Aussie influencer reveals eye-watering price she paid for two drinks in Dubai: ‘This is really shocking’

If you think the price of a schooner at your local watering hole is too high, spare a thought for those living in the United Arab Emirates.

Ex-pat Australian influencer Louise Starkey took to her Instagram this week to share her shock over the insane price she paid for two drinks in Dubai.

She posted a video that showed a bank statement after stepping up to the bar while attending a concert by South African DJ Black Coffee on the weekend.

Louise revealed that an order of two vodka and Red Bulls set her back AED 380, or a whopping $154 Australian dollars.

‘I can’t get over the fact I paid 380 dirham for two drinks last night,’ Louise said in the clip.

‘I looked at the bartender and I was like: ‘Are you for real? That’s crazy.”

She continued: ‘Do you know what the drinks were? Two double shot vodka Red Bulls. It wasn’t a cocktail. I didn’t get eight of them either. I got two.’  

Louise then did a price comparison to further highlight the venue’s insane asking price for the beverages.

‘In comparison to what I could pay at the bottle shop, in rack,’ she said before showing a picture of Skyy Vodka retailing for 40 dirhams, and Absolut Vodka at 144 dirhams.

Louise did concede that she expected a price hike on the booze given that she was attending a concert, adding that even the bartender baulked at the price. 

‘Don’t get me wrong, I know I was at Black Coffee last night. For real, I expect a mark-up but not that,’ she said.

‘Our bartender knew. He looked at me and he was like: “yeah,”‘ Louise added in a sheepish tone.

The influencer admitted that her shock was due to the fact that she rarely drinks, and when she does, often receives them for free.   

‘Most of the time, I rarely drink. This is really shocking. Is this also what guys pay on dates? Do you pay for this? I feel so bad for you,’ Louise said.

‘I don’t want to rub it in but any time I get drinks I usually get them for free. I’m part of quite a few women’s groups and we kind of just get it for free at the venue because you post about it.’

Louise’s post elicited a flurry of comments from followers with many agreeing with her take.

‘I bought 2 beers in Dubai and never went out again for my remaining time there. The recreational budget was gone,’ one wrote.

Another chimed in with a similar: ‘Scam central out here, gotta be specific otherwise they use the top shelf stuff. Ended up paying 1k for 5 tequila shots once like this.’

A third agreed, claiming that they were ‘almost bankrupted’ by two gin and tonics. 

‘Yep… I paid 398 dirhams for two gin and tonics in Versace. Had them, packed up and left. Night was about to get me bankrupt,’ they wrote.

However, others were quick to point out that such prices were the norm for Dubai.

‘Yes this is normal – is not expensive,’ one follower claimed while another agreed with: ‘It’s an event, very common, will agree that it’s pretty s***ty though.’ 

Another summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘Tell me you’ve never paid for a drink in Dubai without telling me.’