How we do Dubai for dirt cheap – £30-a-night rooms, lesser-known airports, £2 meals and free attractions

The Sun

5 hours ago

DUBAI is a bucket list destination for Brits, thanks to its five-star hotels, year-round sunshine and celebrity fans, but all this also makes it harmful on the wallet.
So we've tried and tested some of the best ways to slash the cost of a holiday to the desert city.
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Editor of The Sun's Fab Daily, Joel Cooper thought Dubai was out of his price range, until he started looking into money saving hacks.
He said: "I always wanted to go, but news stories about luxury hotels, £10,000-a-night suites and the premium bar and restaurant scene put me off.
"However, when I started doing some research, I discovered there is a way to do Dubai on a budget - it's just no one talks about it."
Joel's genius tips start before you've even left the UK.
He said: "Rather than booking flights to Dubai directly, it is often much cheaper to fly to Abu Dhabi instead.
"In fact, my flights were half the price - saving £250 before I'd even left home.
"Most of the hotels in Dubai are located between Dubai airport and Abu Dhabi airport - admittedly they are closer to Dubai but getting from Abu Dhabi is easy.
"There is a coach for around £7 that takes you directly from Abu Dhabi airport to Dubai, dropping off at the Ibn Battuta Mall, which is in the centre of town.
"They run every hour and the journey takes one hour to get to Dubai.
"Before going, I didn't know anything about Abu Dhabi, but it's so close to Dubai, you could be forgiven for thinking it's the same place."
Dubai hotel with world's largest waterpark
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Stay for less
Accommodation is known for being high-end and pricey in Dubai, but one British chain has been making in-roads with incredibly affordable hotel rooms - Premier Inn.
Writer Scott Campbell told The Sun that the Premier Inn brand in the Emirates has taken things to the next level.
He said: "The hotels are surprisingly cool and I've booked rooms from just £30. They have rooftop pools, 24-hour gyms, shuttle buses to the beach and suave terrace bars.
"The best Premier Inn in Dubai can be found in Barsha Heights.
'"It's around 15 minutes by taxi from the glitz and glamour of Dubai Marina and an even shorter journey to The Palm with its trendy all-inclusive beach clubs."
Similarly, holidaymakers can save hundreds by swapping taxis for the Metro.
Scott said: "The Dubai Metro is very safe and efficient and serves all the main tourist areas in the city.
"Although hailing a cab is quite wallet-friendly, coming in at around £7 for a trip to the Marina from the Premier Inn, the city's Metro line is only ten minutes away on foot.
"Fares start at just 65p for a ride, or £1.20 in the quieter 'gold' carriage — because where else would have a first- class metro carriage other than Dubai?"
If it is too hot outside, there is even a free bus to take guests to the station from the budget hotel.
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It's also worth checking if the hotel you stay at offers a shuttle bus to the beach.
This can save you money in taxis there and back, especially if you plan on going a few times during your trip.
Scott added: "The Premier Inn hotel offers a complimentary shuttle to Al Sufouh, known as the Secret Beach by locals, due to it being lesser known and less crowded as the famous Kite Beach."
Al Sufouh and Kite Beach are both public beaches and not owned by the exclusive hotel resorts and so they are free to use.
This is perfect for doing Dubai on a budget because pop-up stalls and food trucks line the beach path.
You can pick up homemade empanadas for £7 or an excellent and sizeable burrito for £11 from La Patrona, without the excessive service charges and extras required at a posh hotel.
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Find a budget brunch
Boozy brunches in Dubai are one of the most popular pastimes for the under 30s.
But, extravagant spots like Burj Al Arab and The Palm can become very pricy indeed, with some starting at £80 before you add alcohol on.
However, budget travelers to Dubai can still indulge in the boozy, boujee pastime with a more cost-effective brunch in a less exclusive location.
Scott said: "The Premier Inn has its own bar, Mr Toad's, where a Saturday 'drunch' offers unlimited drinks for three hours for £25.
'With a pint in Dubai usually costing around £9 on average, after only three drinks you'll easily make back the cost.'
Meanwhile, Finance manager, Kristina Williams used to live in Dubai and has a list of cheap things to do that she shares with family and friends who came to visit.
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She said: "One of the most popular sights in Dubai has to be the fountain show in Downtown Dubai.
"The Dubai Fountain, which is outside the Dubai Mall, is the tallest dancing fountain in the world and totally free to watch, so it's ideal for families.
"The famous Aquarium is also located at the Dubai Mall.
"If you don't want to pay to spend a whole day there, I recommend taking the kids to see the largest part of the aquarium completely free of charge.
"The enormous glass tank actually makes up a huge wall inside the shopping centre."
Not everything in Dubai has to cost money. Kristina says there are lots of beautiful outdoor spaces that are free to use.
She said: " AL Qudra, the desert area, has a free cycling track and running track. It's popular in the early evening when the sun starts to go down.
"You can just go and soak up the atmosphere, spot camels and go bird watching.
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"There is also a free walking path on the Palm. It's great for a casual stroll, with lots of affordable cafes and shady spots along the way.
"This is my favourite, as it looks out to sea and you can see the famous Atlantis hotel and get the obligatory selfie outside."
Being a former local, Kristina knows where to eat too.
"We always go to the Deira area, which is Dubai's old town, for a cheap dinner - you can get a curry for £2 and they are always so good.
"We spend less there as the area isn't known for its alcohol, so it's always more affordable than the Dubai hotels that cater to tourists."
A VIP liaison's guide to Dubai
Romika Fazeli runs a VIP concierge company called Emirates World Club, providing millionaire clients with everything from luxury hotel bookings to shopping trips or restaurant recommendations.
Here are her top tips.
"When it comes to private beaches, Jumeirah Beach Hotel is pure luxury and there are no crowds, or the beach at Al Qasr Hotel has beach club events most weekends with resident DJs, amazing cuisine and great beach side service.
"The city has some of the best shopping in the world with over 50 malls and even a month long shopping festival.
" The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are the two most popular shopping destinations in the city centre, housing high-street, boutique and luxury designers, from Louis Vuitton to Balenciaga.
"Other great places for shopping are Dubai Festival City Mall, City Walk, Dubai Marina Mall and Dubai Outlet Mall."
Or if you want to be seen with the 'in' crowd, the hottest places in the city right now are Ce La Vi, Lucky Fish, the restaurants at West Palm Beach, and Sal at Burj Al Arab.