UAE service #fail: Also known as the 0% tip

I did it. For the first time. I goose-egged a waiter last night. No, that doesn't mean I hit him over the head. I did what no former veteran waitress ever, ever wants to do. I left no tip. Even worse, I pulled a Dh50 note out on the table, then put it back in my wallet again.


I won't tell you the establishment, other than to say it was the patio of a five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi. The waiter had never heard of a certain standard, James Bond-style cocktail and did not bring our second drink order. Our food order took at least a half-hour, he did not check to see if we liked it and he left us sitting with leftovers forever. I'm usually very sympathetic here in Abu Dhabi, but even they way he thunked an entire tray of drinks down on our table, to remove our two, drove me nuts.

I wanted to tip him anyway, because I know it isn't easy working out here and I could see that he was quite busy. Plus, you know, I am well-acquainted with how hard his job is. But when a Dh397 bill came for a meal that wasn't great, and certainly wasn't served well, I just couldn't justify even 10%.