How much does it cost to travel to Dubai: budget and tips

Traveling to Dubai is a highly recommended experience. The Emirate city is probably the most extravagant place we have ever visited. The contrast of its huge skyscrapers with the old part of the city is very striking. It is usually one of those destinations that you love or hate, so it is very worthwhile to discover it first-hand. It is also interesting to discover other beautiful places to see in the United Arab Emirates. We tell you how much it costs to travel to Dubai with a detailed budget so you can get a clear idea.

How Much Does It Cost To Travel To Dubai

Flights to Dubai

The first step to travel to Dubai is to book the flights. There are direct routes from Barcelona and Madrid with the Emirates airline. You can get a round trip for about €400. But the truth is that most visitors to Dubai take the opportunity to visit the city during a stopover with this airline before continuing to their final destination. We recommend you play with the dates to find the most economical combination if this is your case. Another option is to fly to Dubai with a layover. It is ideal if you want to save or leave from an airport other than Barcelona or Madrid. You can find flights for only €250 round trip with companies like Turkish Airlines, Lufhansa or Swiss. In any case, we tell you how to get from the airport to the city center once you land in Dubai. As with all trips, we recommend booking your flights a few months in advance to find the best prices. After hours on Skyscanner, we’ve put together a guide with 10 useful tips for finding the best flight deals.

Dubai is an amazing city
Dubai is an amazing city

Also Read: Best time to travel in Dubai

How much does accommodation cost in Dubai

Accommodation is an important part to consider when calculating how much it costs to travel to Dubai. If there is one thing for sure, it is that you will not lack a hotel offer to choose where to sleep in the city. There are all kinds of hotels and apartments. Although Dubai has a reputation for being a city full of luxuries, the truth is that you can find double rooms with everything you need for €30 a night. We stayed at the CityMax Bur Dubai paying only €144 for 4 nights. Of course, if you put your mind to it, you can also spend hundreds of euros per night in the spectacular luxury hotels. In fact, did you know that Dubai has the most luxurious hotel in the world? The Burj Al Arab has become another attraction in the city thanks to its characteristic sail shape over the sea. We leave you an article where we recommend the best areas of the city to sleep , as well as our favorite hotels and apartments.

Transportation in Dubai

The cost of transport in Dubai will depend a lot on the option you choose. In most big cities we never recommend renting a car, but Dubai is an exception. Basically because the public transport system has a lot of room for improvement. So, if you have a few days to get to know the city, the most practical thing is to rent a vehicle to be able to go at your own pace. The cheapest is to use public transport , which is also no drama! The metro does not reach all corners of the city. But there are plenty of bus lines that will take you pretty much anywhere. We recommend you take out daily passes with which you can make unlimited trips for 20AED (5€). Another option that is also quite common is to travel by taxi. The prices are quite affordable and many times they are the best option to avoid making several transfers. For example, a 25-kilometre route cost us about €15. It is easy to find taxis in the most touristic places, otherwise you can always use Uber. We made a few taxi rides and spent around €30.

The Burj Al Arab icon of the city
The Burj Al Arab icon of the city

How much does food cost in Dubai

The price of food should not be a concern when calculating the budget to travel to Dubai. In such a multicultural city there are countless gastronomic options, for all tastes and pockets. We leave you a selection of our favorite cheap restaurants in Dubai. It is easy to find restaurants with very diverse cuisines for around €10 a plate. If you are not sure what you want, go to the food court of any shopping center. You will surely find something to your liking! If you dare with traditional food places you can eat shawarma, hummus and other typical dishes for just €5. You will find many such options in the historic area of the city. In short, we calculate about €25 per person per day to eat in Dubai. If you want to treat yourself, there are plenty of luxurious restaurants in Dubai Marina and Sheikh Zayed Road.

Also Read: How to get from Dubai to Abu Dhabi

Price of activities in Dubai

There are endless activities to do in Dubai, you will surely not get bored! To stroll through the spectacular shopping centers such as the Mall of the Emirates or the Dubai Mall, see the fountain show at the foot of the Burj Khalifa or sunbathe on the beach, you won’t have to spend a single euro. But there are other things that do cost money. Below we share the prices of the most popular activities in Dubai.

  • Entrance to the Burj Khalifa : €40
  • Excursion to the desert with dinner : €50
  • Traditional boat cruise : €20
  • Helicopter ride : €150
  • Excursion to Abu Dhabi : €55

The total cost will depend on how many things you want to do and the luxuries you give yourself. We calculate about €200 spent per person on activities in Dubai.

The amazing view from the Burj Khalifa
The amazing view from the Burj Khalifa

Travel insurance for Dubai

To finish calculating how much it costs to travel to Dubai we cannot forget the travel insurance. For us it is an essential expense to travel safely to any destination. We travel with Iati insurance , which offers 24/7 service in Spanish in the face of a lot of unforeseen events. It includes medical assistance, coverage against theft, delays or cancellations of transport, loss of luggage, damage caused accidentally in the hotel… To give you an idea, only a medical consultation without any additional tests can perfectly cost €100. It is very worth taking out insurance to go calm and know where to go in case of an accident. In addition, we offer you a 5% discount on all Iati travel insurance.

Also Read: 12 Best Tours and Excursions in Abu Dhabi

Budget To Travel To Dubai

Finally, we share the detailed budget so you can see exactly how much it costs to travel to Dubai. Includes all expenses for two people on a 5-day visit to the city.

  • Direct flights from Barcelona €400 x2 = €800
  • Public transport with NOL card €20 x2 = €40
  • Punctual taxis = €30
  • Accommodation 4 nights in a double room = €144
  • Food €25 per person and day x 5 days = €250
  • Activities €200 per person x2 = €400
  • Travel insurance for two people = €85

Total price to travel to Dubai for two people for 5 days = €1749

Leave a Comment