Dubai 2025 – is the glittering desert metropolis really only affordable for luxury travelers? The answer may surprise you: with the right know-how you can experience Dubai from just €50–80 per day. At the same time, there’s no upper limit – some travelers spend €1,000+ a day.
In this fully updated 2025 guide you’ll learn the real costs for accommodation, food, transport and activities. You’ll also get concrete money-saving tips – including a simple way to cut up to 90% off your mobile costs on vacation.
Quick overview: what does Dubai really cost?
Budget travelers: €50–80 per day (hostel, street food, metro, free activities)
Mid-range travelers: €100–150 per day (3–4-star hotel, restaurants, attractions, mix of metro and taxi)
Luxury travelers: €200–500+ per day (5-star resort, fine dining, private tours, unlimited activities)
Average 7-day trip for 2 people: €2,000–2,500 (excluding flights)
What currency is used in Dubai?
The official currency in Dubai and the entire United Arab Emirates is the UAE Dirham (AED or Dhs).
Current exchange rate 2025
1 Euro = 3.90–4.10 AED
Rule of thumb for quick math: divide the AED amount by 4 to get the approximate value in euros.
Example: 100 AED ÷ 4 ≈ €25
Coins and banknotes
- Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 fils (rarely used), 1 dirham
- Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 AED
Which payment methods work best in Dubai?
Dubai is one of the most advanced cities in the world for cashless payments. Still, you should know your options:
Top recommendation: contactless payments
- Apple Pay, Google Pay: work in about 95% of shops, hotels, restaurants
- Contactless credit cards: Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere
- Benefit: no cash needed, great exchange rates, maximum security
Credit card – the main payment method
In Dubai you can pay by card almost everywhere:
- Hotels and restaurants (even small cafés)
- Shopping malls (including smaller stores)
- Dubai Metro and RTA taxis
- Supermarkets and gas stations
- Sights and museums
Important: watch out for your bank’s foreign transaction fees. Many banks charge 1.5–3% per transaction.
Cash – when you really need it
Carry 100–200 AED in cash for these situations:
- Souks (markets): Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Textile Souk often take cash only
- Tipping: housekeeping, porters, valet parking (5–10 AED per service)
- Street vendors: small snack stands, juice sellers
- Bargaining at markets: you’ll often get better prices with cash
Withdraw or exchange – which is cheaper?
Option 1: ATM
- Everywhere (malls, metro stations, hotels)
- ATM fee: 10–25 AED per withdrawal
- Plus: your home bank’s fee (often €5–7.50)
- Tip: use a credit card with no foreign fees
Option 2: Exchange office
- Best rates: Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Gold Souk
- Worst rates: Dubai Airport (up to 10% worse)
- No extra fees at good exchange offices
Pro tip: if you’re asked whether to charge in euros or dirhams, always choose dirhams! Otherwise you’ll pay up to 5% more due to dynamic currency conversion.
Dubai prices 2025: what do things actually cost?
Accommodation – from hostels to 7-star luxury
Budget stays (hostels, basic hotels):
- Hostel dorm: €30–50 per night
- Budget hotel in Deira or Bur Dubai: €40–70
- Central Airbnb apartment: €50–80
- Recommendations: Backpacker Tina (Marina), Arabian Park Hotel
Mid-range (3–4-star hotels):
- Solid hotel in Downtown: €80–120
- Hotel with pool in Dubai Marina: €100–150
- Serviced apartment (7 nights): €700–1,000
- Recommendations: Rove Downtown, Novotel Al Barsha
Luxury (5-star and above):
- 5-star at Palm Jumeirah: €200–400
- Burj Al Arab (7 stars): from €1,500 per night
- Atlantis The Royal: €500–2,000+
Insider tip: book hotels in Al Barsha, Al Karama or Deira – you’ll pay 40–60% less than in Downtown Dubai for similar quality. The metro gets you everywhere in 15–20 minutes.
Food & drinks – what dining costs in Dubai
Supermarket (self-catering):
- Weekly shop for 1 person: €50–70
- Cheapest supermarkets: Lulu Hypermarket, Viva, Union Coop
- Mid-range: Carrefour (in almost every mall)
- Expensive: Waitrose, Spinneys (expat stores)
Budget eats (street food, local restaurants):
- Shawarma (Dubai’s best snack): €3–5
- Biryani or Indian thali: €6–10
- Pakistani restaurant in Deira: €8–12
- Falafel wrap at a street stall: €2–4
- Best areas: Al Karama, Bur Dubai, Deira
Mid-range restaurants:
- Main dish in an international restaurant: €15–25
- Full dinner for 2: €40–70
- Pizza/pasta in Italian restaurant: €12–20
- Burger meal (Five Guys, Shake Shack): €15–18
Fine dining & special experiences:
- Dinner with Burj Khalifa view: €50–100
- Brunch at Atlantis (all you can eat & drink): €80–150
- Cé La Vi (view restaurant): €60–120
- Afternoon tea at Burj Al Arab: €120–180
- Insider tip: gold cappuccino at Burj Al Arab for €35
Drinks:
- Bottled water (1.5L, supermarket): €0.30–0.80
- Water in hotel/restaurant: €2–5
- Coffee in a café: €4–7
- Fresh juice at a stand: €2–4
Alcohol (note: only in licensed venues!):
- Beer in a hotel bar: €10–15
- Cocktail in a rooftop bar: €15–25
- Bottle of wine in a restaurant: €40–80
- Happy hour (often 5–7 pm): 2-for-1 deals
Important: alcohol may only be consumed in the UAE in licensed hotels and bars. Public consumption is prohibited. As a tourist you can buy alcohol in MMI or African + Eastern stores (with passport) but you may only drink it privately.
Transport – metro, taxi, Careem
Metro (cheapest option):
- Single ride: €0.50–2 (depending on zones)
- Nol Card (reloadable): €2 fee + credit
- Day pass: €5.50 (unlimited rides)
- Tip: Red Line runs from the airport to Dubai Marina
- Bonus: modern, air-conditioned, clean, punctual
Taxi & ride-hailing:
- Base fare: €3
- Per kilometer: €0.50
- Airport → Downtown (30 km): €20–25
- Average in-city ride: €5–12
- Apps: Careem (best choice), Uber
Other transport:
- RTA bus: €0.80–2 per ride
- Dubai Tram: €1–2
- Abra (traditional water taxi): €0.30
- Water taxi (Dubai Creek): €4
- Rental car: from €25 per day (fuel very cheap: €0.60/L)
Hotel shuttle: most hotels offer free or low-cost shuttles to malls and beaches.
Activities & sights – what does sightseeing cost?
Top attractions with admission prices:
- Burj Khalifa (levels 124/125): €35–45
- Burj Khalifa (level 148 “At the Top Sky”): €90–120
- Museum of the Future: €38
- Dubai Frame: €14
- Ain Dubai (Ferris wheel): €35–50
- Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo: €35
- Ski Dubai: €60–75 (incl. equipment)
- IMG Worlds of Adventure: €70
- Desert safari with BBQ dinner: €50–80
- Dhow cruise dinner: €40–60
Free highlights (yes, really free!):
- Dubai Fountain show (daily, several times in the evening)
- Public beaches: JBR Beach, Kite Beach, Sunset Beach
- Walk through Al Fahidi Historical District
- Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Textile Souk (free entry)
- Explore Dubai Mall (world’s largest mall)
- La Mer Beach – trendy beach district
- The Walk at JBR – promenade with restaurants
- Global Village (entry €4, many free shows)
Save on activities:
- Dubai Pass: 2–7 day pass with free entry to 35+ attractions (from €120)
- Groupon UAE: up to 70% off restaurants, spa, activities
- The Entertainer app: 2-for-1 deals (annual sub ~€30)
- GetYourGuide: often cheaper than buying on site
Additional costs – don’t forget these
Tourism tax:
- €3–6 per night (depending on hotel category)
- Automatically added to your hotel bill
Tips (not mandatory but common):
- Restaurant: 10% (often already included – check the bill!)
- Taxi: round up or about 5%
- Hotel porter: 5–10 AED per service
- Housekeeping: 5 AED per day
Internet & mobile:
- Roaming with EU provider: €10–20 per day (!)
- Local SIM card: €15–30 for 7 days
- Best option: eSIM from simbye.com – see below!
Complete budget overview: 7 days in Dubai for 2 people
Budget trip: €1,200–1,600 for 2 people
Accommodation: hostel or budget hotel (€40–60/night) = €280–420
Food: street food, supermarket, 1–2x restaurant (€20/day/person) = €280
Transport: metro + occasional taxi (€8/day) = €56
Activities: free highlights + 2–3 paid attractions = €150
Internet: eSIM from simbye.com (1 GB/7 days) = €10
Misc.: tips, small expenses = €100
TOTAL: €876–1,016 + buffer = €1,200–1,600
Mid-range trip: €2,000–2,800 for 2 people
Accommodation: 3–4-star hotel (€100–130/night) = €700–910
Food: mix of restaurants & cafés (€40/day/person) = €560
Transport: metro, taxis, Careem (€15/day) = €105
Activities: Burj Khalifa, desert safari, museum + 2–3 more = €350
Internet: eSIM from simbye.com (3 GB/30 days) = €20
Misc.: shopping, tips, extras = €250
TOTAL: €1,985–2,195 + buffer = €2,000–2,800
Luxury trip: €5,000–10,000+ for 2 people
Accommodation: 5-star resort (€300–500/night) = €2,100–3,500
Food: fine dining, brunch, premium restaurants (€120/day/person) = €1,680
Transport: taxis, private driver, rental car = €400
Activities: helicopter tour, private desert tour, spa = €1,200
Internet: eSIM from simbye.com (10 GB/30 days) = €50
Shopping & extras: Gold Souk, designer goods = €1,000+
TOTAL: €6,430–7,830 (excluding unlimited shopping)
The biggest cost trap: internet & roaming
This is where most travelers waste money – up to €200 per week for slow internet!
The problem with traditional roaming
- German mobile providers: €10–20 per day in Dubai
- 7 days = €70–140 just for internet
- Often throttled after 500 MB
- Complex activation, hidden costs
Local SIM at the airport?
- Queues after a long flight
- Prices: €20–40 for 5–10 GB
- Complicated registration with passport
- You lose your German number (2FA issues!)
The smart solution: eSIM from simbye.com
With an eSIM you save up to 90% on roaming costs and you’re online in 2 minutes:
Current simbye prices for Dubai (UAE):
- 1 GB for 7 days: $5.00 (instead of $6.25) – perfect for WhatsApp and navigation
- 3 GB for 30 days: $10.00 (instead of $12.50) – ideal for vacationers
- 5 GB for 30 days: $15.00 (instead of $18.75) – best choice for active users
- 10 GB for 30 days: $25.00 (instead of $31.25) – for business trips or longer stays
How it works:
- Before your trip, choose your plan on simbye.com
- Receive the QR code by email
- Scan the QR code with your smartphone (takes 30 seconds)
- Upon arrival in Dubai: activate the eSIM – you’re online instantly!
Your benefits with simbye:
- ✅ Up to 90% cheaper than roaming
- ✅ Online instantly – no airport queues
- ✅ Your German number stays active for SMS and calls
- ✅ No surprises – prepaid, fixed costs
- ✅ Fast 4G/5G from top local networks
- ✅ 24/7 support in 12 languages
Example calculation: 7 days in Dubai with 5 GB data
- With roaming: €10/day × 7 = €70
- With simbye eSIM: $15 ≈ €14
- Savings: €56 (80%)
→ Get your Dubai eSIM now and save!
20 concrete money-saving tips for Dubai
Accommodation
- Avoid Downtown Dubai: hotels in Al Barsha, Deira or Bur Dubai are 40–60% cheaper
- Book off-season: June–August can be up to 50% cheaper (but 40–45 °C)
- Weekly deals: 7 nights are often cheaper than 6
Food & drinks
- Eat in residential areas: Al Karama and Deira have authentic food for 30–50% less
- Use Lulu Hypermarket: cheapest supermarket, often near metro stations
- Use happy hour: 5–8 pm often has 2-for-1 deals on food and drinks
- Lunch menus: the same restaurant is ~40% cheaper at lunch
- Mall food courts: good quality, fair prices, air-conditioned
Transport
- Buy a Nol Card: ~20% off all metro rides vs. single tickets
- Avoid metro rush hour: 7–9 am and 5–7 pm are crowded
- Careem instead of taxi: fixed prices shown in the app, often 10–20% cheaper
- Use abras: water taxi for €0.30 – the cheapest transport
Activities
- Get the Dubai Pass: pays off from 3 attractions (about €120 for 2 days)
- Check Groupon: new deals daily, often 50–70% off
- Free Fountain show: daily at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00 pm etc. – spectacular and free
- Burj Khalifa in the morning: tickets 8–10 am are ~40% cheaper than at sunset
- Use the beaches: all public beaches are free and clean
Shopping
- Dubai Shopping Festival (January): up to 75% off in all malls
- Bargain in souks: start at 50% of the asking price
Internet
- eSIM instead of roaming: save up to 90% on internet costs → see simbye eSIM
Is Dubai really that expensive?
The honest answer: it depends.
Dubai has a reputation for luxury – and it’s partly deserved. If you stay in 5-star hotels, dine with Burj Khalifa views and do pricey activities every day, you’ll spend €200–500 per day.
But: Dubai is surprisingly good for budget travelers if you know where to save:
What’s cheaper in Dubai than in Germany?
- Transport: metro, buses and taxis are significantly cheaper
- Fuel: €0.60/L (perfect for road trips)
- Street food: €3–8 for a full meal
- Gold: no VAT on gold (22–24 karat)
- Electronics: iPhones, cameras often 10–15% cheaper
What’s more expensive?
- Alcohol: €10–25 per drink
- European foods: imported cheese, cold cuts, wine
- Luxury hotels: prices like Paris or London
- Roaming without eSIM: up to €20/day (!)
Best time to visit on a budget
Cheapest months: June, July, August
- Hotels: 40–50% cheaper
- Flights: 30–40% cheaper
- Downside: 40–45 °C heat, high humidity
- Upside: empty beaches, no queues
Most expensive months: December, January, February
- Perfect weather (24–28 °C)
- Dubai Shopping Festival in January
- Many Europeans escape winter
- Hotels and flights up to twice as expensive
Best balance: October, November, March, April
- Pleasant temperatures (28–35 °C)
- Moderate prices
- Fewer tourists than in winter
Conclusion: Dubai is doable on any budget
Dubai 2025 is no longer just for the super-rich. With the right know-how you can experience the city from €50–80 per day – including accommodation, food, transport and free highlights.
The three most important savings tips:
- Avoid tourist hotspots: eat and stay where locals live
- Use the metro: modern, cheap, air-conditioned – often faster than taxis
- Get an eSIM: save up to 90% on internet costs
The biggest trap for tourists is hidden costs – especially for mobile data. While your carrier may charge €70–140 for a week of roaming, you’ll be online with an eSIM for $5–25.
→ Get your Dubai eSIM now and save smart!
FAQ: common questions about Dubai costs
How much does a week in Dubai cost for 2 people?
For a mid-range trip (3–4-star hotel, mix of restaurants and street food, metro and taxis, 3–4 paid attractions) budget €2,000–2,500 for 2 people (7 days, excluding flights). Budget travelers manage with €1,200–1,600, luxury trips cost €5,000 and up.
Can I pay with euros in Dubai?
No, the official currency is the UAE dirham (AED). But you can pay by card almost everywhere. You can exchange cash at exchange offices (best rates in malls) or withdraw at ATMs.
How much should I tip in Dubai?
Tipping isn’t mandatory but common. Restaurants often add a 10–15% service charge automatically (check your bill!). For taxis, round up; for hotel staff tip 5–10 AED (€1.30–2.60).
How much is Burj Khalifa admission?
Levels 124/125 cost €35–45 (time-dependent). Morning tickets are cheaper. Level 148 “At the Top Sky” costs €90–120. Booking online is usually 10–20% cheaper than on site.
Is Dubai more expensive than Germany?
Mixed. Transport, street food and fuel are cheaper. Alcohol, hotels and fine dining are more expensive. Overall, Dubai is comparable to German big cities like Munich or Hamburg.
How expensive is alcohol in Dubai really?
Beer costs €10–15, cocktails €15–25 in bars. Alcohol is heavily regulated and only available in licensed hotels/bars. Happy hours (5–8 pm) often offer 2-for-1 deals. Public consumption is forbidden.
Do I need a visa for Dubai?
German citizens don’t need a visa for tourist stays up to 90 days. You’ll receive a free entry permit upon arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Dubai?
You’ll find the best rates in exchange offices in major malls (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates) or the Gold Souk. Avoid exchanging at the airport – rates there are up to 10% worse.
Will my debit card work in Dubai?
Maestro cards work at many ATMs but aren’t accepted everywhere for payments. Better: a credit card (Visa, Mastercard). Watch your bank’s foreign fees (often 1.5–3% per transaction).
How much does internet cost in Dubai?
Hotel Wi-Fi is usually free but slow. Roaming with German providers: €10–20 per day. Local SIM: €20–40 for a week. Cheapest option: simbye eSIM for $5–25 → see here
How much is a typical dinner in Dubai?
Street food: €5–10. Mid-range restaurant: €20–40 per person. Fine dining: €60–150. Tip: lunch menus are often 30–40% cheaper than dinner in the same restaurant.
How much cash should I bring?
€100–200 to start is enough. You can pay by card almost everywhere. You only need cash for souks, tips and small street vendors. Best to withdraw on site or exchange in malls.
Are there hidden fees in Dubai?
Yes. Hotels add €3–6 tourist tax per night and often a 10% service charge. Restaurants sometimes add a 10–15% service charge (check your bill!). When paying by card, always choose dirhams – otherwise you’ll pay 3–5% more due to poor conversion.
How much is a taxi from the airport to the center?
Dubai Airport → Downtown Dubai: €20–25 (about 30 km, 20–30 minutes). Alternatively: metro from Terminal 3 for €2–3 (takes 30–40 minutes). Booking via Careem is often 10–15% cheaper than a regular taxi.
Is the Dubai Pass worth it?
Yes, from 3–4 attractions it pays off. The 2-day pass is about €120 and includes free entry to 35+ attractions (incl. Burj Khalifa, Aquarium, Frame, Museum of the Future). Without the pass, these highlights cost €150–200 separately.
Online instantly in Dubai – your eSIM is waiting
Forget expensive roaming fees and airport queues. With simbye you’re online in 2 minutes – for a fraction of the cost.
Your benefits:
- ✅ Instant activation after landing
- ✅ Up to 90% cheaper than roaming
- ✅ Fast 4G/5G network
- ✅ Your German number stays active
- ✅ No hidden costs
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