How much does it cost to travel to the United Arab Emirates?
You should plan to spend around $252 (AED926) per day on your vacation in the United Arab Emirates. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $52 (AED192) on meals
- $16 (AED60) on local transportation
- $320 (AED1,176) on hotels
A one week trip to the United Arab Emirates for two people costs, on average, $3,528 (AED12,957). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
-
One Week
Per person
$1,764
AED6,479
-
2 Weeks
Per person
$3,528
AED12,957
-
One Month
Per person
$7,560
AED27,766
-
One Week
For a couple
$3,528
AED12,957
-
2 Weeks
For a couple
$7,056
AED25,915
-
One Month
For a couple
$15,121
AED55,531
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How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to the United Arab Emirates cost?
A one week trip to the United Arab Emirates usually costs around $1,764 (AED6,479) for one person and $3,528 (AED12,957) for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
A two week trip to the United Arab Emirates on average costs around $3,528 (AED12,957) for one person and $7,056 (AED25,915) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in the United Arab Emirates will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.
A one month trip to the United Arab Emirates on average costs around $7,560 (AED27,766) for one person and $15,121 (AED55,531) for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is the United Arab Emirates expensive to visit?
The United Arab Emirates is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.
Within the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates is very expensive compared to the other countries. It is in the top 10% of countries in the Middle East for its travel costs. There are only a few countries as expensive or more expensive than the United Arab Emirates in the region.
For more details, see Is the United Arab Emirates Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to the United Arab Emirates?
The average United Arab Emirates trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these United Arab Emirates travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
AED1,176
($320)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
AED60
($16)
|
|
Food 2
|
AED192
($52)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
AED107
($29)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
AED6 -
17
($2 - 5)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
AED36 -
107
($10 - 29)
|
Accommodation Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in the United Arab Emirates is $160 (AED588). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in the United Arab Emirates is $320 (AED1,176). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in the United Arab Emirates? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Local Transportation Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in the United Arab Emirates is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $16 (AED60) per person, per day, on local transportation in the United Arab Emirates.
-
Local Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$16
AED60
Typical prices for Local Transportation in the United Arab Emirates are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in the United Arab Emirates, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Taxi to Airport
AED50
-
Sea Taxi
AED2.00
-
Airport Taxi
AED46
-
Taxi Ride
AED45
-
Car Rental
AED115
Food Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in the United Arab Emirates can vary, the average cost of food in the United Arab Emirates is $52 (AED192) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in the United Arab Emirates should cost around $21 (AED77) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in the United Arab Emirates is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$52
AED192
Typical prices for Food in the United Arab Emirates are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in the United Arab Emirates, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in the United Arab Emirates typically cost an average of $29 (AED107) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$29
AED107
Typical prices for Entertainment in the United Arab Emirates are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in the United Arab Emirates, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in the United Arab Emirates is $3.02 (AED11) per day. The usual amount for a tip in the United Arab Emirates is 5% - 15%.
-
Tips and Handouts1
For guides or service providers
$3.02
AED11
Alcohol Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $19 (AED71) on alcoholic beverages in the United Arab Emirates per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$19
AED71
Typical prices for Alcohol in the United Arab Emirates are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Alcohol prices in the United Arab Emirates, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Water Budget in the United Arab Emirates
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.12 (AED4.10) on bottled water in the United Arab Emirates per day. The public water in the United Arab Emirates is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.12
AED4.10
Last Updated: Feb 8, 2023
The United Arab Emirates On a Budget
Dubai
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation made up of seven emirates on the Arabian peninsula. The seven emirates include Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ra's al Khaymah, and Fujairah. Abu Dhabi is the largest, but Dubai is the most well known and frequently visited.
The United Arab Emirates is a very modern country immersed in culture and history. The infrastructure in the country if very good, but perhaps a little overcrowded. Imports from the west are readily available in shops. It's a very clean and modern country to visit, and many people enjoy seeing this pristine side of the Middle East, while others see it as little more than a "Disney World" style experience. Part of the appeal in visiting the UAE is to see the extreme and impressive luxury resorts that are popping up in areas like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. To simply visit these resorts is a very unique experience. The two most famous resorts are the sail shaped Burj al-Arab in Dubai, and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.
Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have large expat communities, so you will find many different European and Indian restaurants and brands for sale. There are many large shopping malls and supermarkets where you can find anything you might be looking for. There are also many western chains around including KFC, McDonalds and even Ikea. English is widely spoken, particularly in the tourism industry, so you should have very little trouble communicating. Alcohol is available in most hotels, bars, and restaurants. There is a law that requires a license to purchase alcohol, but this law is often overlooked. The license is a statement that the individual is a non-Muslim.
A trip to the UAE really offers a glimpse into a world where cultures are colliding. Conservatism meets modernism and technology is integrated with traditional values. It's a fascinating place to visit, particularly if you can take the time to get outside of the major cities and see what else the country has to offer.
At A Glance
- The weekend here is on Friday and Saturday. Many businessmen work a half day on Thursdays, but they do often work the entire day on Saturday. Businesses are closed on Friday mornings, but many open in the afternoon after services and by the evening you will find many people out and about socializing.
- During Ramadan the schedule changes dramatically. Restaurants are closed during daylight hours and most offices and shops close down in the afternoon. The fast is broken after the sunset during a meal that is referred to as iftar. Some businesses open back up between the hours of 8:00PM and midnight.
- Dubai has a major international airport and many connecting flights to Africa or Asia have a layover in this city. A great way to conveniently explore the city is to extend your layover to several days. This allows you time to see what you want to see, but you don't have to buy an additional plane ticket to reach the area.
- Public transportation is challenging in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The systems are not well established and you will likely end up taking taxis to most places. Prices are cheap however. You can expect to pay about US$2.00 to most places within the city. An additional US$3 may be added to the total during evening hours after 10:00 PM. If you plan to travel between cities, renting a car is a popular option. Rental cars cost slightly less than you would expect to pay in the United States.
- The beaches in the area are quite impressive and worth a visit. The water is strikingly blue and very clean. Recent construction has made the water somewhat more cloudy, but it is still a very beautiful place to visit and not to be missed while you're in the area. There is also some excellent snorkeling and diving in the Indian Ocean. The water is very warm and clear. The beaches can range from very touristy to almost isolated, even near Dubai. Wearing a bathing suit in public is not recommended so your best option if you plan to swim or sunbath is to pay for access to a private beach near a hotel.
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Top Tourist Attractions
Fujairah: This city is located about two hours by car from Dubai. It's a midsized town that is surrounded by beautiful countryside. There's a fort overlooking the town that is 300 years old. If you make the trip to the area, make sure you take time to explore the surrounding hills.
Liwa Oasis: This area offers some of the largest sand dunes in the world. It's located to the south of Abu Dhabi and there are several small villages that are clustered together in the area.
Hatta: Stop off at the Hatta Pools, where you can see deep canyons that have been carved out by rushing floodwater. Swimming in a bathing suit in public is not advised. Instead, consider buying a one day pass to a hotel where you can swim in privacy.
Popular Foods
In cities like Dubai, and to a lesser extent, Abu Dhabi, you can find restaurants that serve any number of western cuisines. The large expat community throughout the country means that the cuisine takes on a multicultural flare. Rice is a common stable. It is often well seasoned and served with a meat such as lamb on top. Most of the high end restaurants are found in hotels, but if you eat elsewhere you will find that most food options are quite affordable.
Al Harees: This is a popular dish that is made with whipped wheat and meat. It is usually prepared for special occasions such as Ramadan or during weddings.
Al Majboos: This is a delicious and filling dish that is made with meat and rice. The meat is prepared with a range of spices and vegetables. It is then served, layered with rice and saffron.
Al Madrooba: This is a traditional Middle Eastern dish made from salt-cured fish. This fish is cleaned and prepared with a light flower. It is then served with ghee on top.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.