Money in the Middle East, country by country.

The Middle East runs the whole range. In the Gulf, cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are close to cashless, and your cards will carry you through hotels, malls, taxis and the metro. Elsewhere cash still does the daily work, and a stack of small local notes matters more than any card, above all for tips and markets.

Below is every country we cover in the region, with a quick read on how card friendly it is and what to watch, then a full money guide for each. Start with where you are headed.

EgyptA cash country: cards work at hotels and malls, but markets, taxis, tips and street food all want pounds.Cash-firstTourist tax to expectWatch ATM fees

TurkeyCards work in the cities, but bazaars, taxis and street food still want lira, and the lira moves fast.Cards in cities

United Arab EmiratesOne of the most cashless places on earth, and the dirham is pinned to the dollar, so the exchange rate barely moves.Card-friendlyTourist tax to expect

Compare across countries: the cost of a day, ranked,where Americans travel most, and how tipping compares to home.