If you are like us, chances are you have been putting off your Dubai trip thinking Dubai is expensive. So, is Dubai really that expensive? We were never so wrong about a destination. While it is one of the best countries to visit with family and kids. So, we very much want to travel here. Recently, we were simply amazed to discover that it is possible to visit Dubai on a shoe string budget as much as it is possible to do a family friendly trip to Las Vegas! How? Well, we will talk about that in a while. Let us first introduce you to some of the major attractions of Dubai to lure you in visiting here 🙂 . And then we will get into how much does it cost to travel to Dubai. Makes Sense? Let’s start then.
By the way, ever thought to visit Dubai in summer? Dubai and summer don’t go together in your perception, right? I mean, who would want to visit a place famous for its desert in the blazing hot summer? One would rather prefer to go to Europe or maybe Sydney? But, most of us often forget that there is way more to Dubai than just its desert. As, there are beaches, world-famous water parks, underwater zoo, and the best summer shopping escapades ensconced in the folds of Dubai. Thus making it an ideal destination to visit during summer vacations. Checkout, this list of things to do in Dubai with kids. And you will know what I am talking about. Overall, if planned well, Dubai can make for one of the best places to visit in May during the summer vacations time.
Also, there is so much advantage to travel offseason and in shoulder seasons. With less crowd & much lower rates. We have experienced it earlier. First on our 2 weeks Europe trip with kids in April-May . And then also spending wonderful time on our trip to Ooty during the monsoons . Or, when we spent 3 days in Jaipur & 4 days in Udaipur during September, the monsoon months.
Below is a list of 10 places that are so unique to Dubai. And they will compel you to visit Dubai in summer. So, don’t forget to include them in your list when you plan a trip to Dubai. Also, checkout these interesting Dubai facts before you head here to make your trip all the more interesting.
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Burj Khalifa : all time favorite
The first thing to see in Dubai is the tallest skyscraper in the world- Burj Khalifa. Almost all the Dubai tour packages include this site in their itinerary. So, you can tag along with the group if you want to. From the vantage point of the tower, you can see the whole of Dubai spread out beneath you. Such beauty is bound to leave you dumbstruck, and if the sight doesn’t, the height surely will.
Dubai Creek : enjoy summer night breeze
The Dubai creek is a calm and serene place, perfect for a bout of night-time breeze. Thus, a perfect one to explore when you visit Dubai in summer. The ferry rides will leave you sedate and relaxed. The ferry boats are quite inexpensive, and you’ll thoroughly enjoy your ride. You can also have a dinner cruise while you appreciate the scenery.
Mall of the Emirates : cool in summer
Get all your summer shopping done in this huge Mall of the Emirates. As grandiose as the name sounds, the mall itself is much more extravagant than that. With domed ceilings and many international departmental stores, this mall also has its own Ski centre. So, get ready to do bags of shopping and ski to your heart’s content.
Wild Wadi Waterpark : perfect for summer
A summer well spent is the one spent in the water parks. Don’t you agree? You get your much-needed adrenalin boost along with the cooling effect of water in this hot summer. Wild Wadi is pretty close to the beach and is the perfect escapade for those who are young at heart. And what’s more, it is one of the best waterparks in Dubai.
Palm Jumeirah
The tree-shaped island of Palm Jumeirah is famous for its upscale hotels, glitzy apartment towers and 7-star global restaurants. Local delicacy offered by food trucks dot the entire island. Enjoy the night life with the live DJs and infinity pools that are all around this island. The view at the Palm is definitely one of the best you will get in Dubai.
Ski Dubai : indoor : perfect to try in Dubai in summer
This indoor ski centre has a mountain motif as well as snow for year-around skiing and snowboarding. The slope is not that steep but is a really good place to escape from the heat of the desert. Bring your scarf; you’ll need it to ward off the cold. Although being inside the Mall of the Emirates, this deserves a special place in the list due to its sheer engineering brilliance.
Explore Dubai Marina when you visit Dubai in summer
This upscale locality of Dubai is dotted by tall high-rise buildings and flying taxis. Yes, you read it correctly. Flying taxis are a speciality of this area. The volocopters, as they are called, are completely electric and are a jam-free way of traveling.
The World to explore in summer when in Dubai
This artificial archipelago of many tiny islands is constructed in the rough outline of a world map. This again boasts of the engineering skills of Dubai. The World is located in the Persian Gulf and is only 4 km away from the coast. The World is made up of 300 islands, and you can visit these if you wish to do so!
Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo
The Dubai Aquarium, according to me, is the best place to go when you visit in Dubai in summer. Walking through the underwater halls of this aquarium and zoo again brings into focus the sheer brilliance of the engineering done. You can see how fishes are reared and fed. You can see animals in their natural habitat. It’ll feel like you are walking on the ocean bed itself. This heavenly feeling must be experienced by you. And more so, if you are traveling with kids. Since, they just love zoo and aquarium kind of places.
Jumeirah Beach in Dubai in summer
This white sand beach on the coast of the Persian Gulf will surely win your heart. Lather up the sunscreen and get ready to splash your day away with this absolute beauty of a beach. You can also retreat within the cool walls of the mosque that is nearby.
Dubai calls to you. Can you hear it? Can you hear the waves crashing at the Palm Jumeirah, calling out to you to visit this engineering marvel? So, below are some general tips that will be useful for you when visiting Dubai. So, what are you waiting for? Start your preparations and do at least a week long trip to Dubai this summer!
Planning a trip to Dubai
Luxury and exoticness know no bounds in this Arabic city. If you are wondering how to plan a trip to Dubai, don’t worry. The purpose of this article is to cover that. There are readymade Dubai tour packages that come with their itinerary for you, in case you are not the one who like to plan your own trips. But then if you want to make changes, you can totally modify them by simply choosing to visit the places you want to see. Or, you can define your own itinerary.
How to plan your cost of visiting attractions in Dubai
Like any other place, there are several attractions in Dubai. (Like the ones we just visited above). But if you are not choosing one wisely, it can soon burn a hole in your pocket. The good news is that some of the most famous and best attractions of Dubai like the Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Fountain (world’s biggest themed water fountain), some natural flower gardens and many more are totally FREE!!! Similarly, you can visit the numerous malls of Dubai for free. And it’s not going to burn a hole in your pocket until you plan to buy something really expensive there!
Some like Dubai Miracle Garden (world’s largest natural flower garden, entry fee $8) , Dubai Museum ($1) etc. cost just a bit. While the top floor observation deck on the Burj Khalifa costs an entry ticket of around $140. But, then, it’s up to you to decide if you want to go there.
How much does it cost to travel to Dubai overall
It is not a doubt that Dubai is one of the most luxurious vacation destinations in the world. So, while you plan to travel to Dubai in summer (or otherwise), a question that is sure to pop up is how much does it cost to travel to Dubai. Dubai is costly, no doubt about that. But there are ways to make your money last longer. And enjoy the various attractions in Dubai that we mentioned above. So, let’s drive into the cost analysis without delay.
Cost of flying into Dubai
So, coming back to how much does it cost to travel to Dubai, let’s first consider the cost of flight to Dubai. Now a days, Dubai has become a transit hub for flights connecting Asia, Europe and USA. It’s strategic location in the middle east contributes heavily to that. And so does it’s great infrastructure. As a result, there are numerous flights operating in and out of Dubai on a daily basis, giving you a huge choice to select your flight to Dubai. The cost is not really high, if you can avoid peak seasons like the Dubai Shopping Festival time.
You might want to read through our tricks to score cheap flight tickets to help you further save on your Dubai flight cost. Basically, you need to book in advance. And don’t forget to compare flight cost across the carriers before heading to book yours.
Another option is to fly into one of the neighbouring countries like Sharjah. The flight cost to these countries might prove much cheaper than Dubai. And they are well connected by road. Moreover, it takes even less than an hour to reach Dubai from some of these.
Cost of transportation and accommodation in Dubai
While Dubai is the Mecca of luxurious cars, it does have a robust public transportation system. The extensive network of Metro Rail has a ticket price starting at just 1$ !! So, if you are ok with walking a little to the public transport system and use them (Of course, more conveniently if you can avoid peak hour traffic), then just go for it. For a week long trip, you will hardly spend 15-20 $ on your transport through Metro Rail. Ever since we used the Paris Metro extensively and beat the Paris traffic a number of times, we highly encourage our readers to try the metro and rail options available in their destinations as they are one of the cheapest and fastest.
Apart from the rail, Dubai also has a very well developed bus network. The public buses in Dubai are very well maintained and come at a starting price of around 1-2$ per person, which is again very economical. In fact, you can also take a special tourist bus in Dubai which takes you through the attractions of Dubai providing a slow paced wonderful travel experience.
And then there are mono rails, abra rides and taxis (the luxurious end of commute) as well in Dubai. So, as per your budget, you can choose which ever you like.
Coming to accommodation, Dubai has all kind of options. Although one always pictures to stay in luxurious resorts in Dubai, but, if you are on a shoe string budget and want to know how much does it cost to travel to Dubai. Well, not much when it comes to accommodation. As the options of hotels start at a mere 20-30 $ per night! And if you are opting for public transport as the major way of commute, then you can choose for an accommodation farther from the main city. Then you surely are going to get a very good and comfortable accommodation for the above budget.
Other cost effective tips to travel to Dubai
- You can safely eat from road side food joints. However, for our readers from India, here’s a complete guide to Indian restaurants in Dubai.
- No need to buy bottled water as the water in Dubai is safe for direct consumption
- Although Dubai is a shopping paradise, if you are on a tight budget or don’t want to spend on shopping, just stick to window shopping. But if you really want to add some pocket friendly souvenirs and gifts to your luggage , read this to know what souvenirs to buy in Dubai.
- Even tipping the waiters is optional in Dubai, another option for you to save money.
Conclusion
So, you see, if you are wondering how much does it cost to travel to Dubai. Well, not much. If you are on a shoe string budget and you travel to Dubai for a week, following will be your cost incurred :
- Transport (Public Transport like Metro Rail) : $15
- Food (Mostly street side & food courts in Malls, couple of fancy meals) : $15-$20
- Accommodation (A hotel far from the city) : $140
- Visiting the attractions of Dubai : $30
Overall, you can do a one week trip to Dubai on a budget of $210 per head, excluding flight cost. And you thought Dubai is expensive! So, when are you planning your trip to Dubai?
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General Tips for visiting Dubai
- Dubai is very well connected with rest of the world. In fact, most of the flights that go east to west cross Dubai. Most of the flights between Asia and Europe, or Asia and USA go via Dubai. Thus whether you are visiting Rome or Paris or San Diego, there are high chances you will be flying via Dubai. So, basically flying to Dubai is not at all an issue.
- October to March is the most crowded season to visit here.
- When you visit Dubai in summer or any time , it’s preferable to make your flight and hotel bookings in advance.
- Dirham is the currency of Dubai, however, US dollars are also highly accepted in tourist places. International credit cards also work on almost all shopping centers and restaurants.
- Drinking in public is prohibited in Dubai. In fact, there is a license for drinking that foreign nationals can get either online or in a bottle shop.
- Drugs usage is also highly punishable in Dubai. So, don’t carry any with you. And refrain from indulging in any.
- You might feel tempted to partying here. But playing loud music or dancing in the public is something to be avoided when in Dubai.
- It is considered rude and intrusive to snap shots of people, especially women without taking prior permission.
- Dubai, for one, has a very low crime rate. Still, it will be a good idea to take precautions with your money and valuables like you do in any other place you visit.
- Pack comfortable cloths with you. Dubai has a summer desert climate. And cotton cloths are the best suited. Pack cloths on the conservative side. And be respectful of the local customs when it comes to covering up and wearing the right cloths, particularly in public places and on beaches.
- PDA is not appreciated in Dubai.
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Dubai is such an amazing but controversial place! I went there year ago, so I imaging that a lot has changed there. As a Scandinavian, summer months might be too hot for me. We went on February and temperatures were just perfect. Not too hot but warm enough to swim and be on the beach.
You are right Paula. Summer months are harsh here. But the locals do still go about their daily activities, so we can as well visit I guess. If you consider the attractive perks of visiting off-season.
I’ve never been to Dubai and I think the only reason I wanted to go there is to see how money could built or brought ‘places’ from other part of the world to one place. Btw, how much do you need for visiting Dubai in a day?
I am really not sure about the budget part (This is a guest post), but I guess you can easily google it up. And it would depend on what activities you plan to do there, and how you plan to spend your day.
I still haven’t been to Dubai, so these activities are great! Would love to head to Jumeirah Beach, it looks like paradise right now! A great post for first-timers.
Definitely Dubai has got to offer some unique things and that is why it is fast becoming a hot destination. It is also located almost in the center of the world, approachable from all directions
Those are some use good reason to visit Dubai. Personally, for me, the single most compelling reason would be to admire and revel in the pompous show being put up by Dubai during festivities and celebrations.
Definitely Umang. It’s luxury is something to watch
Dubai looks too urban just like Singapore, so I find little reason to visit it. I’d visit Burj Khalifa if I ever go there (probably due to a stopover).
Or, you could visit the beaches and do a desert safari, post summers
Dubai is always a complete family destination. There are so many varied sights and experiences that Dubai offers to the visitors. These range from nature, culture, to adventure. Probably traveling during the Summer months , you may see lesser crowds and also get better rates.
Exactly, off season has it’s own rewards and it’s good to avail them as much as we can
Dubai , is a showcase of the achievement of mankind in terms of entertainment , comfort , technology and indulgence. There are many facets to this and of course it is how one looks at it , a place of wonders created by mankind
Truly said
My friend just flew to Dubai, her second time. I wondered why she loved it so much that she went back. I think your post just answered the question. You are right, there is so much to see and do and it is indeed beautiful looking at the photos. I almost expected that tourists would be wearing conservative swimsuits in Dubai beaches, when I googled it, I found that they at least allow women to wear a two-piece. I think if I ever go there though, it’s not during summer. I can’t even stand the heat in my own country, what more if I go there.
Wow, Dubai is really my dream country to visit. I love all the great vibes in there, and hopefully I get enough funds soon, will surely check all these amazing destination in Dubai. I actually have friends who have been to Dubai, and according to them, Dubai is really worth a visit. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
Great to know that. I wish you soon have a trip to Dubai 🙂
Despite all the excellent things on offer in Dubai (to which I still want to explore and havent got there yet), isn’t it too hot in the summer? Would love to hear your views.
It is definitely very hot in Dubai in summer. But equally cool inside the air-conditioned buildings. That’s why we have a list of indoor stuff that you can enjoy, and you don’t see something like a desert safari on this list. We believe there is always something everywhere to enjoy even in the off season, you have got to search for it.
October and April was what my friend also said when I asked him the perfect time of visiting the place. Glad you made some tips too on accommodation and going around. If ever I will end up there, I will surely visit the places you mentioned, try the food, and go shopping. I also have to laud your stunning pictures!
Definitely October – March is the tourist season and it is most crowded also. Summers are harsh in Dubai which means less crowd. And you can still enjoy a lot of indoor stuff like most of those listed in this post.
Your list is quite comprehensive and would be really useful for anyone who visits Dubai. However, I’ve experienced the heat of the summer in Dubai, and will need even more persuading to visit it again during the time.
Is it Denny? I was hopeful that it would be comfortable as long as you stay indoors and travel in AC vehicles.
i do agree at your intro that my first thought was that dubai and summer are bad combo but after reading your blog i am convinced there’s more to dubai than desert!!! it is fun to think too that an lcc in my country offers very cheap flights to dubai in summer!!! must consider this place then!!!
You are right. Thank you!
I love Dubai. I have been there several times and I just never get tired of it. I am glad I visited the place before the blockade.
Great to know that. You seem to have had a great experience every time you visited there so far
I’m totally convinced that I need to visit Dubai! Although I never considered visiting it in the summer, to be honest. Good thing to know that there are so many options to stay cool. The underwater zoo sounds pretty cool!
That’s the point Rachelle. With proper planning, indoor activities on your list, and traveling in AC vehicles, choosing an AC hotel for accommodation, you can beat the heat of even Dubai
I love Dubai! But coming from a cooler climate, I cannot quite imagine how hot it would get there in summer. I was there in March and it was already in the low 40’s C. But whenever a person, goes, it is a great place to explore a different culture and all that it has to offer.
Everyone heads there in the winter months. But, given that Dubai is known more for it’s manmade structures than natural surroundings, chances are you will be staying mostly indoors. And traveling in AC vehicles, staying in AC hotels. With that, do you think you can give it a try?
Dubai is a beautiful place, the best time to visit Dubai is New Year Time and not the summer. The temperature goes here unto 48 degree and it gets soo hard to roam.
How’s the indoors? I thought they are quiet comfortable since Dubai is one of the few places where if you plan well, you will hardly need to step outdoors
I have been to amazing Dubai and loved the Dubai creek and the Gold Souq the most! Thanks for bringing about fond memories of the trip through the blog post.
You are welcome Ambuj. It must have been a very memorable trip for you.
I wasn’t a huge fan of Dubai because it’s quite expensive for backpackers. Generally, I also don’t like going to big cities because I think there’s less cultural experience. But your post gave me a different perspective about it. There’s already a direct flight to Dubai from Manila, so why not?
You are right. Even we are fans of naturally beautiful landscapes and smaller towns and villages. Since we ourselves reside in a big city. But sometimes, particularly when you have got kids and have got to keep them entertained, visiting places like Dubai and Sydney makes sense. Since they provide so many options for kids to enjoy in particular.
I’m convinced I want to visit Dubai! The skyscrapers got me fascinated about Dubai especially. I wonder what it feels like inside Wall of Emirates shopping like the queen I am. And the Dubai Marina, this is must second to see this and I love it. Dubai is really calling me. Nice pictures you have too.
A little bit of luxurious experience, once in a while, is going to do good to us 🙂 We all want to feel like queens once in a while, isn’t it Lydia.