When you think of the city of Dubai, you think of glamour. This Emirate is home to one of the wildest, wackiest, most vibrant cities in the world.
Dubai is an expensive city. However, it is possible to visit Dubai on a budget and still have an amazing time without breaking the bank.
When I & my siblings decided to visit Dubai, we started searching and planning our trip according to our budget.
Having a clear idea of your travel plans will help you budget accordingly.
Set boundaries, gather knowledge, and explore Dubai to the fullest.
We worked on a few things like:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- How long the vacation will last?
- What will be our mode of travel, etc
- Sight-seeing tickets
- Foods & drinks
- Shopping
This helped us in setting our budget and we were careful that it doesn’t extend. Thankfully, our Dubai trip was within our budget and in fact, we saved a lot.
So let me give you some Dubai money-saving tips and tricks to ensure that your trip is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
1. Book your hotels in old Dubai like Deira and Bur Dubai that are closer to the metros
One of the best things to save money in Dubai as a tourist is to book your accommodation in one of the older parts of town like Deira and Bur Dubai.
Old Dubai is a short drive from central Dubai and is home to some of the most affordable hotels in the city. There are a variety of hotels in the area to choose from, ranging from budget-friendly to more expensive luxury properties.
Staying in old Dubai will not only save you money but also allow you to experience a unique side of the city that many tourists don’t get to see.
Where we stayed: We booked our accommodation at Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Dubai Deira. It is a 4-star property and we got it for a good deal. Our stay was pleasant and the staffs were helpful & courteous.
The metro station from the hotel was just a stone’s throw away. There were numerous pocket-friendly supermarkets for shopping for souvenirs and gifts. Also, many affordable Indian and Pakistani restaurants nearby.
2. Buy NOL card- It works in Metros, Trams & Buses
Another great way to save money when you are in Dubai is to invest in a NOL card. The NOL card is a re-loadable transport card that offers discounts on all of the public transport options in the city, including buses, trams, and the metro.
If you plan on using public transport during your stay, the NOL card can save you a considerable amount of money over buying individual tickets each time you ride.
What’s more, you don’t even need to be a resident of Dubai to buy a NOL card. All you need to do is visit any metro station and the staff will guide you well.
We had purchased silver cards i.e normal cards for our travel. The metro staff informed us about the unlimited NOL pass for 7 days, but we didn’t buy it as it was costly.
Hence, we use to recharge our cards and when our trip ended; our total expenses on NOL card were comparatively less.
The card can also be used for other services, such as parking and e-wallet payments.
On our last day, a 7AED balance was remaining on our card, we used it at the metro convenience store and got food.
3. Book attraction tickets online or from Dubai’s local travel agent
The sightseeing or attraction tickets in Dubai are expensive. Hence, one of the best ways to save money when you are visiting Dubai is to book your attraction tickets online or from Dubai’s local travel agent.
Many of the tourist attractions in the city offer discounted tickets that can only be bought online, including major tourist attractions such as the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, the Desert safari, etc.
By taking advantage of these online offers, you can save a considerable amount of money on your ticket prices.
Additionally, several websites offer packaged discounts on multiple attractions. If you want to visit multiple attractions during your stay, you can look for these combo deals and save even more money.
We had booked tickets from:
- Klook
- Thrillophilia
- And from a Dubai local travel agent – Right Way Tours LLC who was promoting their packages at Ramada hotel.
We got the tickets at a good deal and saved a lot of money.
4. Save on food and drink- Eat at supermarkets, food courts, and small restaurants
Dubai is not a budget-friendly destination, especially since food and drink are expensive, but there are also plenty of options for those looking to save money.
We used to eat at supermarkets like Waitrose and Carrefour, food courts like Al-baik, Hardees, and McD, and small restaurants where we got delicious and affordable meals.
5. Do shopping more in supermarkets and less in malls
Finally, if you want to save even more money on your trip to Dubai, consider doing your shopping in the local supermarkets.
Near our hotel, we found many big supermarkets that offered affordable products. I did most of my shopping like souvenirs, beauty products, etc from such types of places. To tell the truth, I had a gala time shopping and wandering here.
The Dubai shopping festival was going on during our visit, so we found some good deals and offers in selected stores in different malls across the city.
For example, Brands for Less and Hema Amsterdam in Ibn Battuta mall had a great sale and we shopped there. Then we purchased some items from Daiso and Zara in Dubai mall.
Overall, these were the few ways we saved money on our Dubai trip. From booking our hotels in Old Dubai to investing in a NOL card and taking advantage of discounts at the supermarkets,
I hope my experience and these tips will be helpful for you to make the most of your vacation budget.
On that note, Habibi, come to Dubai!
I must say that Jeni you’ve shared really good money saving tips. Particularly use of NOL card and booking trip with local agents are perfect to save money.