DUBAI travel guide with budget travel plan

This detailed DUBAI travel guide was created with plenty of help from pals who are based in Dubai. It has recommendations on where to stay, what excursions to take, and how much to spend. Our sample DUBAI travel plan below also has a in-depth budget breakdown! delighted planning!

A mixture of sadness, pride, and happiness enveloped my heart when a very dear pal announced that she had been reassigned to their company’s UAE office. sadness because I was losing yet another pal to a faraway land. We had been very close, and the thought of not being able to regularly see her or speak to her brought tears to my eyes. pride because this was the promotion she had been hoping for. and joy, because — and I’m embarrassed to admit this — I finally found a reason to check out Dubai.

Well, in true Catriona gray fashion, I’m always that person who finds a silver lining and makes a run for it. Months later, I was in Dubai.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

UNDERSTANDING DUBAI
WHERE TO stay IN DUBAIBest area to stay in Dubai
Top budget hotels in Dubai
Top Dubai Hostels and Dorms
Search for a lot more Dubai Hotels!

HOW TO get TO DUBAIDUBAI airport TO CITY CENTER

HOW TO get around DUBAIUnderstanding Nol Cards
Wifi Rental and local SIM in Dubai
By Metro
By Taxi
By Uber or Careem
By Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

THINGS TO do in DUBAIBurj Khalifa observation Deck
Dubai Desert Safari
IMG Worlds of Adventure
Legoland Dubai
Dubai City Tour
Dubai Mall
Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai
Wild Wadi Water Park
Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beaches
Dubai miracle Garden
Global Village

SAMPLE DUBAI ITINERARY
MORE DUBAI ideas FOR THE poor TRAVELER
FREQUENTLY ASKED questions about DUBAIIs Dubai safe?
Do we need a visa to check out Dubai?
When is the best time to check out Dubai?
What type of power plug / socket is used in Dubai?
What is the tipping custom-made in Dubai?
What is the escalator etiquette in Dubai?

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

UNDERSTANDING DUBAI

Dubai is a true global city, where people from all around the world come together. It is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The other six are Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain.

Although Dubai City is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, it is not the federal capital of the UAE. That title belongs to Abu Dhabi. Yet, Dubai is the most populous, with the greatest fraction of the population composed of migrant workers, like the rest of the country. For many, like my friend, it is a land of opportunity. much of the economy is driven by foreign migrant workers, which make up 80% of UAE’s population and 90% of its workforce.

Dubai is also the most popular destination among tourists, registering an estimated 16.7 million visitors in 2018 alone. Dubai has become the region’s banner city for opulence and grandeur. It is well-known for its ambitious projects like its man-made offshore islands and towering skyscrapers like Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the world.

Here are a lot more facts about this city.

Location: Dubai Emirate, United Arab Emirates. UAE lies on the southeastern chunk of the Arabian peninsula in Western Asia (what lots of westerners like to call the middle East). The UAE shares its borders with Saudi Arabia to the south and Oman to the east. Coordinates: 25°15′47″N 55°17′50″E.

Time Zone: UTC+4 (UAE conventional Time). Dubai is 4 hours behind the Philippines, Singapore or Malaysia; and 5 hours behind Japan.

Language: Arabic is the national language and the official language of the UAE. but English is the second language and is widely spoken.

Currency: UAE dirham (AED, Dhs, د.إ). AED 1 is roughly equivalent to PHP14, USD 0.27, SGD 0.37, EUR 0.24 (as of July 2019).

Modes of Payment: cash and credit scores cards are both frequently accepted.

WHERE TO stay IN DUBAI

Dubai is a coastal city, a long stretch of concrete caught between the waves of the Persian Gulf and the dunes of the huge Arabian Desert. The city is divided into several districts but these are what tourists must be a lot more familiar with.

Downtown Dubai. If you haven’t been to Dubai, this is probably the image that first pops in your head when you think of the city. downtown Dubai is where you’ll find some of the city’s a lot of famous structures including Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and Dubai Mall, one of the world’s largest shopping complexes. It is also often called the new Dubai.

Dubai Marina. This is one of the most optimal places to stay in the city, which is probably why a lot of European expats live here. It is hemmed in by a beach and is easily accessible. It is also close to a lot of attractions.

Jumeirah Beach. another seaside district that is linked to nearly anywhere in the city. Jumeirah is centrally located, surrounded by the Marina, the downtown area, and the Old City. It is home to diverse communities including Europeans, Pakistanis, and Filipinos.

Al Barsha. situated between Marina and Jumeirah. The terrific thing about this area is that it is well-connected to the rest of the city. You’ll also find several mid-range hotels here.

Bur Dubai. The heart and soul of Dubai. When they say Old City, they normally indicate Bur Dubai. This was the center of the city before all the developments happened. If you want a a lot more cultural and historical technique to your trip, this is the place to be. lots of lively souks (bazaars), standard structures, assorted restaurants, and low-cost accommodations.

Deira. generally considered an extension of the Old City. think of it as a a lot more modern Bur Dubai, also with plenty of budget-friendly dining, shopping, and lodging options. the best part about Deira is its proximity to the airport.

Best area to stay in Dubai

What’s the best area? It depends on what you want to experience and how much you’re ready to spend. The downtown and Marina areas are closest to the modern attractions but are notably expensive. When you search for hotels online, don’t be shocked to see hotels at USD 400 to 1000 per night. Dubai is widely considered a luxury destination, so there are dozens of luxury hotels especially in these areas. There are a few a lot more budget-friendly options.

Bur Dubai and Deira offer a a lot more standard experience at a substantially lower price. If you’re on a budget, Bur Dubai and Deira may offer a lot more options that are within your spending range. You can find a double room at a terrific hotel for USD 100 per night. budget hotels are also available, using much more affordable rooms.

Top budget hotels in Dubai

Rove City Centre. image supplied by Agoda.

Rove City Centre. check rates & Availability! ✅

Rove trade Centre. check rates & Availability! ✅

Rose Park hotel Al Barsha. check rates & Availability! ✅

Roda links Al Nasr. check rates & Availability! ✅

Zabeel house tiny Al Seef. check rates & Availability! ✅

Top Dubai Hostels and Dorms

AtTheTop Bed & Breakfast. photo courtesy of Agoda.
A a lot more pocket-friendly option is staying at a hostel. Although very few of them are available, they are all around the city, even in the pricier districts. You can find a dorm bed for USD 20 to 30 per night.

Here are some Dubai hostels that can be booked by means of Agoda.

AtTheTop Bed & Breakfast. check rates & Availability! ✅

Backpacker 16 Dubai Hostel. check rates & Availability! ✅

California Hostel Dubai Beach. check rates & Availability! ✅

Super Stay. check rates & Availability! ✅

Search for a lot more Dubai Hotels!

HOW TO get TO DUBAI

Dubai is served by two airports: Dubai international airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum international airport (DWC).

Dubai international airport (DXB). located northeast of the city center, near Deira. DXB is the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic. DXB is also the hub for airlines Emirates and flydubai. These two airlines alone connect Dubai to over 150 cities around the globe.

Al Maktoum international airport (DWC). located south of the city center. only a handful of commercial flights are operated here, mostly by Russia’s flag carrier Aeroflot and European affordable airlines like Wizz Air. a lot of flights are seasonal.

If you’re coming from Manila, the least expensive non-stop flights are operated by Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines. Here’s a quick random search on SkyScanner.

Emirates often minimize their rates when there’s a promo.

All three airlines use DXB. travel time from Manila is normally 9 hours, 30 minutes.

DUBAI airport TO CITY CENTER

The good news is, the Dubai international airport is situated not too far from the city center. In fact, you can get to Bur Dubai in 15 minutes or Deira in 5 minutes. here are some of your options.

BY METRO. Dubai airport is directly connected to the metro system, so just find out the metro station closest to your hotel. Both Terminals 1 and 3 have their own metro station. There’s one train leaving either station every 10 minutes.
Operating hours: Saturday-Wednesday, 5:50am-12 midnight; Thursday, 5:30am-1am; Friday, 1pm-1am.
Travel time: 15-20 minutes to Bur Dubai/Downtown, 2-5 minutes to Deira
Fare: AED5 to Bur Dubai/Downtown, AED3-5 to Deira,

BY TAXI. There’s a cab queue ideal outside the terminal. For taxis picked up at the airport, a flagdown rate of AED25 applies. Then, AED1.96 is charged per succeeding km.
Travel time: 10 minutes to Deira, 15-20 minutes to Bur Dubai or Downtown
Estimated fare: AED50-60 to Bur Dubai, AED 60-70 to Downtown.

BY UBER/CAREEM. Uber operates in Dubai, so if you’re a lot more comfortable with it, you can use this app to reach the city effortlessly. aside from Uber, there’s also Careem, another transportation app, which you can use to book a private automobile or even taxi.

Note that if you decide to take the metro, you’re allowed only 2 suitcases and you need to store them in dedicated areas.

HOW TO get around DUBAI

Dubai has one of the most advanced transportation system in the region, with a very uncomplicated metro, plenty of ride-sharing options, and the normal taxi service. but before we delve deeper into each, it is crucial to be familiar with the carry zones.

The city’s public transportation network is run and managed by roads and carry Authority (RTA), a branch of the local government. The agency has centralized all modes of transportation into a system that appears intimidating at first, but is a lot more forgiving once you get the hang of it.

The city is divided into seven fare zones. but for tourists, a lot of of the points of interest are within Zones 2, 6 and 5.

Image courtesy of RTA
Here are the zones that cover some of the most checked out areas:

Zone 2: Dubai Marina, the palm Jumeirah, Al Barsha

Zone 6: downtown Dubai (Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall), Bur Dubai

Zone 7: Deira, Dubai international Airport

You can use RTA’s journey Planner to figure out the best route you can take and the corresponding fare. The fare depends on the number of zones your journey will straddle and the type of ticket you use. speaking of tickets…

Understanding Nol Cards

Nol cards are reloadable cards that give you easy access to Dubai’s public transportation system including the metro, buses, trams, and the Dubai ferry. All you need to do is hover the card above the reader and go. It’s similar to Hong Kong’s Octopus card or Singapore’s EZ card, but because of the zonal fares, it’s actually much closer to Melbourne’s myki, if you’re familiar with it.

There are four cards available: red, silver, gold, and blue (personalized). assuming that you’re staying in Dubai for a short time, let’s just focus on the RED TICKET because it’s the most suitable for tourists.

The RED Ticket is a disposable paper ticket that you can top up. Here’s what you need to know about it.

Price: AED 6 (AED 2 for the actual card and AED 4 balance that you can use immediately)

Reload limit: Can only be used up to 10 single journeys or 5 daily passes. (I’ll describe these daily passes later).

Types: It can only be used on one mode of transportation at a time. For example, METRO only or BUS only. You cannot use one card for metro and then a bus later. You will have to get separate tickets if you change the mode of transport.

Validity: Valid for 90 days.

For short-term visitors, the RED Ticket is typically sufficient. but if you’re interested in other types, we have a separate post for it.

If you feel like you’ll be taking public transportation multiple times a day, you might want to consider purchasing a pass instead of paying for every single ride. purchasing a pass indicates you get to use the metro or bus for an unrestricted number of times within the covered period.

The pass comes in five variants, identified by number of days: 1-day, 7-day, 30-day, 90-day and 365-day passes.

A 1-Day Pass that covers all zones costs AED 22 (AED 2 for the card + AED 20 balance).

Note that your RED TICKET need to have a minimum balance equivalent to 1 trip or 1 daily pass. other cards need to have a minimum of AED 7.5. spot checks are done, and penalties apply.

Wifi Rental and local SIM in Dubai

For extra help when navigating or taking public transportation around Dubai, stay connected! A good Internet connection will allow you to use travel apps like Google Maps and Uber. You can also use one of the lots of Dubai Metro apps available.

Klook uses pocket wifi devices for rent and local data SIM cards that you can pick up at Dubai international Airport. choose whatever is better for you. Both options will give you access to the city’s 4G/LTE network. If you’re a group, the pocket wi-fi might be a lot more convenient.

✅ RESERVE A POCKET WI-FI HERE!

✅ get A data SIM HERE!

By Metro

Dubai Metro links a lot of of the city’s a lot of popular attractions. It is composed of only two lines: RED and GREEN. It’s also easy to use. just touch on your Nol card as you pass through the gates and make your way to the platforms to catch a train.