Make it a trip · Dubai, United Arab Emirates
What Dubai costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around Downtown and Dubai Marina.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Dorm bed, three cheap meals, getting around, a coffee, two beers and water.
Private room, a cheap lunch, dinner out (your half), a coffee, two beers, two rides and the top sight.
Half a villa or 4-star room, two meals out, a coffee, two beers and the signature experience.
Arriving
-
Metro from the airport to Downtown Fixed
Red Line, about 30 minutes; buy a Nol card at the station. Fares go by zone.
Sources: Property Finder, Dubai Metro fares (2026), Trip.com, Dubai Metro 2026 (2026)
AED 5 to AED 7.50 Book an airport pickup
Getting around
-
Metro or bus ride Many reports
A Silver Nol card costs AED 25 with AED 19 of credit.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 5 -
Metro day pass Fixed
Unlimited metro, tram and bus for a day.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
€5.50 -
Car hire, per day, from Range
Add Salik road tolls and parking. Driving is fast and roads are wide.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
€25 Compare cars
Eating and drinking
-
Meal at a cheap restaurant Many reports
Biryani or a grill in Deira or Karama costs much less.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 47 -
AED 35
-
Dinner for two, three courses Many reports
A mid-range restaurant, without drinks. Alcohol is only served at licensed hotels and bars.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 300 -
AED 22
-
Beer at a bar, half a litre Many reports
Only licensed venues serve alcohol. Ladies nights and brunches are the cheap way to drink.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 50
At the supermarket
-
Water, 1.5 litres Many reports
Tap water is desalinated and safe, but most people drink bottled.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 2.30 -
AED 6
-
Beer, half a litre, to take away Many reports
Sold only in licensed liquor stores like MMI and African + Eastern. Never drink in public.
Source: Numbeo, Dubai (2026-10)
AED 9.70 -
Shawarma, from Range
Usually 3 to 5 EUR. The cheapest good meal in Dubai, best in Deira and Satwa.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
€3
Doing
-
Burj Khalifa, At the Top levels 124 and 125 Fixed
Adult, non-prime hours. Sunset slots cost about AED 250. Book online; the gate charges more.
Sources: Platinumlist, At the Top Burj Khalifa (2026), Travjoy, Burj Khalifa 2026 (2026)
AED 173 Get tickets -
Evening desert safari with BBQ dinner Range
Dune bashing, camel ride and a camp dinner, with hotel pickup. Prices rise 15 to 25% from November to March.
Sources: The Better Vacation, desert safari price (2026), Dubai Desert Safari, prices and packages (2026)
AED 210 to AED 228 Get tickets -
Abu Dhabi day tour, shared, from Range
Grand Mosque and the Corniche, 8 to 10 hours. The public bus there costs about AED 25.
Source: Travjoy, Abu Dhabi tours from Dubai 2026 (2026)
AED 150 Book the tour
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed, from Range
Usually 30 to 50 EUR. Most hostels are in Deira, Bur Dubai and Al Barsha.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
€30 Find a hostel -
Budget hotel, Deira or Bur Dubai, from Range
Usually 40 to 70 EUR. Close to the metro and souks.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
-
Three or four-star hotel, from Range
Usually 80 to 150 EUR. Prices jump in December and drop sharply in summer.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
€80 Find a hotel -
Holiday apartment, central, from Range
Usually 50 to 80 EUR. Short-let apartments in the Marina and JLT.
Source: Simbye, Dubai vacation cost (2025-10)
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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