In only a couple decades, Dubai has earned a reputation as one of the world’s greatest shopping destinations as well as a great place to soak up some sunshine in the winter months. There may not be much history to speak of in Dubai, but there is actually a lot more to see and do here than you might expect.
Dubai is a pretty amazing place by any definition and it’s worth seeing in person at least once. Since almost everything is brand-new, it has a very unusual feel to it and it’s all very well organized.
If you do your research your travel funds can go very far in Dubai, so it’s actually a great-value destination and not only for the rich and famous. Literally all of the signs are in English alongside Arabic, so English speakers can do anything they like with no language barrier.
| Population | 2,300,000 |
| Area | 3,500,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+4 |
| Currency | UAE dirham |
| Airports | Dubai International Airport (DXB) |
It’s true that Dubai has a great number of huge (and wonderfully air-conditioned) shopping malls, and even those who don’t care for shopping will at least want to see what they are all about. The famous indoor ski slope is worth a look even if you don’t plan on actually skiing.
Dubai does have some really nice beaches including some public family-style beaches.
The Dubai nightlife is also notorious in the region. It’s true that the only legal bars are ones that are attached to hotels, but it’s also true that Dubai has hundreds of bars and some hotels have 5 or 6 different watering holes. Drink prices are quite high and happy hour deals are only a small relief.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 40.00 - 72.00 |
| 47.00 - 99.00 |
| 47.00 - 161.00 |
| 51.00 - 332.00 |
| 75.00 - 501.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 19.99 - 22.99 |
Food does tend to be quite expensive in the sit-down restaurants in hotels and otherwise aimed at tourists, but there are plenty of reasonably priced options that are mostly there to serve the city’s ever-expanding international population. In other words, eating out in Dubai can be cheap if you follow the local workers or somewhat expensive if you follow the tourists and other expats. Drinks, however, are only available in hotels and licensed shops, and prices are quite high. This isn’t the place to come to be a cheap drunk. Many of the top attractions are fairly pricey so you might want to check our Go Dubai Card review as a way to save money.
| Budget breakfast | Your hotel is likely to include breakfast, otherwise you'll have options in all price ranges nearby. | $3.81 - $6.81 |
| Budget lunch | Shawarmas are everywhere and usually cheap, and many Western fast food options are there as well. | $4.90 - $8.17 |
| Budget dinner | Proper sit-down restaurants can range from incredibly cheap Indian places on up to the sky. You might have to look around for the best values. | $8.17 - $10.90 |
| Beer (pint) | Only licensed night clubs and hotel bars serve alcohol in Dubai, and it's always expensive. | $7.63 - $10.90 |
| Shawarma | These local sandwiches are hard to miss and make a great budget meal or snack. | $1.63 - $2.45 |
There are hop-on, hop-off tours of Dubai, but the city is so spread out and hot during summer that they aren’t a great option for many. Fortunately, the Dubai Metro system is fast, cheap, air-conditioned, and it stops near all of the malls and other main points of interest.
There is a free bus tour of the new Downtown Dubai area, and that is worth a try when you are visiting the Burj Khalifa.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 58 | 0.6 |
| February | 78 | 60 | 1.0 |
| March | 83 | 64 | 0.8 |
| April | 91 | 69 | 0.3 |
| May | 100 | 76 | 0.0 |
| June | 103 | 81 | 0.0 |
| July | 105 | 86 | 0.0 |
| August | 106 | 86 | 0.0 |
| September | 102 | 82 | 0.0 |
| October | 96 | 75 | 0.0 |
| November | 87 | 68 | 0.1 |
| December | 79 | 61 | 0.6 |
Dubai has a very predictable climate, with almost no rain at any time during the year. Most will find that from November through April the city is pleasantly warm during the day and at night, but starting in May the heat can become unbearable and it stays that way for six months. At least the humidity is relatively low for most of the year.
| 21 Mar | 6:22am | 6:30pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:29am | 7:12pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:07am | 6:17pm |
| 21 Dec | 7:00am | 5:34pm |
Dubai has a reputation for being very expensive, and it’s still mostly deserved, but new hotels and affordable restaurants keep opening so it’s now within the budget of many backpacker-types. Those who are interested in seeing what all the fuss is about can now usually find an affordable hotel and meals, at least outside of the peak season.
During December and January the Dubai hotels charge their highest rates so this is a time to avoid for those on a budget. Otherwise you can often find very good hotel rates at some of the newer and nicer places. Most hotels are modern and clean, and are of international standards.
Dubai hotels are at their most expensive during the Christmas and New Year’s weeks, with the general high season lasting from September through May. Low season is the warmest months, from June through August, and during this period it’s possible to get some very good deals at hotels, especially near the top of the price range, as long as you can stand the heat.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 40.00 - 72.00 |
| 47.00 - 99.00 |
| 47.00 - 161.00 |
| 51.00 - 332.00 |
| 75.00 - 501.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 19.99 - 22.99 |
Unless you are coming from Abu Dhabi, you are almost certainly going to fly into the enormous and impressive Dubai International Airport. There are great fares from all over the world into Dubai and the transportation system from the airport to the rest of the city is fantastic since it’s conveniently located on the Metro system.
Taxis in Dubai are quite modern and affordable so they are a great option for groups in particular. The Metro system is all above ground and it’s a pretty amazing thing to experience all by itself. It’s fast and cheap, which also helps.
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to city center | 6.81 - 20.44 |
| Metro from airport to city center | 0.68 - 1.23 |
| 3km taxi ride in Dubai | 2.25 - 3.27 |
| Metro ride in Dubai | 0.54 - 4.63 |
| Ferry across Dubai Creek | 0.27 |