How can international travelers pay in Abu Dhabi without a bank card, and are US dollars accepted in shops?

Old and new UAE dirham banknotes are accepted equally, so there is no need to exchange them. Older US dollar notes, however, may be bought at around AED 3.5 per US$1 rather than the usual AED 3.6–3.65.

If you do not have a card, exchange some dollars into dirhams before shopping. Many stores accept cash US dollars at around AED 3.65 per US$1, but confirm the rate before paying; change is usually given in AED.

For card-free payments, keep UAE dirhams as your main spending cash: they work everywhere, including supermarkets and small purchases. US dollars are not accepted by every merchant, so do not rely on USD alone.

You do not necessarily need to exchange all your cash at the airport: exchange desks near supermarkets may offer better rates. Compare rates before handing over money and check which currencies and note denominations each desk accepts.