Stop over at Dubai International

[GuinnessMK]

I'm going from the UK to Dubai, and then on to Singapore soon. We have about 3 hours to fill on the way out, and 5 hours on the way back.

Do the airport shops take £ as well or just the local currency? Given we are only there for a meal and a drink, is it better to pay by card, saving the exchange commission?

Thanks

[K50 DEL]

The main duty free shops will take UK sterling with no issues however you're likely to get killed on the exchange rate.

There are a number of little exchange places within the duty free area and last time I paid on a UK card in the shop the eventual rate of exchange was pretty good.
Either of those would probably be a better option.

[LooneyTunes]

As with other airports, some of the prices need a fair degree of scrutiny if it's bargains you're after in the shops.

[K50 DEL]

LooneyTunes said:

As with other airports, some of the prices need a fair degree of scrutiny if it's bargains you're after in the shops.

Very true, every time I look at mobile phones, laptops and watches they are all cheaper in the normal shops in Dubai (and certainly cheaper in Singapore)

[LooneyTunes]

Definitely right about the watches (never seem to be cheaper than anywhere else) but it's the wine shop that always gets me: they have some interesting stuff, but always seem quite ambitiously priced (and can't quite shake off the thought that buying wine somewhere that hot may not be a good plan, even if the shop itself is air conditioned).

[GuinnessMK]

Thanks guys. All bargain hunting will be done in Singapore. (Will be on the hunt for a dashcam and maybe a Galaxy Tab 10.1) over there.

I think the only thing we'll need to pay for is food / drink while we wait. Looks like visiting an exchange might kill some time.

[K50 DEL]

GuinnessMK said:

Thanks guys. All bargain hunting will be done in Singapore. (Will be on the hunt for a dashcam and maybe a Galaxy Tab 10.1) over there.

I think the only thing we'll need to pay for is food / drink while we wait. Looks like visiting an exchange might kill some time.

Sim Lim or Funan Digital Life are your best bets.
I was in Sing for a month last year with an awful lot of downtime so researched prices extensively and these two were the best. (I saved a few hundred $ on my Eos 60d buying it in Singers)