* Investors still keep eye on Dubai debt
* Dollar may get support from year-end repatriation flow
* RBA rate decision due at 0330 GMT
By Kaori Kaneko
TOKYO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The dollar slipped against major currencies on Tuesday as investors took the view that Dubai debt woes will likely be contained, reducing safety bids for the greenback, while the market awaited Australia's interest rate decision.
Government-controlled Dubai World said a restructuring would involve $26 billion, a number which may help markets get to grips with the scope of the crisis following estimates that restructuring could affect $59 billion or more in liabilities.
"The overall picture of Dubai's debt problems remains unclear. So investors are still cautious although fears have waned," said Kazuyuki Takami, senior manager of foreign exchange trading department at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.
The dollar index, a gauge of the greenback's performance against six other major currencies, fell 0.2 percent to 74.736, although it remained above a 15-month low of 74.170 set last week.
The dollar's long-term weakness is expected to continue as investors believe U.S. interest rates will remain low for a prolonged period but it could get support from repatriation flows at the year-end, dealers said.
Against the yen, the dollar was steady at 86.43 yen, and above a 14-year low of 84.82 yen hit on trading platform EBS last week.
"Investors are finding it hard to buy the yen further as the tone of remarks from Japanese authorities has changed recently," Takami said.
Since last week, Japanese officials have voiced concerns over the yen's sharp rise against the dollar. Japan's strategy minister Naoto Kan said on Monday the government has agreed to try to slow the yen's appreciation, but he declined to comment on what specific policies it will take.
On Tuesday, the government said it saw current foreign exchange moves as sudden and was worried that when combined with deflation they could have a bad effect on the economy.
The euro rose 0.2 percent to $1.5033 but was below last week's 15-month peak at $1.5145.
The Australian dollar was steady at $0.9165 before the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) interest rate decision at 0330 GMT.
Investors are torn as to whether the central bank will raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75 percent but analysts overwhelmingly think the RBA will move on Tuesday. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) ((kaori.kaneko@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: kaori.kaneko.reuters.com@reuters.net; +81-3-6441-1983)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com))