� Record �1million of Dubai currency sold during October by M&S Money

As the QE2 leaves the UK for the final time before becoming a floating hotel in Dubai, figures from foreign currency expert M&S Money suggest that the region continues to be a popular winter destination for Brits.

Last month saw the highest ever amount of sales of Dubai currency, with more than �1million worth of UAE Dirham (AED) being sold through the network of M&S bureaux de change, as well as on the phone or internet.

October�s record figure has contributed to a 15% year-on-year increase in sales of the UAE Dirham - the currency used in the seven states which form the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai and the other UAE states have grown in popularity as a destination for Brits in recent years, whether on holiday, for business or visiting friends and family.

Hotels in Dubai have reported growing visitor numbers this year. There was a 22 per cent growth in hotel revenues during the first three months of 2008, compared to the corresponding quarter last year*. The Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) cruise liner is the longest-serving ship in the 168-year history of the Cunard line and is currently owned by Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator. She leaves Southampton for the last time today and will arrive in Dubai later this month, where she will undergo extensive refurbishment to become a floating hotel.

Fraser Millar, M&S Money Head of Travel Services, said: �Our travel money sales figures show that the UAE Dirham is one of the most popular currencies outside the Euro and US Dollar.

�October and November are usually the peak months for sales of the Dirham as people prepare to head-off for some winter sun. The high sales figures of last month may indicate that those who are travelling to the region are taking more cash as a result of the increased cost of living in Dubai. Travellers should bear this in mind when deciding how much currency to purchase before travelling.�

Dubai - what you can expect to pay **:

Hotel room (per night); �50 Small car rental (per day): �17 Petrol (per gallon): �1.05 Beer (pint): �5 House wine: �30 Bottle of water (1.5 litre): 40p Burger: �2.40 Foreign newspaper: �3

Brits spend on average �821 per visit to the UAE, or �76 per day***.

Dubai currency - facts and figures:

� The UAE dirham (AED) is divided into 100 fils. Coins are in 5, 10, 25 and 50 fils and AED1. Notes are in denominations of AED5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000.

� The currency is accepted in the seven �emirates�: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.

Ends

M&S Travel Money - Key Features � Excellent exchange rates and exchange rates updated daily � Over 50 currencies available by phone, and on average 32 currencies available on demand in our Bureau de Change � No commission on foreign currency notes and foreign currency travellers' cheques (1% charge on sterling travellers' cheques) � Commission-free buy-back � M&S in store bureaux de change open seven days a week, including weekday evenings up to 10.00pm depending on store opening hours � Free delivery on telephone orders of �500 or more (for orders of less than �500 there is a �5 delivery charge) � Fully insured registered post � No cash advance fee and up to 55 days interest-free credit if you pay for your Travel Money using your M&S Credit Card. Typical 15.9%APR (variable). Credit subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. � Only notes are bought back in the Bureau, not coins.

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top ten credit card provider and the second largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products. In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC, one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations with over 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories. With a market capitalisation of US$190 billion (as at 7 October 2008), the HSBC Group is one of the world's largest financial services organisations. Over 100 million customers worldwide entrust HSBC with US$1.2 trillion in deposits. With a tier one capital ratio of 8.8% and a loan to deposit ratio of 90% as at 30 June 2008, the Group remains one of the most strongly capitalised and liquid banks in the world. M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer. The company employs 1,200 staff at its headquarters in Chester, delivering personal financial services to its customers, reflecting the core values of Marks & Spencer - quality, value, service, innovation and trust.

Notes to Editors For further information please call the M&S Money press office: Simon Coughlin on 020 7992 1574 simon.coughlin@mandsmoney.com Liz Neild on 01244 686 068 liz.a.neild@mandsmoney.com * According to the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. ** Source: www.dubaifaqs.com *** Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Travel Trends 2006.