I came back to Dubai, and the question is: How much does it cost to travel to Dubai? If you want to know my budget for a trip to Dubai for a week, which would be the recommended time, I leave it below. Below I propose my 7-day route for a cost of 1,278 USD / 26,000 MXN per person, and here I explain.
How much does a hotel cost in Dubai?
Dubai is a city that has focused on tourism as one of its development engines. Therefore, it is possible to find hotels for all budgets.
- The hostels beginning to appear in the city offer beds from 15 USD. However, the well-rated ones like Bombay Backpackers start at $30 per night per person. Details here.
- A night in a 3-star hotel for two people is between 47 USD and 261 USD.
- If you are looking for a luxury hotel in the city center, you have to prepare to pay from 300 to 800 USD per night. Check out more at Today In Dubai.
- If you want to experience the maximum luxury in the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, famous for being the only 7-star hotel in the world, you will have to pay at least 1000 USD there (in the low season). You can find all the details here.
I suggest you reserve around 120 USD per night for a moderate trip. A budget will be more than enough in hotels like The Tryp, where I have stayed on several occasions. If you travel accompanied, it would be 60 USD per person, and for seven nights of travel, 420 USD. Hotel details here.
How much does transportation cost in Dubai?
Subway fares start at 3 AED (less than 1 USD) for regular class and 6 AED for gold (1.6 USD). However, everything will depend on the distance you travel (how many zones), the type of ticket you buy, and the class you want to travel in (believe it or not, we have regular golf courses).
There are also unlimited 7-day area travel cards ideal for travelers ranging from AED 50 or USD 13 to AED 110 or USD 30. However, if your idea is to get around the metro and leave the city, it may be convenient for you to pay for your NOL card with 50 AED credit (15 USD) and use it per trip. That budget can be more than enough for a week and can even help you get to and from the airport.
How much does it cost to eat in Dubai?
A difficult question to answer if we consider that in Dubai, you will find fast food alternatives for 5 USD and luxury options of more than 700 USD for a single dinner. A moderate breakfast, lunch, and dinner budget would be around 40-50 USD per day.
The budget can be reduced if you opt for fast food alternatives in the many shopping centers in the city, if you go to local restaurants and, of course, if you buy food in supermarkets. I found fast-food packages from 10 AED or less than 3 USD on my last trip. Know more about Bosporus Turkish Restaurant In Dubai.
How much do the main attractions in Dubai cost?
If Dubai has a reputation for being expensive, it is primarily due to its attractions. Here are some of the prices of the most popular activities:
- Climbing the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, costs 43 USD. However, the most popular alternative is the one that includes the 148th floor and costs 103 USD. Buy your ticket up to the 148th floor here.
- Entrance to the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, located in the Dubai Mall, costs 46 USD.
- The famous afternoon tea at the Sky bar costs AED 635 to 1,030 (USD 170 to 280), depending on the menu and table chosen. If you want an alternative already with transportation from your hotel, you can book here for 245 USD.
- Global Village: the complex where you can find shops, restaurants, and replicas of the main monuments of the world costs 15 AED (4 USD) to enter. Details of this place are here.
- Miracle Garden – The world's most extensive garden created in the desert can be visited for 50 AED or 15 USD. More details here.
How much do short breaks from Dubai cost?
Dubai desert
A visit to the Middle East could not be complete without visiting the desert, and Dubai has one. There are guided dunes tours with dinner from 60 USD (1,200 MXN), and you can hire them here.
Visit Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is not only the neighboring emirate of Dubai but also a place where you will find many activities. So Abu Dhabi could be a trip in itself, but it is also a getaway from Dubai, which is why I include it in this count. The cost starts at 90 USD.
What to do for free in Dubai?
However, if your budget is not exactly loose, Dubai has the advantage of having a wide variety of free activities and some very cheap. For example, visiting the Dubai museum costs less than 1 USD. Here is a list of 10 things you can do for free or almost free in Dubai.
In summary… how much does it cost to travel to Dubai?
A 7-day route can cost you 841 USD and includes:
- move by subway
- Lodging of 3 stars (or 4 in low season) sharing with another person.
- A day in Abu Dhabi visiting the Mosque
- a day in the desert
- Climb the Burj Khalifa
- Go to eat at the Burj Al Arab hotel
- Visit Miracle Garden
- Visit Global Village
- Meals in local restaurants, fast food, and hotel
How much is the flight to Dubai?
This answer will depend on where you travel and the time. If it is from the main European cities, you can find round flights from 200 USD, while if you travel from Mexico, the flights are generally between 1000 and 1500 USD (20 and 30 thousand pesos). If you want more details about how much a flight to Dubai costs from Mexico and different parts of the world, click here.
