Dubai on a Budget

The UAE is home to some of the wealthiest people in the world. Estimates suggest that almost 1 in 100 people in Dubai is a dollar-millionaire. The country has a GDP of over 80 billion USD.

Within the last fifteen years, Dubai has gone from small fishing village, to a bustling, glittery metropolis that strives to have the biggest and best. Tallest tower? Dubai. Largest ‘London Eye’ (or as I think they need to call it: the Dub-eye 😝)? Check. Largest mall? Indoor ski slopes in a desert? Man made islands in the shapes of the world, and a palm tree? Best airline in the world? No surprises with Emirates. All of these are found in Dubai and it shows no plan to slow down.

Glittery Dubai Marina

The city is home to hundreds of expats who’ve chosen to make their home in the city. It prides itself on religious tolerance, and while most locals are Muslim, and Islam is the country’s official religion, it is not difficult to find Catholic/Protestant/Baptist/Orhodox churches beside temples and mosques.

All this aside, Dubai has become synonymous with ‘over-the-top’ luxury. A Vegas-on-steroids. Where you can buy just about anything, for a price, and no request is too extreme.

So how does this fit with a budget traveler? Is it possible?

Yes! Of course 😊

In a city with the worlds only 7-star hotel, finding accommodation for the average lowly non-millionaire can be a daunting process. But to find a sensibly priced hotel, consider staying in old Dubai. Al Raffa and the corner north-east of there is home to many excellent budget hotels where 30-40$ can get you a clean air-conditioned room with breakfast included. If you plan to stay your whole trip in the area, choose a hotel close to a metro station for easy access to malls, the marina, and downtown Dubai.

My room at the Gateway Hotel

Dubai does have a few hostels that have come up in recent years, fuelled by a backpackers desire to see the world on a budget. While they have the additional social benefits of hostel life, and the inevitable luxury of The Free Shelf, they are usually no better priced than the guest houses and hotels in and around the old town; and when the cost of a shared dorm bed and the cost of your own well-appointed room or suite in a hotel or guesthouse is the same…

Once you’ve got your accommodation set up, getting around the city is your next challenge. The metro is incredibly cheap, easy to use, and safe. While taxis/uber are cheap and plentiful, the price of a metro ride can’t be beat. Take advantage of multiple-trip cards to bring the price down even lower. Remember that women/children-only areas can be accessed for a regular price ticket, and there is no need to purchase a first class ticket. Women are allowed to travel in any car, but if you are traveling solo, this is definitely a welcome and comfortable option.

Metro station

Women/children only cabin on the metro.

Further transport includes local city buses. These often connect with metro stations, and are important to access areas that are farther from the main two metro lines.

There is also a palm monorail. This monorail connects the Dubai marina area with the end of the palm (the Atlantis hotel). The monorail is currently being added to and as a result, only three of the planned eight stops are open and it is really only useful for reaching the end of the palm, and the Aquaventure water park.

While Dubai is not necessarily known for their street food, it can be found in a variety of stores-front shops, and, surprisingly enough, by the Atlantis hotel at the end of the palm in the evenings after about 7pm. Meals run between 3-8$ for rice, sauce, and some sort of protein (could be chicken, could be camel. For that price, does it really matter, as long as it’s hot and fully cooked? FYI: camel? Super delicious).

Street Food. Are the orange bits carrot? Chicken? Sweet potato? All three it tasted like.

Obviously, grocery stores are a gold mine of cheap shopping, if you have the facilities to cook, or are purchasing fruit/vegetables etc. Most hotels have mini fridges in the rooms, which provide storage for any groceries needing refrigeration. If you’re staying in the old fort area, a large Carrefour is a short walk from many accommodations.

Thankfully, it is very easily to amuse yourself in Dubai on a budget. The city is full of stunning architecture including mosques about every 500 metres. There are many sites to see, simply by passing by them and exploring the city on foot. Bus shelters are enclosed and air conditioned and provide great short term relief from the heat; if you are adventurous/crazy enough to visit the city in the summer.

Air conditioned bus stop.

Additionally, Dubai is home to many of the worlds largest malls. While shopping is usually an unnecessary additional expense, people watching in an air-conditioned mall is an excellent way to relax away from the heat outside.

Many of Dubai’s best tourist attractions offer significant discounts to teachers, students, children, families, etc, and there is often a free time to entre (often this is within an hour or two of closing on a certain evening – call ahead or ask at your hotels front desk.)

Finally, Dubai has some incredible beaches that are 100% free to enjoy. While the private beaches on the palm are only for guests, there are over a dozen beautiful beaches that are for public use along the Arabic sea.