If one has to choose a country on earth that seemed to replicate the architectural layout of any science fiction film – the United Arab Emirates is not actually a far-fetched guess. This advanced cosmopolitan nation in the Middle East is slated to host the upcoming World Expo 2020.
That nomination alone is enough proof of Dubai’s profile as a sophisticated cosmopolitan city worthy of representing mankind’s hopeful future. But just how advanced and ambitious is this once empty desert nation ruled by Arab ‘warlords’ (emir)?
Just as the Palm Islands have reached its peak in terms of global tourism appeal, this city is already gearing up for its next grandest engineering project. Dubai is currently in the initial phase of building a ‘climate-controlled’ city spanning a 4.45 square kilometers.
When this project is completed, the planet earth will have its new largest indoor theme park. Speaking of advanced technology, the United Arab Emirates seems to exhibit their knowledge of robotics by creating ‘robot camel riders.’ The novelty may be a too far behind the tech race with Japan and South Korea, but at the very least it has become a viable replacement for indentured child migrants (no kidding).
In terms of its cosmopolitan profile, it is interesting to take note that 85 percent of Dubai’s demographics are comprised of foreigners. Surprising as it may seem at first look, it does not actually defy reality considering how all of its labor is tax-free. On top of that, who would not possibly be attracted to live in a city that ‘allegedly’ has 0% crime rate?
Applying for citizenship in the United Arab Emirates might be a stretch, but its premiere capital city is definitely worthy of a visit. Prospective travelers with a passion for commemorating humanity’s progress might be interested to know a lot about Dubai trip prices.
USA Flight to the United Arab Emirates
In terms of the overall Dubai vacation cost, the price of an international flight to the United Arab Emirates is arguably the foremost in terms of the comprehensive budget plan. It is important to take note that the following prices do not reflect the exact cost featured in current booking arrangements. These are the average estimated costs of plane tickets outbound from several key cities in the United States, according to Rome 2 Rio:
New York to Dubai:
Cost: $338 to 1,022
Ticket: Economy class, One-way
Direct flight: Emirates Airlines
Direct flight duration: 12 hours and 30 minutes
Two-way flights: Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Air France, British Airways, Swissair, Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot, Lufthansa, and Azerbaijan Airlines.
Los Angeles to Dubai:
Cost: $340 to $750
Ticket: Economy class, One-way
Direct flight: Emirates Airlines
Direct flight duration: 15 hours and 50 minutes
Two-way flights: Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways.
Houston to Dubai:
Cost: $390 to $750
Ticket: Economy class, One-way
Direct flight: Emirates Airlines
Direct flight duration: 14 hours and 55 minutes
Two-way flights: Qatar Airways, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Air France.
Miami to Dubai:
Cost: $550 to $1,800
Ticket: Economy class, One-way
Direct flight: N/A
16- to 18-hour two-way flights: Qatar Airways, Swissair, and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
18- to 20-hour two-way flights: British Airways, Air France, and Turkish Airlines.
21- to 25-hour two-way flights: Lufthansa and Aeroflot.
General Daily Spending
When it comes to the daily average cost to go to Dubai, Budget Your Trip has estimated the overall expenses based on the economic scale of the vacation funds. Take note: the costs only represent a very broad projection. It is possible to reduce or increase the exact costs based on the traveler’s specific lifestyle and travel habits. Here are the three types of daily spending:
Cheap daily: $111 per person
- Accommodation: $53
- Daily meals: $17
- Bottled water per day: $34
- Local transportation: $3.47
- Entertainment: $1.51
- Alcohol consumption: $7.73
Mid-range daily: $283 per person
- Accommodation: $138
- Daily meals: $41
- Bottled water per day: $90
- Local transportation: $10
- Entertainment: $4.53
- Alcohol consumption: $18
Luxury daily: 759 per person
- Accommodation: $336
- Daily meals: $102
- Bottled water per day: $259
- Local transportation: $34
- Entertainment: $15
- Alcohol consumption: $35
Accommodation
Knowing how expensive the Dubai trip prices are, it is crucial for anyone to enjoy their vacation without having to spend so much. One of the key areas where travelers can reduce their expenses without having to sacrifice quality is the cost of accommodations. It is possible to find a good place to stay without spending more than $53 per night.
The directory of Booking.com has listed a number of cheap hotel reservations for the month of June 2017. These 4-star hotels include certain luxuries such as free breakfast, WIFI, an onsite restaurant, fitness center and even a massage service:
- Abjad Grand Hotel: $34 per night
- Moscow Hotel: $34 per night
- Avari Dubai Hotel: $46 per night
- Ramee Royal Hotel: $47 per night
- Sun & Sky Al Rigga Hotel: $53 per night
- Hues Boutique Hotel: $53 per night
- Ascot Hotel: $53 per night
- Sea View Hotel Dubai: $53 per night
Transportation
Dubai vacation costs a lot, especially for those who wish to explore the entire city. For those who wish to stay in this sophisticated city for an entire week, renting a car can be a cost-efficient idea. This option is most suitable for individuals who are too uncomfortable with the lack of familiarity with directions, hence opting for a more hands-on approach in getting from point A to point B.
As unusual as it may sound, Dubai does not have a standard address system. This city’s national statistics department simply cannot keep up with the monstrous pace of development. As a result, the government does not bother recording the details of every street, avenue or block considering that the malleability of the infrastructure’s system. These are the top 5 rental model varieties available at value cost, as presented by Easy Terra:
Ford KA
- $99.48 per week / $14.21 per day
- 4 doors & 4 seats
- Automatic shift gear
- Unlimited mileage
Hyundai Accent
- $119.6 per week / $17 per day
- 4 doors & 5 seats
- Automatic shift gear
- Unlimited mileage
Nissan Sunny
- $120.57 per week / $17.22 per day
- 2 doors & 4 seats
- Automatic shift gear
- Unlimited mileage
Toyota Yaris
- $126.66 per week / $18.09 per day
- 4 doors & 5 seats
- Automatic shift gear
- Unlimited mileage
Opel Corsa
- $151.29 per week / $21.61 per day
- 4 doors & 4 seats
- Manual shift gear
- Unlimited mileage
Food, Drink & Recreations
Among the different aspects that comprise the average cost to go to Dubai, spending on food and drink proves to be the most strenuous in terms of financial planning. Considering that all travelers have to eat more than once in 24 hours, anyone on a relatively tight budget should have to watch their expenses on food and drinks.
Supermarket & Cheap Eats
Buying at supermarkets is one of the smartest ways to reduce overall costs for meals. Here is a data of the generic item prices sold in supermarkets or by street vendors presented by Global Price Info:
- Chicken grill: $3.3
- Sandwiches: from $1.2
- Soups: from $1.2
- Olives: from $4.1 per kilogram
- Pickles: from $25.2 per kilogram
- Patties with chicken, beef, cheese, and spinach: 68 cents
- Biscuits: 41 cents
- Samsa: 68 cents
- Iranian cake: 34 cents
- Iranian flat bread with cheese: 95 cents
- Shawarma: $1.4
Restaurant & Café Menu
Eating at Dubai’s mid-range restaurants or buying drinks from fancy cafes may not always be economical, but it is a good idea in terms of giving oneself a treat. Global Price presents the following expected price range for those who want to splurge a little:
- Pizzeria price range: $11 to $29
- Japanese restaurant price range: $6 to $32
- Dubai’s ‘Subway’ price range: $4 to $8
- Lebanese restaurant price range: $4 to $8
- Café sandwich: $4.9 to $6.8
- Café dessert: $7.1 to $15
- Café tea: $3 to $4.1
- Café coffee: $3 to $5.7
- Other café drinks: $4.9 to $6.3
Top 9 2017 Bars & Clubs
Speaking of drinks, one might expect Dubai to possess the same degree of aversion to alcohol as of all cities of a predominantly Muslim nation. However, one might be surprised to learn that overall maximum daily alcohol consumption worth $35 does not include overt censure from the authorities. In fact, this city has around 7 new fancy bars and lounges that are often visited by tourists and locals alike.
Iris
- Theme: Skylight rooftop
- Location: Oberoi Hotel
- Feature: Happy hour deals
WHITE Dubai
- Theme: Open amphitheater
- Location: Meydan Racecourse Grandstand
- Feature: Celebrity appearances
Toy Room
- Theme: ‘Child’ adult scene
- Location: Al Murooj Rotana Hotel
- Feature: Frank the Bear Mascot
Barasti
- Theme: Beachside party
- Location: Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
- Feature: Happy hour discount
Stereo Arcade
- Theme: 1980’s disco
- Location: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
- Feature: Retro dance and game
VII Dubai
- Theme: Garden lounge
- Location: Conrad Hotel
- Feature: Avant-garde décor
Tr!beca Kitchen & Lounge
- Theme: New York vibes
- Location: JA Ocean View Hotel
- Feature: Paleo food menu