How much does it cost to travel to Dubai?

Winter

If you want to save money, consider traveling in summer. High temperatures and humidity mean fewer tourists, so hotels are generally cheaper. However, some seasonal attractions, such as Global Village and Dubai Miracle Garden, are closed during the summer, and sandstorms can sometimes occur.

How much does accommodation cost?

During her trips to Dubai, Vera usually stays at Two Seasons Hotel & Apartments. She chooses a one-bedroom apartment with a living room and kitchenette. Rooms can be booked directly through the hotel or via booking platforms such as Booking.com.

On one of her trips, a 10-day stay in this type of apartment cost $2,650. A similar apartment with a stove cost $300 more. For comparison, the same apartment without meals cost $700 per week in summer. Prices vary depending on the season.

Which area is best to stay in?

The area you choose can have a major impact on the overall cost of your trip and daily transportation expenses. If you want to save money, Vera recommends staying in Deira. It is one of the more affordable areas of Dubai, with a wider choice of budget hotels, cafés and shops.

Approximate weekly accommodation costs for two adults:

If you want to stay close to the main attractions, consider Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina, although accommodation there is more expensive.

How to get around Dubai

If you plan to travel around the city a lot or take trips outside Dubai, renting a car can be a convenient option. A small car such as a Kia Rio or MG 3 can cost around $80–90 per week, excluding fuel. More information about renting a car in the UAE is available in a separate [article].

If renting a car is not an option, the metro and buses are more convenient. In Vera’s experience, they are among the most affordable ways to get around Dubai.

Metro

For metro and bus journeys, it is worth getting a Silver Nol card. Fares are cheaper with the card than when buying single-use tickets.

The fare depends on how many zones you cross. For example, a journey from Dubai Internet City station to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall costs more than $11 with a single-use ticket, compared with around $5 using a Nol card.

Fares also depend on distance. Dubai is divided into zones: journeys within the same area are cheaper, while trips across several zones cost more.

Nol Silver fares

You can buy and top up the card at ticket machines and counters at metro stations or through the Nol Pay app. You need to maintain a minimum balance of AED 7.5 ($2) to use the card.

Taxi

Even a short taxi ride of a few kilometres can cost $8–10. Vera usually uses the Careem app to book taxis. The starting fare is around $2.72 when booking through the app and about $2.18 when hailing a taxi on the street. Trips from the airport cost more.

To avoid paying more than necessary, check the route in a navigation app in advance and make sure the driver does not take a longer route.

How much does food cost?

Food can take up a significant part of your Dubai budget: cafés are relatively expensive, while restaurants cost even more.

During one of her trips, Vera visited L'ETO. Two large Caesar salads, coffee and tea for two cost AED 300 ($82). At another branch of the same chain, the same order cost AED 150 ($41). Her experience showed that prices can vary significantly even between locations of the same restaurant chain.

If you want to cut food costs, you can buy ready-made meals at large supermarkets such as Fresh Food. They regularly offer deals such as “buy two, get one” promotions, and some stores have places where you can heat up ready-made food. Many supermarkets also have small cafés where you can get a meal or snack for much less than at a restaurant.

Typical food prices

*Prices vary depending on the venue and order.

How much do Dubai attractions and entertainment cost?

I never book tours through hotel guides because they are usually more expensive. It is often cheaper to book attraction tickets and tours in advance through official websites or booking platforms.

Burj Khalifa

A ticket to the 124th and 125th floors of Burj Khalifa costs around $50–70 per person.

I visited the observation deck as part of a package tour. If you are visiting independently, it is better to book your ticket in advance, as this can be cheaper.

Dubai water parks

Of all the water parks in Dubai, I recommend Aquaventure at Atlantis and Wild Wadi. A ticket to Aquaventure starts at around $54 per person. A combined ticket that also includes the Lost World Aquarium starts at around $60.

Prices depend on the season and the type of ticket, so check the current price before your trip.

Museum of the Future

I liked that you can see part of the Museum of the Future without buying a ticket. If you want to visit all the exhibition halls, you need a ticket, which costs $46 per person.

Dubai Aquarium

Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo in Dubai Mall occupies three floors. You can see the main aquarium from inside the mall without buying a ticket. Additional experiences cost extra. For example, diving in the aquarium costs $264.

If you do not want to wait in line, you can go to the upper level. It also offers a good view and is usually less crowded.

Desert safari in Dubai

When choosing a desert safari, do not look only at the price.

If a safari costs around $25 per person, the food, entertainment and overall organization may be more basic. I usually look at options starting from $40.

Dubai Miracle Garden

I really enjoyed Dubai Miracle Garden, one of the world's largest flower gardens. It features tens of millions of flowers, unusual displays, flower installations and a butterfly garden.

A ticket purchased through the official website costs $25, while the price at the ticket office is around $27.

Free things to do in Dubai

You do not have to pay for every attraction in Dubai. There are plenty of places you can visit for free. My favorite beaches include Kite Beach and Open Beach, both of which have free entry. Another option is La Mer. The beach is also free, although it can get crowded.

You can also walk along Dubai Marina Walk and the Bluewaters waterfront without buying a ticket. In the evening, you can watch the Dubai Fountain show near Burj Khalifa.

The Museum of the Future also has a free area where visitors can see part of the exhibition.

If you are traveling with a group of women or with children, check the municipal beaches that have women-only days. On these days, entry costs around $10, and only women and children are allowed to use the beach.

Free places to visit in Dubai

• Kite Beach

• Open Beach

• La Mer

• Dubai Fountain show

• Dubai Marina Walk

• Bluewaters

• Free area at the Museum of the Future

What is worth buying in Dubai?

The things I most often bring back from Dubai are electronics, jewelry, perfumes and fragrance oils. During one of my trips, I bought a phone for $500 less than it cost in Uzbekistan. I also noticed that many tourists return home with televisions, gaming consoles and other electronics.

If you are planning to buy jewelry, visit the Gold Souk in Deira. Prices there are lower than in branded jewelry stores, while the quality of the products can be comparable. For example, I bought a pair of gold earrings for around $100.

When it comes to perfumes, Arabic fragrance oils are particularly popular. A 6 ml bottle costs around 16–18 dirhams ($4.50–5). During one of my trips, I bought a 100 ml bottle of French perfume for around $100.

If you visit Dubai during Ramadan, leave some time for shopping. Many shopping malls and outlets hold major sales during this period. Some hotels also offer free shuttle services to shopping malls for their guests.

Extra costs to consider when planning a Dubai trip

When planning a trip to Dubai, do not budget only for flights and accommodation. There are several additional expenses to keep in mind.

One of the costs that surprised me most was the tourist tax. During one of my first trips, it was around $17 per night and had to be paid separately from the hotel rate.

Another expense I was not prepared for was the hotel deposit. When I checked into one four-star hotel, I had to leave a deposit of 500–600 dirhams ($136–163). The hotel returned the full amount after check-out because there were no problems with the room.

Some private beaches can also be expensive. For example, renting a single sun lounger can cost around $100, with a parasol charged separately.

After several trips to Dubai, I found that some expenses can be reduced without compromising the trip. The main ways to save are:

• travel in summer, when accommodation is usually cheaper;

• use public transport and a Nol card instead of taxis;

• book tours yourself rather than through hotel guides;

• buy ready-made food at supermarkets, where promotions such as “buy two, get one” are common;

• plan shopping during Ramadan, when many stores offer major discounts.

How much money do you need for a trip to Dubai?

After eight trips to Dubai, I have found that the total cost depends heavily on the season, hotel category, travel style and how much you plan to spend on entertainment and shopping.

If you include flights, accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment and other major expenses, these amounts can be used as a general guide.

*The total includes flights, accommodation, food, transportation, entertainment and other major expenses during the trip.

These figures should be treated as a guide rather than a fixed Dubai travel budget. Your actual expenses will depend on the season, flight prices, hotel, itinerary and how much you spend on shopping.