Dubai Tourist Tax 2026: What Fees Are Added to Hotels?
Dubai hotels add Tourism Dirham, municipality fee, and 5% VAT on top of room rates. See exact 2026 amounts and how they appear on your bill.
What taxes appear on a Dubai hotel bill in 2026
Every hotel stay in Dubai includes three mandatory charges. The Tourism Dirham is a fixed nightly fee. The municipality fee equals 10 percent of the room rate before VAT. Five percent VAT is added last. These three items are listed separately on your final invoice.
Tourism Dirham rates by star rating
The Tourism Dirham is collected by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. One-star and two-star hotels charge AED 7 per room per night. Three-star hotels charge AED 10. Four-star hotels charge AED 15. Five-star hotels charge AED 20. Serviced apartments and hotel apartments follow the same scale based on their official classification.
Municipality fee calculation
The 10 percent municipality fee is calculated on the published room rate before any other taxes. If your room costs AED 800 before taxes, the municipality fee equals AED 80. This fee funds local services and is required by Dubai Municipality for all paid accommodations.
VAT and how it stacks
Five percent VAT applies to the room rate plus the municipality fee. Using the AED 800 example, VAT is calculated on AED 880, resulting in AED 44. The final total becomes AED 924 before the Tourism Dirham is added. Most booking sites show the combined figure at checkout so you know the full amount upfront.
Who pays and when
All guests, including UAE residents and tourists, pay these charges. They are collected at check-out or included in the prepaid total when you book through major platforms. Children sharing a room with parents usually incur no extra Tourism Dirham, but this depends on the hotel policy. Always check the booking confirmation for the exact breakdown.
Exemptions and special cases
Long-stay rates above 30 consecutive nights may qualify for reduced municipality fees at some properties. Government-approved medical tourism packages sometimes receive partial VAT relief through the Ministry of Health. These exceptions require documentation at check-in. Standard leisure and business bookings pay the full amounts.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Tourism Dirham charged per person or per room?▾
It is charged per room per night, regardless of how many guests stay in the room.
Do Airbnb and hotel apartments charge the same fees?▾
Hotel apartments follow the same Tourism Dirham scale. Municipality fee and VAT also apply unless the stay exceeds 30 nights.
Can I get a refund if I cancel after paying taxes?▾
Taxes are usually refunded only if the entire booking is cancelled within the hotel's free-cancellation window.
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