Do foreign bank cards (e.g. Russian UnionPay) work in Abu Dhabi, and should I carry cash?

From messages by 3 participants in 3 sources · Last activity: 85 days ago

TL;DR

UnionPay cards from Russian banks (e.g. Rosselkhozbank) aren't accepted everywhere in the UAE, so it's best to carry some cash dirhams — especially for small purchases under 10 AED and entry fees at some attractions.

What the community said

Travelers report that card acceptance changes over time, so it's worth checking current status of UnionPay cards before relying on them.

UnionPay

The Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card was previously free with no issuance fee, but there are recent reports of a new charge — check current terms before your trip.

Rosselkhozbank UnionPay

One traveler was denied entry to a Fujairah attraction because it only accepted cash, and some shops don't take cards for purchases under 10 AED — the advice is to always carry some cash.

under 10 AED — cash only