat fares above the regulated taxi rate — official taxis carry the RTA logo.
A stranger "accidentally" spills food or a drink on a tourist, using the cleanup as cover to steal a bag or phone.
QR codes at pop-up beach cafés are swapped for fraudulent ones that route payment to a scammer's personal account instead of the venue.
A "free perfume sample" pitch on the street leads to an overpriced store with high-pressure sales tactics.
