AED 1,014 ($ 276) is the average daily price for traveling in the United Arab Emirates. The average price of meals in the United Arab Emirates for one day is AED 150 ($ 41). The average price of a hotel in the United Arab Emirates for a couple is AED 996 ($ 271). Additional pricing is in the table below. These average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
How much does a trip to the UAE cost?
- Average Daily CostPer person, per dayAED 1,014
- One WeekPer personAED 7,096
- 2 WeeksPer personAED 14,191
- One MonthPer personAED 30,410
- One WeekFor a coupleAED 14,191
- 2 WeeksFor a coupleAED 28,382
- One MonthFor a coupleAED 60,819
How expensive is the United Arab Emirates?
- Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one personAED498
- Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy roomAED996
- Food2Meals for one dayAED150
- Water2Bottled water for one dayAED287
- Local Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.AED57
- Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.AED56
- Tips and Handouts1For guides or service providersAED8.86
- Intercity Transportation1Travel between citiesAED64
- Alcohol2Drinks for one dayAED66
How much money do I need for the United Arab Emirates?
Typical travel prices in the United Arab Emirates are listed below. These actual costs can give you an idea of the price of travel in the United Arab Emirates. Please keep in mind that the cost of travel in the United Arab Emirates can vary depending on your specific style of travel.
- ShawarmaAED7.00
- Taxi to AirportAED50
- Daily Car RentalAED120
- TaxiAED60
- Sea TaxiAED2.00
- Airport TaxiAED46
- InternetAED45
- Taxi RideAED45
- Car RentalAED115
- French breadAED3.50
- Lemon Mint TeaAED16
- SmoothieAED20
How much does it cost to travel to Dubai?
Emirati Dirhams is the currency used in Dubai and 100 AED = $27. Arriving in Dubai is not a very costly affair if you’re not visiting the emirate during the famous Dubai Shopping Festival. However, to book at the best rates, it is better to book in advance. If you’re looking for economic package tours, I would recommend Rayna tours for the best rates. They are one of the most popular local tours and are well organized. Or give a look at TripAdvisor reviews.
You can reach Dubai from other neighboring emirates too. Landing at Sharjah instead of Dubai is a much cheaper option as the road distance between the two amazing emirates is hardly 20 kilometers. So, you can save money by booking a flight to Sharjah instead of Dubai directly.
To find the best flights to Dubai use Kiwi.com or Skyscanner. They have a useful tool for searching for flight connections and the best prices.
Hospitality in Dubai
Everything about Dubai is larger than life. The roads, rails, attractions, food, and even warm people. Known for its hospitality, the people of Dubai are eager to help you out and English is fluently spoken everywhere. It’s amazing to see so many different, vibrant people living in one place in peace and harmony. The city has a major population of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and other Asians. Most of them are here on employment contracts. I’ve seen Emiratis showing off their pet tigers from their supercars and also the low-wage Asian laborers eating at the street side eateries for less than 4AED.
How much does public transportation cost in Dubai?
Metro rail – Dubai has a super-efficient metro rail system. These driverless metro trains are the fastest and cheapest way to travel the length and breadth of Dubai. To travel in the metro, you need to get an NOI card. You can’t use cash to travel. There are various tickets available. You can take a red ticket and can use it up to 10 trips or 5 day passes at the unbelievable cost of AED1.
Road transport – The taxis are frequent but costlier than buses. The bus transport of Dubai is very convenient. There are many special busses that organize exclusive Dubai tours for the tourists. These tours give you an overview of the best attractions of the city in an economical way. The buses mainly serve low-income groups and are well maintained, clean, and air-conditioned. The average cost is 2AED per ride with a prepaid NOI card, but the buses can be a bit slow, especially during peak traffic hours. Check the website www.rta.ae for more information on bus routes and fares.
Monorail – Connecting the manmade Palm Jumeirah with the Dubai Marina, the Monorail has only 2 stations Gateway towers and Atlantis Aquaventure park and the round trip cost around 25AED.
Abra rides – The oldest mode of transport on the Dubai creek connecting Bur Dubai with Deira, an Abra ride is a must-try as it is super fun and cost you just 1Dhs to enjoy this historical ride. If you want to charter an Abra, the cost would be Dhs100.

How much is the cost of accommodation in Dubai?
Living in Dubai is a matter of choice. From the epitome of luxury to economic choices, Dubai has a huge range of budget options. Finding dormitories is a bit difficult. Youth hostels are the next best option for the ones with a shoestring budget but that too is limited. Hotels in Dubai start from as low as $25 per night. If traveling in Dubai metro isn’t an issue, then you have the liberty to choose the hotels far from the main city as well. They come at a far cheaper price than the ones in the heart of the city.
The urban accommodation in Dubai has no upper limit. The city boasts of the world’s most luxurious hotel- the Burj Al Arab where per night cost is a minimum of $24000. A regular urban hotel room cost somewhere around $35 -$50 per night which will have Wi-Fi, comfortable AC room with toiletries. Recreational amenities like swimming pool and gym etc. may not be accessible depending upon the hotel policies.
Residence & Spa at One&Only Royal Mirage Dubai is one of the best hotels in Dubai with rates starting at USD 484/night for a double room.
Raffles Dubai offers great value for money, rooms from USD 188/night.
A more affordable option is The H hotel with rates starting at USD 77/night.
To find the best hotels in Dubai do your research and book via Agoda or Booking.com. There you can find accommodation in Dubai for all styles, tastes, and pockets.
How much does food cost in Dubai?
You have to be a foodie and ready to eat everything (I mean eatable street food) if you want to save BIG on your food cost. Dubai as a city has impeccable food choices and almost every famous cuisine in the world is available here like Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arabian, Emirati, Portuguese, European, Thai, and the list goes on.
Dubai has a colossal range of restaurants and eateries catering to all pocket sizes. While Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina area cater to the fine diners, areas like Al Satwa, Al Karama, and Deira are the hub of economic eateries and street food joints.
The average price of a full meal in an economical eatery will be somewhere around $4- $9. Fast food and local delicacies like Hummus andShawarma sandwiches cost around $1- $2.
Food tips in Dubai:
- Dubai is pretty safe when it comes to food hygiene and quality but still, you must look around the stall carefully for its cleanliness if you’re having food on a roadside eatery.
- The water in Dubai is regarded as safe to drink by WHO standards. So no need to buy costly mineral water bottles. You can drink water directly from the tap and not fall sick.
How much will you spend on attractions in Dubai?
Dubai is an out and out tourist city. Every attraction is made to please its visitors. A benchmark city for the world, Dubai is a live example of intelligent channelization of resources. How else would you describe the world entertainment hub that was nothing more than a small Bedouin fishing village just 4 decades back.
World’s tallest building Burj Khalifa (three times taller than Eiffel Tower in Paris…. that’s a lot of height:) ), world’s biggest themed water fountain, world’s largest natural flower garden, and so many more attractions are world-renowned and truly magnificent. Most of these attractions are inexpensive in fact, free. A few attractions that need you to shell out a few bucks are worth every penny.
Burj Khalifa observation deck on 124th floor and 148th floor, tickets range from $35- $95.
Dubai Miracle Garden – the world’s biggest natural flower garden with over 45 million flowers arranged in adorable shapes and designs is a must-visit. The tickets to the garden are $8.
Dubai Museum – one of the best museums in the Middle East. Once you visit the museum, relating to the city becomes easier. Ticket prices- Just 3AED, yes, less than $1.
Attractions like Dubai fountain, malls of Dubai, and Dubai aquarium are free while many others like Dubai Dolphinarium. Global Village, Ski Dubai, and more are chargeable but every bit worth your money.
How much does nightlife cost in Dubai?
For any city to observe a great nightlife, alcohol plays a significant role, but in Dubai, there are several restrictions in consuming alcohol. You need to have a proper license not only to sell alcohol but also to drink it. Yes, the Emirati citizens have to obtain a license to buy liquor even to drink in their homes.
The cosmopolitan nature of the city of Dubai makes its nightlife happening in high-end clubs where liquor and dance are in full swing especially on weekends. Special ladies’ nights are also held on Tuesdays. Almost every month some popular DJ performs in these clubs.
Some of the famous clubs and beach party destinations are Club 360, Trilogy, Boudoir, Mahiki, Nasimi Beach and more.
Hands-on tips for a smooth trip to Dubai
- Dubai is very very hot. The desert city can be very punishing during peak summer months even after almost every tourist attraction of the city being air-conditioned. Don’t forget to bring hats, caps, full sleeve clothing, and lots of sunblock creams.
- You need not carry your laptop while traveling in Dubai. With the help of Cloud solutions from CloudDesktopOnline and CloudAppsPortal access your Desktop and online files from anywhere with your favorite device.
- No special immunization is required before coming to Dubai. The entire UAE is pretty safe health-wise.
- Famous cities like Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah are just a few hours away from Dubai so make sure you come with bandwidth to enjoy these places too.
- While in Dubai, don’t forget to spend an evening at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). The interaction will completely change your outlook towards Islamic culture and religion.
- Dubai visa rules are subject to change but as of now, you can get a visa on arrival for 30 days without any charge. The free visa on arrival rule applies to most countries except a few nations. The list of nations is easily available on the net.
- To save heavy on food without sacrificing your giant appetite, keep an eye on the incredible happy hour meals and eat all you want lunches.
- If you are planning to stay longer check out this 7-day itinerary to Dubai.
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