Travel guide
Dubai travel guide
Planning a trip to Dubai
Dubai can be done at a surprisingly moderate cost if you skip the headline luxuries and focus on the metro, malls, old town and beaches, or at a very high cost if you add desert resorts and fine dining. Hotels and attractions are the big variable.
Best time to go
November to March has pleasant weather and is the peak season with the highest hotel rates. Summer, from about June to September, is extremely hot and humid, and prices drop sharply. Ramadan dates shift each year: dining hours and entertainment change, so check dates when planning.
Where to stay
Deira and Bur Dubai are older and cheaper, with easy metro access and the creek. Downtown and Dubai Marina are modern and pricier. Hotels add a per-room, per-night tourism fee at checkout that depends on the hotel class, so confirm whether it is included in the quoted rate.
Getting around
The Dubai Metro and trams are clean and affordable with a Nol card. Taxis are metered and plentiful, and ride apps work too. Distances are large between districts, so cluster activities in one area per day.
How to spend less
- Wander the older districts such as Al Fahidi, the souks and a short abra boat ride across the creek, which cost very little.
- Public beaches such as JBR are free, unlike many hotel beach clubs.
- Use malls for cool, free sights and food courts for cheaper meals.
- Book observation decks and theme parks in advance to avoid walk-up prices.
Common mistakes
Dressing without thinking about context. Beachwear is fine at beaches and pools, but cover shoulders and knees in malls, mosques and older districts. Public behavior rules are stricter than in many countries, so read the official guidance first.