Dubai is one of the most spectacular cities in the world with some of the most extraordinary attractions. The city is located in the United Arab Emirates. It is an international center of tourism, education, finance, and science. It also gained prominence due to its main source of income, oil. Dubai ranks as one of the top cities in the world with several tourists visiting yearly. So there is going to be a question you need answers to. Like how to see Dubai on a budget?. The city has over 4 million visitors yearly attending events like the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Dubai Summer Surprises. Dubai is quite popular for its vibrant nightlife. The city also hosts large shopping malls with its mall being the largest in the world.
The city itself is a marvel, coming a long way from a small pearling town to a huge metropolitan city. Dubai’s skyline is unrivaled to the world with several high-rise buildings including the Burj Khalifa the tallest building in the world. There is certainly no doubt about the city’s place in the list of the most popular tourist destinations on the globe (I mean how many cities can compete with that).
In this article, I’ll be giving essential tips and recommendations on how to see the city of Dubai on a budget. Things most people don’t know about traveling is that it can be cheaper than what most people paint it to look like.
1.Adequate planning.
Dubai is certainly one of the most popular vacation destinations for travel enthusiasts. It is expensive due to its numerous luxurious hotels, the world’s best shopping malls, and gourmet food places. Despite this, you can still see the city on a budget. But it is very important to make the necessary plans and arrangements to see this dream through. It is essential to consider several things when preparing for the trip. You will need to start saving, cutting down costs, and getting more information on how to make your trip less expensive. One of the most crucial processes that travelers fail to do is saving. At the moment you decide to go on the trip you will need to start saving every penny.
Saving is important because it helps you to monitor your funds and gives you an idea of how much you can keep.
It is necessary to get all the information you need to know about a trip to Dubai, examples include air tickets, visas, accommodation, food, etc. Without this information, you would be flying into unknown territory. It is important to also study the culture, a good example is a law in Dubai that states that one must not be indecent, and the law that prevents any public show of intimacy like kissing. With all this, it will be easy to know how to see Dubai on a budget.
2.Affordable flight packages.
Searching for affordable flight packages can be quite tedious but with the right agency and proper guidance, you can make a pretty good choice without having to spend as much. To get the best air ticket, you should book your ticket to Dubai in advance. Especially when special sales or discounted sales are going on at a recognized (recognized because you don’t want to pay money for a scam) airline website. Several airlines fly daily to Dubai due to its popularity, and airlines offer promotions so keep an eye out for them. Examples of such airlines are Etihad and Emirates. These airlines keep running lists of special fares and constantly show the featured fares from your country. You can also pick a budget-friendly airline like Fly Dubai which offers even better deals, others include Indigo and Spicejet.
The UAEs local airlines also give access to special tourist offers and discounts in Dubai. This is a splendid opportunity to save more on your air ticket. One of these astonishing discounts you can get is by visiting Dubai before the end of August. This allows you access to a 40% discount at some dining places and spas just by showing your Emirates boarding pass.
3.The best budget Dubai hotels.
The hotels in Dubai are well known for their luxury and beauty. The most expensive and high-rated hotel being the Burj Al Arab. This hotel may be the world’s only 7-star awarded hotel. You can also find cheaper hotels in the city. In Dubai, the closer you are to the beaches and shopping malls, the more you pay. It is better to find lodging in the older parts of the city where pricing is moderate and cheaper. Also, check out Airbnb listings for inexpensive accommodation. Dubai has a thriving real estate market and there are plenty of gorgeous apartments out there. Airbnb provides the owners of those apartments the opportunity to rent them out to tourists, often for a cheaper per-night fee than they would pay at a hotel. If you don’t require a lot of amenities, Airbnb can provide you with cheap, comfortable housing for your stay.
4.Free and cheap things to do.
There are several free things you can do in the city, thereby saving you some cash. On how to see Dubai on a budget theme, some great sightseeing places in Dubai like the Dubai Miracle Garden and the Palm Jumeirah are the must-see places. But they require an expensive entry fee. Moving along from this, many other places do not require such much fees. Here are a few of them;
The Dubai Mall.
The Dubai Mall is the largest in the world with several attractions and shops. The exciting thing about the mall is that entrance is free. There are cool things to see without having to pay a dime. If you’re pretty keen on photography this is one of the best places to take photos. Make sure to get photos of the massive dinosaur skeleton, the marine life visible from the outside at the Dubai Aquarium, and the beautiful light-and-water shows.
The Beaches
Dubai is home to some of the most vibrant beaches. Dubai has 40 kilometers of beautiful, sandy beaches, and visitors can enjoy a sunny day at the Jumeirah Beach Park for only 5 dirhams per person. The family-friendly park has shady areas, a fast-food café, and sun loungers.
The Dubai Museum
The Dubai museum was once a fortress in which weapons were kept. It was later renovated and used as the Dubai museum. the museum has several collections that depict the history and culture of the city. Although getting into the museum is not free, it is very affordable at 3 dirhams for adults and 1 dirham for children. The best thing about the museum is that guided tours are free, and you will get a comprehensive history lesson of the city without paying extra.
The Grand Mosque
Opposite the Dubai Museum is the beautiful Grand Mosque. It is an iconic structure that reflects the great cultural and religious heritage of Dubai. It is the center of worship for Muslims in the city.
5.Budget-friendly shopping.
Shopping is an essential part of traveling. It allows you to purchase souvenirs and keepsakes to remember your trip. Shopping in Dubai would be a breeze for you. The city is well known to have a wide range of items that are cheaper than in the outside world. Some of these include electronics, mobile phones, laptops, chocolates, clothing, and other accessories. If you love to shop and do not mind bargaining, you can get cheaper items in the city. There are a wide variety of souks here, from textile souks to perfume souks and gold souks. Shopping should always be on your how to see Dubia on a budget bucket list.
6.Affordable meals.
Like other popular cities, you can find a large variety of cuisine in restaurants and food places in most of the city. From European, Asian, and American cuisine everything is readily available at a cost. But some of these restaurants lean more to the luxurious side serving gourmet meals at high prices. In your low-budget travel, it is important to take note of the kind of food you are eating and from what place you are going to eat. Somehow affordable meals point should be fourth on how to see Dubai on a budget bucket list.
Some parts of the city, there can be different price ranges for food just as in hotels. In the parts closer to the beach and shopping malls food can cost a lot, compared to the older quieter suburbs where food is cheaper. Some of the reasonably priced restaurants include the Delhi Darbar which serves Indian and Arabic cuisine, the iconic Ravi Restaurant in Al Satwa, the Al-Ustad Special Kebab, and the Arz Lebanon. These restaurants serve some of the best cuisines, with wide choices of Middle Eastern, Lebanese, and Chinese food around town with a variety of inexpensive and tasty dishes to choose from. For other budget-friendly dishes, try restaurants like Zaatar Z Weit and Zaroob.
7.Getting around the city on a budget.
The city has several means of transport. Some of the prominent ones are taxis and the metro. Taxis tend to cost more and since you’re running on a budget it is advisable to go the cheaper way – the metro. The metro is way cheaper and efficient, especially if you’d be going on longer journeys in the city. Dubai offers the cheapest Metro tickets in the world. The Nol card retails starting at 1.8 dirhams. Other public transport choices include the Tram, Buses, and Water taxis. Dubai recently introduced the innovative rental bike scheme, where you can rent a bike for 15 dirhams for 30 minutes. You can enjoy the city’s best views on a bicycle. It is also very necessary to protect your skin by wearing sunscreen.
If you have a travel plan in the future to Dubai, this article is the best guide on how to see Dubai on a budget.