How much is the hotel security deposit in the UAE and how should you pay it?

From messages by 2 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 53 days ago

TL;DR

Hotel deposits in the UAE vary widely by property — from AED 500 (~$135) for the whole stay to $300 per night. Confirm the exact amount with the hotel directly and pay in cash if possible.

What the community said

For a 5-night stay for three people, bringing around $150 in cash for the deposit is a reasonable amount — it covers both the deposit and lunch/dinner on checkout day before a late flight.

$150 cash

Refunds to foreign bank cards can take a long time, so it's safer and faster to pay the hotel deposit in cash.

Deposit info from different tour operators can vary drastically: one quotes AED 500 for the entire stay, another quotes $300 per night. The difference is huge when multiplied by several nights.

AED 500 vs $300/night

For a 6-night trip, a deposit of AED 500 for the whole stay is a comfortable, realistic figure, while $300 per night (i.e. $1800 for 6 nights) looks inflated and unlikely for most hotels.

AED 500 for 6 nights