Cost of Eating Out in Dubai 2026 — Restaurant Prices, Brunch Costs and Dubai Food Budget Guide

Cost of Eating Out in Dubai 2026

Dubai has one of the world's most diverse restaurant scenes, with cuisines from over 200 nationalities represented across price points ranging from AED 5 shawarma at a Deira takeaway to AED 2,000 tasting menus at a Burj Al Arab restaurant. The famous Dubai Friday brunch — an all-inclusive food and beverage experience at hotel restaurants — is a Dubai institution with its own price category. This guide covers eating-out costs in Dubai in 2026.

Dubai Restaurant and Food Prices

• Shawarma (takeaway): AED 5-12 ($2.05-$4.90 AUD) per wrap
• Deira or Karama local restaurant lunch: AED 25-60 ($10.25-$24.60 AUD) per person
• Dubai Mall or Mall of Emirates food court: AED 40-80 ($16.40-$32.80 AUD) per person
• Mid-range JBR or Marina restaurant: AED 100-200 ($41-$82 AUD) per person
• DIFC or Downtown Dubai upscale dining: AED 200-450 ($82-$184 AUD) per person
• Friday brunch (food + soft drinks): AED 250-450 ($102-$184 AUD) per person
• Friday brunch (food + alcohol): AED 400-750+ ($164-$307 AUD) per person

Dubai Best-Value Food Areas

• Deira's Al Rigga Street area has Dubai's best-value Indian, Pakistani, and Lebanese restaurants; Karama has excellent mid-range Indian and Filipino dining; Al Fahidi Historical District has atmospheric cafes and Arabic food at moderate prices; tourist areas (Dubai Marina, JBR, Downtown) carry a significant premium compared to local residential areas

Tipping in Dubai

• Tipping of 10% is customary at Dubai sit-down restaurants; a 10% service charge is often included on the bill at upscale venues, in which case an additional tip is optional but appreciated; tipping is not expected at takeaway venues

Dubai Daily Food Budget

• Budget (shawarma, local restaurants): $25-50 AUD per day; Mid-range: $70-130 AUD per day; Upscale: $150-350 AUD per day

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.