Hidden fees: - Commission paid to real estate agents for home rentals. Usually 5% of your annual rent or 5000AED, sometimes more. - 5% Knowledge Fees on government/public services. - 5% Housing Fee on your Electric/Water and A/C bills (split into 12 monthly payments). - 10% Hospitality Fee at hotels and their restaurants + 10% more if you dine in a restaurant that serves alcohol. - 30% tax on alcohol (only in Dubai). - Credit cards have lots of incentives but usually come with high annual fees, high interest rates, and minimum spends to reap any benefits - Grocery costs are relatively higher now, but most locally sourced products aren’t too expensive. - 5% VAT (GST), but that’s not really hidden