Dubai is one of the most visited dining destinations in the world, and restaurant spending is often one of the biggest line items on a trip here. Whether you are here for a long weekend or an extended stay, Places UAE works exactly the same for visitors as it does for residents — no local bank account, residency, or Emirates ID required to start earning cashback. Non-UAE phone numbers are supported too, though registration has to happen while you're physically in the UAE — more on that below.

Can Tourists Use Places UAE?

Yes. Places UAE is available to anyone with a smartphone and an internationally accepted debit or credit card. Sign-up takes about two minutes, and you can use a non-UAE phone number to register. There is one catch: the verification code (OTP) used to confirm your number is blocked for requests originating from outside the UAE, so registration itself needs to happen once you have landed and have a UAE-based connection — either UAE Wi-Fi or a local SIM/eSIM. You do not need a UAE phone number, just a UAE physical location at the moment you sign up.

How Tourists Can Get Started

  1. Download Places UAE from the App Store or Google Play before you land, or once you have Wi-Fi at your hotel.
  2. Create your free account once you are in the UAE, using your own international phone number — this is when your OTP verification code arrives, so it needs to happen on UAE soil, not before you fly.
  3. Browse restaurants near your hotel, or search by cuisine, area, or dish using the search.
  4. Dine as normal, then pay through the app: tell your waiter you're paying with Places UAE, and once the payment is processed, give them the 4-digit PIN from your app to confirm.
  5. Cashback lands in your wallet, ready to use on your next meal in Dubai — before you fly home.

Why Cashback Makes Sense for a Short Trip

Unlike subscription-based deal apps, which only pay off with heavy repeated use, cashback has no upfront cost and no break-even point to worry about. Even a single meal at a 20–30% cashback restaurant returns real savings with zero commitment — which matters if you are only in the city for a few days.

Best Areas for Tourists to Use Places UAE

  • Downtown Dubai — Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and Souk Al Bahar, with a wide mix of price points and cashback restaurants.
  • Dubai Marina and JBR — waterfront dining with beach views, popular with visitors staying near the coast.
  • DIFC — premium dining including some of the highest cashback rates on the platform, such as steakhouses and Japanese restaurants.

A Realistic Savings Example for a One-Week Trip

  • 7 dinners at an average AED 200 per meal = AED 1,400 total spend
  • At an average 20% cashback = AED 280 saved across the trip
  • That is roughly the cost of one extra dinner out, funded entirely by cashback on meals already planned

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Emirates ID or UAE phone number to use Places UAE?

No. Tourists can sign up with an international phone number and any major debit or credit card. You do need to be physically in the UAE when you register, though: the OTP verification code is blocked for requests coming from outside the country, so registering before you land is not possible.

Can I use my cashback balance before I leave Dubai?

Yes. Cashback is credited to your in-app wallet shortly after each qualifying meal and can be applied to any subsequent visit during your stay.

Does cashback work at hotel restaurants?

Many hotel restaurants participate in Places UAE cashback. Check the app listing for your hotel's dining venues or nearby restaurants to see current rates.

What happens to unused cashback after I leave Dubai?

Cashback remains in your Places UAE wallet and is available whenever you return to Dubai, so nothing is lost if you do not spend it all during a single trip.

Planning your trip? Explore our Downtown Dubai dining guide or the Dubai Marina food guide to find cashback restaurants near where you're staying.