Dubai Dining Prices: Is Eating Out Expensive or Affordable in 2025?

• Written by Jun, 24 2025
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Dubai loves to turn heads, and its food scene is no different. The city’s glittering skyline and lavish hotel brunches might make you think you’ll need a banker’s salary just to eat lunch. But pause before you call your credit card company. Dubai dining isn’t just gold-plated steaks—though, yes, you’ll find those. There’s another side, too, where shawarma costs less than a fancy coffee back home, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants pack just as much punch as Michelin-starred hotspots. So, is eating out in Dubai expensive? The real story is far more interesting.

The Real Cost of Eating Out in Dubai

If Dubai’s whirling mix of perfumes, sports cars, and skyscraper brunches has your wallet quaking, you’re not alone. When you Google Dubai restaurants, the headlines love to shout about over-the-top feasts that cost more than your flight ticket. But statistics do a little myth-busting: a 2025 report by Numbeo shows the average cost of a basic meal at an inexpensive restaurant sits around 40 AED ($11 USD), while a three-course meal for two at a mid-range place hovers near 250 AED ($68 USD). Compared to cities like New York or London, that’s competitive. High-end dining can get wild, sure—think Nouvelle cuisine at Pierchic or dining with celebrity chefs who’ve set up camp in the Burj Khalifa—but you’re not required to splurge.

Tourist hotspots along Jumeirah Beach Road, Downtown, and Dubai Marina always carry higher price tags. The Instagram-famous “gold burger” at Burj Al Arab still makes headlines, and the extravagant Friday brunch buffets (which stretch now into Saturday thanks to Dubai’s new weekend) can run you up to 600 AED per person for the full bubbly, lobster, and wagyu steak experience. That said, there are literally thousands of restaurants where you can eat well for the cost of a movie ticket. Many locals and savvy expats swear by food courts in shopping malls where Indian, Filipino, or Lebanese meals rarely cost over 30 AED ($8 USD). Even at the famous Ravi Restaurant in Satwa, you can fill your table with grilled kebabs, daal, and bread for about 60 AED for two.

If you want numbers, here’s a quick price summary for 2025:

If tipping feels complicated, know that service charges are usually included for dine-in meals in most mid-tier and upscale places, while tipping a few extra dirhams at budget restaurants is appreciated but not expected. Pay attention to taxes added on your bill: a 5% VAT and sometimes a 7-10% municipal levy, depending on location.

Local Gems vs. Luxe Landmarks: Dubai’s Dining Diversity

No city loves to offer options quite like Dubai, and its food scene is a chameleon. You can pivot from silken plates at Zuma, Nobu, or Atmosphere at the Burj Khalifa (where sipping water with your risotto may cost as much as a dinner in other cities) to a lively Pakistani café in Deira where the biryani arrives hot and spicy for less than your coffee back home. That’s the beauty of the city—it caters to every palate and every wallet.

Where you eat shapes how much you pay, and who you eat with can tip the scales, too. On one end, hotel restaurants and rooftop lounges reflect Dubai’s penchant for extravagance: many add 15-20% just for a good view. Think about Pierchic’s panoramic dine-over-water setting or Armani’s white-gloved table service: here, you’ll pay for both the food and the Instagrammable setting. On the flip side, the alleys behind Dubai Creek or Karama’s tightly packed shopfronts hide spots like Al Ustad Special Kabab or Karachi Darbar, fabled for flavors, not flashy tables. Here, nobody bats an eye if you come solo or in flip-flops, and the meal will rarely cost above 25 AED per dish.

What’s changed in 2025? There’s a big push for trendy lifestyle mini-chains, like Wild & The Moon and Common Grounds, where you’re paying more for the urban vibes than for the food itself. A turmeric latte or halloumi bowl there might be double what you’d spend at a mom-and-pop spot—a lunch can zigzag between 19 AED and 70 AED even in the same neighborhood. Food delivery apps are everywhere, so if you want a fancy meal on a budget, timing is everything (hint: check for off-peak discounts or lunch specials).

In Dubai’s old town, street food is the city’s best-kept secret. Try Iranian kebab shops near Al Fahidi or samosas in Meena Bazaar for 3 AED each. Wherever you dine, expect to taste a bit of the world: with over 200 nationalities living here, Dubai’s food is as global as its skyline. It’s not just global, it’s experimental: you’ll find “camel burger” on some quirky menus, alongside plant-based twists thanks to a growing vegan crowd.

Here’s a quick tip that pays off: if a restaurant has laminated menus and handwritten specials, chances are it’ll go easy on your wallet. The Dubai crowd loves new openings, but the places that have survived a decade or two… there’s a reason.

If alcohol is on your wish-list, remember it changes everything. Unlike some cities, Dubai’s alcohol is expensive: taxes and import fees push prices up. Expect pints at a licensed spot (usually hotels or clubs) to hit 40-55 AED, while cocktails often start at 65 AED. Want to save? Dry “mocktail” culture is strong, and you won’t be the only one skipping the pricier sips.

Insider Tips and Savvy Tricks for Eating Out in Dubai

Every traveler wants to eat well and feel smart about their spending. Dubai rewards those who do their homework. Here’s how locals and expats get the most out of the food game without maxing out their cards.

• Eat at lunch, not dinner. Many spots have incredible weekday lunch deals—set menus at half the price of evening meals. Even Michelin-starred restaurants join in, offering curated lunches from 95-150 AED.
• Explore food halls and old souks. The best shawarma and falafel stalls cluster in Deira, Bur Dubai, or Al Rigga. Not exactly glamorous, but unbeatable when it comes to flavor-meets-value.
• Download food apps. Companies like Zomato, Talabat, and Deliveroo offer generous buy-one-get-one deals, loyalty points, or flash discounts across hundreds of venues.
• Take advantage of happy hours. Cocktail bars and hotel lounges host early-evening deals, often slashing drink and snack prices in half between 5-7 pm. Perfect for sundowners on a budget.
• Skip extra water charges. Some high-end places push bottled water, but you can always ask for "Dubai tap"—it’s desalinated, safe, and cuts a sneaky 25 AED off your bill.
• Try meals at supermarkets. Places like Carrefour and Lulu whip up daily fresh curries, biryanis, and rotisserie chickens at prices even budget travelers love—a meal can dip under 15 AED.
• Look for business lunch promotions. Dubai’s business crowd loves a bargain, so restaurants compete fiercely for the noon crowd. Even ritzy places drop main + dessert menus for 60-90 AED.
• Use Entertainer or MR Card offers. The Entertainer app and select MasterCard credit cards deliver tons of 2-for-1 meal coupons. Locals swear by it—savings can stack up, especially if you’re eating out with a friend.
• Get social for soft launches. New places invite guests to taste their menus at big discounts during “soft open” weeks. Watch Instagram or Facebook foodie groups for announcements and giveaways.

Dining out doesn’t have to mean missing out. Whether you’re after a five-star experience, a quick shawarma, or that hidden gem passed down by word of mouth, Dubai’s table is open—and more generous than you might expect. Play your cards right, and you can savor sushi on the marina after a day spent exploring Jumeirah’s food stalls, all without draining your travel fund. If you’re hunting for value without compromise, don’t be shy about stepping away from the tourist strip and letting your curiosity lead the way. You’ll taste the real Dubai, and your wallet will thank you.