About Me

Hey, I'm Marcus

I moved to Dubai in September 2021 for a product management role at a fintech startup. Before that, I spent eight years bouncing between San Francisco, Singapore, and London. I've experienced a lot of different banking systems and payment cultures. UAE managed to surprise me anyway.

My first month here was full of small frustrations that nobody warned me about. The foreign transaction fees piling up. The parking machine that only took coins. The gold shop that quoted one price for card and a better one for cash. The taxi driver who looked at my American Express like I'd handed him monopoly money.

I started documenting these experiences in a Google Doc for friends who were considering moving here. That doc grew into notes. The notes became this site.

Why Payments?

Honestly, it started as self-interest. Working in fintech made me hyper-aware of how money moves. And after losing probably AED 800 to avoidable fees in my first few months, I wanted to figure out the system properly.

What I discovered was that most "guides" to money in UAE were either written by people who visited for a week or were thinly-veiled ads for specific banks or services. There wasn't much from someone actually living the daily reality of groceries, petrol, parking, restaurants, and all the mundane transactions that make up a life.

So I wrote what I wished existed when I landed.

What This Site Isn't

I want to be clear about something: I don't make money from this site. There are no affiliate links. When I recommend something like Wise or a specific bank, it's because I actually use it, not because I get a commission.

I'm not a financial advisor. This isn't financial advice. It's just one person's experience navigating payment methods in a new country. Your situation might be different.

Life Beyond Payments

When I'm not overanalyzing transaction fees, I'm probably:

• Running along the Dubai Marina waterfront (before 7 AM, because summer)
• Finding new brunch spots (UAE takes brunch seriously)
• Exploring the older neighborhoods of Deira and Bur Dubai
• Taking weekend trips to Oman or the mountains
• Working on side projects that may or may not ever see the light of day

Want to Connect?

If you have questions about anything I've written, spotted an error, or just want to share your own UAE payment experience, I'd genuinely like to hear from you. The best way to reach me is through the contact page.

I read every message, though I can't always respond immediately - day job and all that.