What is Dynamic Currency Conversion and should I use it for my Credit or Debit card purchases when I travel?

Some retail merchants have Dynamic Currency Conversion built into their card acceptance system. This allows them to offer you a choice of paying the bill in UAE Dirhams or the local currency.

It is recommended to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion and pay your bill in local currency as higher margin and charges are typically applied by the retailers if you opt to convert your transactions to UAE Dirhams.

By paying in local currency you can have clarity as to what rates and charges will be charged to your account. The exchange rate used will be that determined by VISA or MasterCard depending on the type of Emirates NBD card you have. Foreign Currency transaction fee as indicated in our schedule of fees & charges will be applicable for all non-AED transactions.