In the UAE, people who deliver food, groceries, and medicine or serve you in hotels and restaurants get tips. Providing tips in UAE is a nice way for visitors and customers to show gratitude, but it is not a must. There is no rule to offer a tip for them. Some people give around 10 to 15 per cent, and others simply round the amount of the bill. It is their wish to tip someone based on their attitude.  

Service workers who get big tips mean a lot to them. People, whether locals or expats, can be generous sometimes. They have even gotten tips as high as Dh1,000, says some of the workers to the Khaleej Times and that makes a big difference in their lives.

A Careem captain. Abdul Waheed, sharing one of his experiences, tends to tip more on longer or intercity journeys. He listed some of the factors such as a clean ride, good personal hygiene, and extra in making the car ride comfortable for the passengers more likely to give tips. He once got a generous Dh1,000 tip for ensuring a customer made it to a stadium on time in Al Ain for a football match.    

“I was pleasantly surprised with that tip. I needed to replace my mobile phone, which I did with that generous tip. It motivated me to keep my services up to the mark,” said the cabbie.

A waiter at Couqley, Benga Tamen Ivo, fondly remembers his highest tip of Dh700 from a couple who showed gratitude and appreciation for his service and suggestions. Their bond developed into a true friendship, and Ivo wholeheartedly welcomes them on every visit to Couqley. This bond between them showcases how genuine, personalised service creates a greeting atmosphere at the restaurant. It showed him that nothing compares to the warmth of honest, personalised hospitality. 

Benga Tamen Ivo noted that the tips in the restaurants may vary based on factors like table size and the time of day. He emphasises the value of developing a bond with the customers and the guests, nothing that often results in some larger tips. Connecting with diners makes a real difference. 

A Washmen delivery driver, Umair Ali, said that in today’s app-driven era, tips mostly come online. Yet, personal touches remain special for some people. He shared one of his best experiences during Christmas time, one of the customers handed him an envelope with a tip that surprised him. Even in the digital world, some personal connections like this make moments memorable for service workers like him. 

“Tips are always welcome. When we receive tips, we usually use them for additional expenses or to send back home to our families,” he added.

Based on the policies of the companies, they equally distribute the tips among the service staff or maintained by the workers who receive them. 

Most apps in the delivery companies allow the customers to tip the riders while they make their payments. 100 per cent of these payments go to the riders. 

The UAE general manager of Careem Rides, Antonio Al Asmar shared insights on the tipping culture in ride-hailing. He finds this kind of act where customers express gratitude through tips. This not only encourages the drivers but also this small tip supports their families and overall livelihoods. These tipping gestures go beyond appreciation and they positively impact the lives of the drivers and their families. 

The Washmen’s app now includes the features of tipping which ensures fair distribution among drivers. The company’s operations manager, Sundus Awan, states that tips add to the salary of the drivers which increases the overall income. This kind of support offers a comfortable life in Dubai and helps them to take care of their family needs. The assistant restaurant manager, Duncan Kabiru at Couqley, says that making customer care a priority will naturally encourage the tipping process and these tips are fairly added to the restaurant staff’s salaries.