A tourist’s guide to Budget Friendly Dubai

A tourist’s guide to Budget Friendly Dubai

A tourist’s guide to Budget Friendly Dubai, When you haven’t been to this Sunny city of Dubai, but want to experience the vibes of the city without digging a hole in your pockets, then you must not skip these budget-friendly and once in a lifetime experience.

Dubai has lots and lots to offer whether you are high on adventure, or a connoisseur of food, wines, or are a lover of music and nature, or just want to take your children for some life experience with utmost safety & hygiene. Just wish for something & the city has it for you!

My top ten must visit/ experiences suggestions are here:

1. The Desert Safari & Dune Bashing

Here you experience the traditional Arab way of celebrating the golden sands…there’s camel ride, adventurous rides in Land Cruiser in the sand dunes, dining experience in Arabic style Majlis with live belly dance, Arabic henna tattoos, photo session in the Arabic attires with jewellery, fire dance & tanoura dance shows. Some offers also include sand boarding (or you can bring your own), quad biking etc.

Points to remember:

1. Wear comfortable clothes, keep a set of light woollens handy
2. Wear open shoes
3. Get your hair ties along
4. Carry along high SPF & a good pair of shades
5. Carry enough water bottle & snacks as buffet starts by evening.

COST: Ticket prices vary from AED 70 per person to AED 250 per person depending upon the tour company you book your package with.

2. Visit the Majestic Burj Khalifa, Dubai fountain & the Dubai Mall

Think of Dubai & you can’t miss thinking about these. The tallest, the most beautiful & the largest in the world.

If you’re scared of heights & just want to keep on admiring the beauty of this engineering marvel, you can visit Dubai Mall & watch the fountains & laser light display on the Burj Khalifa, while the musical fountain show is every half hour, the laser light display on the tallest tower has a schedule, check their social media page beforehand and give them a try. 

Points to remember:

1. Book your tickets ahead if you want Burj Khalifa tour
2. Visit during late afternoon hours so that you don’t miss out on the lighting
3. Wear comfortable footwear, there’s an option of wheelchair assistance

COST: Mostly free

If you really want to know how it feels like to be on top of the world, literally, then don’t miss to visit At the Top of Burj Khalifa.

Packages start from AED 150 per person & onwards, their website itself has many combo packages.

3. The Global Village

Imagine a place where world’s heritage come together, a place where you can visit the most sought after buildings and monuments of several countries, you can witness their traditional art performances, food & craftsmanship that you can brag about to your family and friends. Visiting pavillions of these nations you get to know so much, that even if you boast about visiting these countries in person, people might fall for it.

In there, they have souvenirs, spices, traditional dresses, food, accessories and what not. Go on this unforgettable cultural trip once in Dubai.

Points to remember:

1. The place is huge & requires a minimum of 4 hours.
2. It opens at 4 PM till 12 midnight every day (October- April) & gets crowded with every passing hour & roads get jammed, so plan accordingly.
3. You can get wheelchair assistance for elderly as well as free entry for senior citizens.
4. Carry enough water & snacks(if you have small kids), though it’s available inside as well
5. Wear comfortable shoes & carry sweatshirts

COST: 15 AED per person, children under 3 & senior citizens go free

4. Get Bedazzled at the Gold & Spice Souks, Al Seef Village, Old Dubai & DHOW cruise

Visit Bur Dubai and Deira, you’ll get the feeling of older times & a little feeling of the Indian Open markets especially in the Meenabazar area. Here you’ll get a wide variety of spices some which you don’t get often like “Zatar“. Gold sold in the UAE is one of the finest, if you are an Indian, you must know how much value this precious metal has in our lives…however, here you’ll get to see the designs you’ve never seen before.

Visit in the Abara docks, it’s fun to travel within the city watching the old and the new worlds of Dubai coexisting.

In Al seef Village, the restaurants are designed like cottages in Old Arabic Village style & this place is just so beautiful to be missed, it’ll remind one of Delhi’s Khau Gully…

COST: Dhow cruise starts from AED 70 onwards, depending upon the one you choose. You can roam in the Abara Boats (AED 1 only) or take a water taxi (AED 20) or water ferry rides from Marina (AED 50). The view is spectacular.

5. Atlantis the Palm, Palm Jumeirah Island

It’s yet again an engineering wonder & the largest man-made islands. These nest homes of some of the world-famous celebrities too. Atlantis hotel is one beautiful hotel to visit, for its water park, the lost chambers etc. 

To get a magnificent view of the palm shape (AED 20 for return ticket per person), board on the monorails, otherwise you can board a taxi, especially if you’re a big group of people & don’t want to spend much.

Cost: Depends on booking time

6.Dubai Miracle Garden

This is the worlds largest & most beautiful flower garden, one can’t imagine so many plants so well maintained in the heart of the so-called arid country, every year they have a special decoration & sculpture theme like love, aviation, year of Mickey etc.

COST: AED 50per person, children above 12 years 40 AED.

7. The Jumeirah Beach Corniche

Your trip isn’t complete without a picture of Burj Al Arab in the backdrop. They’ve got a whole lot of sand, clean sand, shacks, eateries besides, walking & cycling tracks, good toilet facilities and what not.

Free of cost!

8. IMAGINE show at Festival City Mall

Its world’s largest, Guniess Book Record winning laser on water projection. With 30 fountains and surround sound to connect with audiences, IMAGINE is a show like never seen before. It is HUGE!

Free of cost. The show starts at 6.30 PM at hourly intervals till 10.30 PM

9. The Dubai Frame

Yet again, the largest frame in the world, a beautifully designed place. One tower of which shows the past of Dubai and the other has a virtual reality you, this place is beautiful inside out. Should visit once.

COST: AED 50 for adults, there are some passes for family, while children under 5 go free.

10. Dubai Glow Garden

This is a place to be visited after the sunset, a place to visit along with children makes it even more enjoyable. This includes a Dinosaur par, sustainability park & Ice park (has a separate ticket), but a fun-filled experience in all.

Opens in October & remains open till the end of May, costs AED 65 (children below 3 go free).