Table of contents
Quick answer
Dubai can be as expensive or as affordable as you make it. Budget travellers get by on roughly AED 250–400 a day excluding the hotel; mid-range is AED 500–900. The biggest levers are when you go (summer is far cheaper), where you stay, and eating where residents eat rather than on the tourist strips.
1What a day in Dubai costs
| Style | Food | Transport | One activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | FoodAED 60–120 | TransportAED 20–40 (Metro/bus) | One activityAED 50–150 |
| Mid-range | FoodAED 150–300 | TransportAED 60–120 (taxis) | One activityAED 150–350 |
| Higher-end | FoodAED 400+ | TransportAED 150+ (car/taxis) | One activityAED 400+ |
Attractions and desert or yacht trips are the swing cost — pick one or two rather than filling every day.
2Where to stay to save
- Travel outside peak season — summer rates can be a fraction of winter ones.
- Deira and Bur Dubai are cheaper than the Marina and Downtown, and near the Metro and Old Dubai.
- Hotel apartments work out cheaper for families and longer stays, with a kitchen to cut food costs.
3Eating well for less
Food is where budgets quietly blow out on the tourist strips. Eat where residents do — the Indian, Pakistani and Filipino cafeterias of Old Dubai and Karama, mall food courts, and local shawarma and biryani spots — and a good meal is AED 15–35 rather than ten times that.
4Getting around cheaply
- The Metro and buses on a Nol card are the cheapest way around the city.
- If you want a car for day trips, split a one-day rental across the group rather than renting all week.
- Avoid the airport taxi surcharge by taking the Metro from the airport when your luggage allows.
5Free and cheap things to do
- The Dubai Fountain show and the Downtown promenade — free.
- Public beaches at JBR, Kite Beach and Jumeirah — free.
- Walking Old Dubai, the souks and Al Fahidi, plus an abra ride for about a dirham.
- Al Qudra Lakes and Love Lake in the desert — free, if you have a car.
Travel June–September and lean on the Metro and you cut the two biggest costs — the hotel and getting around — at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dubai expensive to visit?
It can be, but it doesn't have to be. Hotels and tourist-strip dining are where costs climb; the Metro, resident-priced food and free attractions keep a trip affordable.
What is a daily budget for Dubai?
Excluding the hotel, budget travellers manage on roughly AED 250–400 a day, mid-range on AED 500–900. Desert or yacht trips are the main swing cost.
What is the cheapest time to go to Dubai?
June to September, when hotel rates drop sharply and summer offers run across attractions and car rental.
Are there free things to do in Dubai?
Plenty — the Fountain show, public beaches, walking Old Dubai and the souks, the abra across the creek, and the desert lakes if you have a car.
Is food expensive in Dubai?
Only if you eat on the tourist strips. Local cafeterias and food courts serve good meals for AED 15–35.
Written by the TripReview team from our own price benchmarks and the rules published by UAE authorities, and updated 29 September 2026. Figures are ranges, not quotes — check the latest rules with the official source before you travel. How we rate companies
