How much a Dubai trip costs: hotels, fees, transport and sights

The average daily rate at Dubai's hotels was AED 579 in 2025, up from AED 538 in 2024, according to Dubai's Government Media Office; guests stayed 3.7 nights on average.

Every stay also carries the Tourism Dirham, a fee per occupied room per night: AED 20 at 5-star hotels and resorts, AED 15 at 4-star ones, AED 10 at 2-star and 3-star hotels, and AED 7 at budget hotels and guest houses. Hotel apartments and holiday homes have their own rates in the same range. The fee applies for up to 30 consecutive nights, and hotels must show it in their room prices and on your invoice.

Hotel bills also carry hotel sales fees of 7% on rooms, food and drink, and VAT at 5%, the UAE's standard rate since 1 January 2018.

A taxi hailed on the street starts at AED 5 from 06:00 to 22:00 and AED 5.50 from 22:00 to 06:00, and from Dubai's airports at AED 20, or AED 25 for a van. The meter then adds a charge per kilometre and for waiting time, and Salik toll charges are billed to you.

Salik, Dubai's road toll, charges AED 6 a crossing at peak times, 06:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Saturday, and AED 4 at other times and on Sundays; crossings from 01:00 to 06:00 are free, and Ramadan has its own timings. Since 1 June 2026, 5% VAT is added to every toll.

On the Metro, a ride costs AED 3 to AED 7.50 on a nol Silver card, which costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit; the paper Red Ticket costs AED 2, and its rides AED 4 to AED 8.50. A 7-day pass on a Silver card costs AED 50 for one zone, AED 80 for two zones and AED 110 for all zones.

Official adult prices start at AED 189 for At the Top, Burj Khalifa, AED 50 for the Dubai Frame, AED 190 for Ski Dubai's Snow Base and AED 100 for Dubai Miracle Garden's tourist day ticket. Our own price for each is on its card above.

Desert safaris have no single official price, because each operator sets its own; ours includes hotel pickup from 14:00, a BBQ dinner and live shows at a desert camp.

On a day trip to Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque charges AED 10 for visitors from outside the UAE, AED 5 for Emirates ID holders and AED 8 for visitors through tour operators; its guided walk-in tours are free.

Global Village's Season 31 runs from 14 October 2026 to May 2027; its tickets were not yet on sale when we checked.

In summer, Visit Dubai says, prices drop across the city's hotels and attractions as temperatures rise; desert safaris then run from late afternoon into the evening, when the desert is cooler than the city.

Under-3s go free at At the Top, the Dubai Frame and Dubai Miracle Garden, and children aged 5 and under ride the Metro free, as do People of Determination.

Tourists can reclaim the VAT on their shopping. Ask for a tax-free purchase in a store that is part of the scheme, on a minimum spend of AED 250, and validate it at the airport within 90 days; you must be 18 or older, and you receive 85% of the VAT paid, after a fee of AED 4.80 per tax-free tag.