Dubai has a reputation for being expensive and it earns it at the top end. Underneath that is a city with a one dirham ferry, free beaches, public transport that works, and food that costs less than a coffee in most European capitals. Five days here on a small budget is entirely possible if you know which things are worth paying for. Our guide to things to do in Dubai has the full list with prices beside each one.

Transport: use the metro

Two lines, air conditioned, clean, and they cover Downtown, the Marina, the airport, Deira and most of the places a visitor needs. A Nol card costs AED 25 with credit included and a single journey runs from about AED 3 to AED 8.

What the metro does not reach is the Palm, the desert, and most beach hotels. For the airport run specifically, compare a taxi against a fixed price transfer: a private transfer from AED 119 is priced per vehicle rather than per person, so for three or four people with luggage it is often the cheaper option and the driver is waiting.

The abra across the creek is AED 1, paid in cash. A dirham, in cash, and one of the better five minutes you will spend here.

Free things that are actually worth doing

  • The Dubai Fountain. Every thirty minutes through the evening. The bridge towards Souk Al Bahar is the best free spot.
  • Jumeirah and Kite Beach. Public, clean, with showers and the Burj Al Arab in view.
  • Al Fahidi historic quarter. Wind tower houses and narrow lanes next to the creek.
  • The gold and spice souks. Walk them, no obligation to buy.
  • The Dubai Mall aquarium wall. The ten million litre tank is visible from the mall floor without a ticket. The ticket gets you the tunnel and the zoo above it.
  • Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Entry is free, and an abaya is lent free to anyone who needs one. See what to wear.
  • Dubai Marina walk at night, and the JBR beachfront beside it.

Cheap food that is not a compromise

  • Karak chai, AED 2 to 3. From any Pakistani cafeteria. Al Rigga and Satwa are full of them.
  • Shawarma, AED 8 to 15. Better from a counter than a restaurant.
  • South Indian thali, AED 15 to 25. Unlimited refills in Karama and Bur Dubai.
  • Biryani in Deira, AED 20 to 30, enough for two.
  • Global Village food court in winter: seventy countries, street food prices.

Tap water is safe and free on request. Buying bottled water for a week adds up to more than a meal.

The paid things that are worth it on a budget

Not everything should be skipped. These are the ones that give the most back per dirham.

  • Global Village, AED 25. A full evening. Winter only. A full evening for the price of a sandwich.
  • Dubai Frame, AED 55. Glass skywalk, old Dubai on one side and the skyline on the other, ninety minutes.
  • Dubai Safari Park, AED 50. Winter only, and a half day.
  • Premium desert safari, AED 100. Six hours, dinner, hotel pickup, shows. Six hours of it, with dinner, for AED 100.
  • Half day city tour, AED 100. Covers the distances the metro does not, with a guide, in four to five hours.
  • Creek dhow cruise, AED 99. Two hours with dinner included, and the cheaper of the two cruise routes.
  • Abu Dhabi day tour, AED 100. A full day, another emirate, lunch included.

Where to spend less

  • Observation decks. One is enough. The View at The Palm at AED 95 or Sky Views at AED 120 cost around half of Burj Khalifa At The Top at AED 185, and both put the Burj in your photographs rather than under your feet.
  • Non prime slots. The same deck at a different hour, for less.
  • Theme parks. One, not three. They are AED 185 to AED 305 each and a full day apiece.
  • Hotel breakfast. Rarely worth the supplement when a cafeteria breakfast is AED 15.
  • Taxis for short hops where the metro goes. The minimum fare makes a two stop journey expensive.

A five day plan

  1. Day one: metro, Al Fahidi, abra across the creek, souks, cafeteria dinner. Under AED 60.
  2. Day two: Kite Beach in the morning, Dubai Mall and the fountain in the evening. Under AED 40 if you skip the aquarium ticket.
  3. Day three: desert safari, decoded from mid afternoon, dinner included. AED 100.
  4. Day four: Abu Dhabi day tour, lunch included. AED 100.
  5. Day five: Dubai Frame, then Global Village in the evening. AED 80.

That is roughly AED 380 of attractions and tours across five days, plus food and transport. The two full day tours are more than half of it and they are the two days you will remember.

Two more ways to keep it down

Travel in the shoulder or low season. Hotel rates fall sharply from May, and the same trip costs a different amount depending only on the month. The trade is heat; see when to visit and what is indoors in summer.

Book combinations rather than singles. Two experiences booked together are priced below the two separately, and you only pay one pickup. Book combinations rather than singles and you pay one pickup instead of two. The city tour with the Marina cruise is AED 250 for both.