If you’re considering Dubai as your next holiday destination, some important questions to ask yourself are: Is Dubai expensive to visit? Or is it possible to visit Dubai on a small budget? You will find the answers to all of your questions in this post.
Dubai is an increasingly popular city in the United Arab Emirates and to be honest, this isn’t the cheapest destination in Asia, nor is the U.A.E. the cheapest country that you can visit.
After all, Dubai is famous for its luxury tourism, and it’s home to the Burj Al Arab – the only 7-star hotel in the world. This city has often been dubbed the Playground of Millionaires and the City of Gold.
However, this doesn’t mean that only millionaires can afford a visit to this city. The cost of travelling in Dubai widely depends on the decisions that you make and your style of travelling. Dubai is a city where you can easily spend thousands of dollars a day, but it’s also possible to travel here on a much smaller budget.
I visited Dubai on a budget on the way back to Belgium from Nepal, and although I did spend more than I usually do when I travel, I was able to limit my expenses!
This post will give you a better idea of how expensive Dubai is to visit, how much things cost in this city and how you can save money during your trip to Dubai.
How Expensive is Dubai for Tourists: The Cost of Travelling in Dubai
Let’s look at the vacation cost in Dubai. How expensive exactly is Dubai for tourists? And is it possible to visit Dubai on a tight backpacker’s budget?
The short answer to the question of how expensive Dubai is for tourists is that you will need anything between USD 280 (shoestring backpacker budget) and USD 1400 (mid-range budget) per week if you’re planning on travelling to Dubai.
This budget does not include activities, however. But if you’re travelling with two people or more, you will be able to cut down some costs by sharing a room or taxi.
As mentioned in the introduction, the cost of travel in Dubai depends on your travel style. To make it a little more clear, I divided this post into three sections:
- Travelling in Dubai on a tight backpacker’s budget (USD 40 to USD 50 per day)
- Travelling in Dubai on a mid-range budget (USD 70 to USD 200 per day)
- Travelling in Dubai in luxury (the sky is the limit)
Travelling in Dubai on a backpacker’s budget
Although Dubai is not your typical backpacker’s destination, it’s an easy stopover on the way to Asia and it’s possible to visit this city on a smaller budget.
This being said, Dubai is not a very backpacker-friendly city and you will have to spend more money here compared to many other countries. So this may not be the best place to stay for a long time if you’re on a super tight budget.
🏣 Hostel prices
The best way to cut costs in Dubai is by saving on accommodation and staying in hostels.
You can find hostels with prices between USD 8 and USD 25 per night for a bed in a dorm. These can be found in nearly any area in the city, but you may pay more depending on the location.
- Dubai Eye (⭐ 8.9)
- Hostel World Capsule (⭐ 8.3)
- Robin Hostel Dubai (⭐ 8.3)
🍛 The cost of cheap restaurants in Dubai
When it comes to food, there are plenty of places where you can eat street food for less than USD 5.
A cheap restaurant will cost you around USD 12 per person. So there’s more than luxury restaurants and bling-bling alone in Dubai!
🎡 Cheap and free activities in Dubai
There are also many cheap and even free things to do in Dubai. You will find some examples below:
- Burj Khalifa and its fountains: As long as you don’t go to the top levels of the Burj Khalifa, you can see the world’s largest building along with its fountains and the daily fountain show for free. This is one of the most famous landmarks in Asia!
- Dubai Mall: The Dubai Mall is located inside the Burj Khalifa, and it’s free to visit too (as long as you don’t buy anything, of course).
- Gold souks: The same applies to the gold souks, as long as you don’t buy anything, these are free to visit.
- Dubai Frame: You can see the Dubai Frame for free but you will have to pay an entrance fee of 50 AED if you want to enter this landmark.
- Burj Al Arab: You can also see the world’s only 7-star hotel for free. It just costs (a lot of) money if you want to stay or eat here.
- Jumeirah Mosque: This is one of the most famous mosques in Dubai and there’s no entry fee to visit it. It does cost money if you want to take a guided tour.
- Dubai Marina: This is one of the most popular areas in Dubai and taking a stroll here is completely free.
🚗 Getting around Dubai on a budget
Finally, when it comes to getting around the city, the cheapest way to do so is by taking the metro (which is great). You can get a day ticket for 20 AED (USD 5,45).
Keep in mind, though, that you might have to take a taxi or Uber from time to time and these are not that cheap.
👉 Can Dubai be cheap? The cost of visiting Dubai on a tight backpacker’s budget
Taking into account all the information above, visiting Dubai on a tight backpacker’s budget will cost you a minimum of around USD 40 to USD 50 per day (or USD 280 to USD 350 a week).
This can be done by staying in dorms, eating in cheap restaurants without consuming alcohol and getting around using the metro.
Entry tickets are not included in this budget, but I hardly spent anything on entry tickets when I visited Dubai. There are plenty of free things to do as well.
Tip: The best way to visit Dubai if you’re on a limited budget is by visiting this city during a short stopover to another (cheaper) destination, which is what I did. It’s perfectly possible to see much of what this city has to offer in just 2 or 3 days.
Visiting Dubai on a mid-range budget
If you have a larger, mid-range budget, you will find plenty of nice hotels, cosy restaurants and fun activities to do in Dubai.
🏣 Average hotel prices in Dubai
You will find numerous hotels with prices ranging between USD 50 and USD 120 per night nearly anywhere in the city. You will get a nice hotel for this price.
This being said, it speaks for itself that the higher your budget, the better your hotel will be.
- Al Seef Heritage Hotel (⭐ 8.3)
- Heritage Home Guest House (⭐ 8.1)
- Holiday Inn Express Safa Park (⭐ 7.9)
🍛 Eating out on a mid-range budget in Dubai
Expect to pay around USD 30 per person for a meal in a nice mid-range restaurant in Dubai.
There are, however, many cheaper restaurants (or street food) as well as more expensive ones. So make sure to determine your budget and look around.
🎡 How much do entry tickets and activities cost in Dubai
When it comes to the price of activities, you will find both cheap as well as more expensive things to do in Dubai. You can find some popular examples below:
- Burj Khalifa: Prices range between 20 AED (USD 5,45) and 769 AED (USD 209,37), depending on the experience you choose. The cheapest tickets will bring you to the Burj Khalifa’s 125th and 124th floors. While the most expensive ones will take you to the 154th, 153rd and 152nd levels. Here, you will find the world’s highest lounge.
- Dubai Aquarium: Prices start at a whopping 199 AED (USD 54,18) per person to visit the Dubai Aquarium.
- Dubai Frame: The entry ticket costs 50 AED (USD 13,61), which is quite reasonable compared to the other entry prices.
- Desert safari: The costs of a desert safari range between 250 AED (USD 68) and 1000 AED (USD 272). This depends on the company you book it with, what’s included and how luxurious you want it to be.
- Aura Skypool: A visit to this beautiful infinity pool with a view over the skyline of Dubai will cost a minimum of 200 AED (USD 54,45) per person.
🚗 Getting around Dubai on a mid-range budget
Although the metro is great, if you have a bigger budget, you can also opt to rent a car in Dubai. This will give you more flexibility and it will help you save some time as well.
You can expect to pay a minimum of USD 30 for one day.
If you decide to rent a car, I recommend using Discover Cars to find the best rates. This company compares car rental companies so that you can get the best price.
👉 The cost of visiting Dubai on a mid-range budget
You can expect to pay anything between USD 70 and USD 200 per day* (or USD 490 and USD 1400 per week) to visit Dubai on a mid-range budget.
This only includes accommodation, food and transportation, though. The price of activities is not included.
*This estimate was made for a solo traveller. If you’re travelling as a couple, with a friend or with a group you will be able to share accommodation costs, which will make your trip somewhat cheaper.
Tip: Make sure to book your tickets in advance if you want to visit the Burj Khalifa. There is a ticket counter onsite, but tickets tend to sell out very quickly.
The cost of a luxury trip to Dubai
If you’re a billionaire and are up for a really luxurious trip, then Dubai is a city where you will find exactly what you are looking for!
After all, this city is known for its luxury and bling-bling. You could easily spend a couple of thousands or even ten thousands of dollars a day here.
🏣 Expensive hotels in Dubai
Some of the most expensive hotels in Dubai are Jumeirah Al Qasr (from USD 320/night to USD 9000/night), Burj Al-Arab (from USD 1100/night to USD 5100/a night), Atlantis The Palm (from USD 575/night to USD 1000/night) and Rixos The Palm (USD 600 to USD 1300).
There are other luxury hotels that are a little more affordable too, though. Some examples are the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Lemon Tree Hotel and Leva Hotel & Suites.
Luxury hotels are one of the things Dubai is famous for. So if you can afford to stay in these, you will have an abundance of choices!
You can opt for underwater suites, rooms with a view of the Burj Khalifa or the Dubai Marina, luxurious lofts and apartments, the only 7-star hotel in the world (the Burj Al-Arab) and more.
🍛 Luxurious restaurants in Dubai
This city is also full of luxury restaurants like the underwater restaurant Ossiano, Al Mahara and the restaurants located in the famous Burj Al-Arab.
The average costs per person in luxurious restaurants range between USD 135 and USD 190.
All in all, there is no shortage of luxurious and decadent restaurants in Dubai, and if you want to try dishes from Michelin-starred chefs, this is the city to go!
🎡 Luxury activities in Dubai
When it comes to luxury activities, it comes as no surprise that Dubai has an abundance of these as well!
From private air charters to super-yacht cruises, luxury desert safaris, hot air balloon flights, luxury trips combining Dubai and the Maldives and much more, you will find plenty of luxurious things to do in Dubai.
You just need to be super rich to be able to afford them.
How Much Does it Cost to Travel to Dubai?
Apart from the cost of accommodation, transport, food and activities, another important thing to consider is the cost of the flight to get to Dubai in the first place.
This depends on where you’re flying from when you’re visiting Dubai, how flexible you are and when you book your tickets. Flights tend to be more expensive during the high season. If you’re flexible, you could opt to fly on the cheapest available date of the week or month.
Depending on where you’re from and the season you’re travelling, a round-trip to Dubai should cost you:
- New York to Dubai: USD 700 to USD 1000
- London to Dubai: USD 300 to USD 600
- Sydney to Dubai: USD 750 to USD 1200
- New Delhi to Dubai: USD 200 to USD 350
It’s good to know that due to the conflict in Ukraine, global oil prices have risen in the last year. This is causing flights to be more expensive than normal. I adapted the prices mentioned above.
>> Read: 4-Day Dubai Itinerary: The Best Things to See and Do
Tip: An easy way to find the cheapest flights is by using Skyscanner. This website enables you to compare flight fares across the internet. I would recommend booking through the official website of the airline to avoid problems, though.
Tips to Save Money in Dubai
Dubai clearly isn’t the cheapest holiday destination out there. However, a trip to this city doesn’t have to be crazy expensive either.
There are numerous ways to cut the costs of your stay in Dubai. You will find 7 easy ways to save money in Dubai below.
1. Stay at budget accommodation
Dubai is famous for its abundance of luxury hotels and resorts but it speaks for itself that staying here will cost you a lot of money.
One of the easiest ways to travel on a smaller budget is by staying in budget hotels, hostels or dorms.
2. Watch your dining budget
Just like with the accommodation, you will find plenty of expensive restaurants in Dubai BUT there are plenty of affordable restaurants in this city too!
Researching the cheap restaurants to eat at in Dubai and opting for street food will save you a lot of money.
3. Take the metro
Dubai isn’t a very walkable city, as the distances you will have to cover are huge.
There may be plenty of taxis and Ubers in the streets of this city but the cheapest way to get around Dubai is by taking the metro.
Dubai has some of the nicest and cleanest metros I’ve ever taken, so it will be a very comfortable ride (and the metro has AC, which is great when it’s hot)!
4. Visit Dubai during the low season
It will be SUPER hot (40°C to 50°C or 104°F to 122°F), but if you visit Dubai in June, July or August, you will be able to book hotels for a cheaper price.
It’s good to know that there’s AC practically everywhere in Dubai.
5. Don’t drink alcohol
Alcohol tends to be quite expensive in Dubai. So an efficient way of saving some money is by sticking to non-alcoholic drinks during your stay in this city.
6. Look for free places to visit
Another great way of saving costs on a visit to Dubai is by looking for free activities.
Going to the public beach, visiting the park and strolling along the Dubai Marina, for example, are some nice things to do that won’t cost you any money.
7. Don’t go shopping
This one might be easier said than done if you enjoy shopping. After all, Dubai is home to the world’s largest shopping mall.
However, if you’re on a tight budget, it’s better to avoid coming here unless you’re up for some window shopping instead because Dubai isn’t the cheapest country to buy things.
Is It Expensive to Live in Dubai?
One of the things that makes Dubai such a popular destination for expats is that there is no income tax in this city. This being said, Dubai may be a tax haven, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap to live here.
Dubai has been ranked 31st on the list of the most expensive cities to live and work in for expats. However, it’s less expensive compared to cities like New York City, London and Singapore.
On average, a one-bedroom apartment outside of the city centre will cost you around USD 900, and you can expect to pay around USD 900 in monthly costs as well. This means you will need an average of USD 1800 to live in Dubai.
It all depends on your lifestyle though, and you can come by with less or more money as well.
Is Dubai Expensive to Travel to? Final Thoughts
As you can see, Dubai is one of the more expensive destinations out there. However, there are ways to cut costs and save some money.
Travelling on a backpacker’s budget in Dubai won’t be the same as it’s in Southeast Asia, for example. However, it’s still possible to travel here without spending loads of money.
This being said, compared to other major cities like London, New York and Paris, Dubai actually isn’t that expensive. You will pay around the same amount of money or sometimes even more in some other large cities.
I hope that this post helped you to get a better idea of the cost of travelling in Dubai. Let me know your thoughts or any questions you may have in the comments.
Dubai Travel Planning Guide
🛫 Find the cheapest flights to Dubai on Skyscanner.
🏨 Find the best accommodation via Booking.
🚗 Rent a car with Discover Cars to get the best rates.
💰 Get travel insurance via VisitorsCoverage, one of the best-reviewed travel insurance companies.
📋 Don’t forget to check if you need a visa to visit Dubai.
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6 comments
Hi Laure, I’ve enjoyed reading your blog entry.
I believe the negative aspects of Dubai that you have highlighted have meanwhile intensified. In my view, Dubai now qualifies to be the world capital of overindulgence hyper consumption and decadence.
Thanks for reading 🙂 Aargh, I think about Dubai the same way, Over indulgence, hyper-consumption and decadence describe it very well!
Is it worth visiting? I am planning to travel there on a budget package. My goal is to make new friends and enjoy my tour. I have never been to the middle east. You can replay me at nesanmano@hotmail.com
Hi Nesan, it depends on your personal interests and the kind of places you like to visit. 🙂 I personally don’t like Dubai very much, there’s a post on here with the reasons why (https://www.laurewanders.com/why-i-didnt-like-dubai/).
Most people would say Dubai is known for wealth, skyscrapers, luxury shopping, glitzy nightlife, and white-clad Arabs driving expensive cars on desert roads. Dubai is also known for being a jet-set holiday destination.
Dubai is now the seventh most expensive city in the world for luxury living. Dubai is now the seventh most expensive city in the world for luxury living, having jumped seven places in a ranking based on report by Swiss private bank Julius Baer. But your tips are so powerfull and can help tourist for sure.