How Much Money to Take to Dubai for 7 Days (2025 Budget Guide)

• Written by Sep, 3 2025
• 0 Comments

Dubai can eat money fast if you wing it. If you want a straight answer for one week in 2025: youre looking at roughly AED 1,7502,800 ($480
760) for a shoestring trip, AED 4,550
7,000 ($1,240
1,910) for mid-range, and AED 12,600
22,400 ($3,430
6,100) for luxury 1 person, excluding flights. I
bve built these numbers from current price bands in Dubai and the AED peg to the USD (the UAE Central Bank has kept ~3.6725 AED per 1 USD since 1997). Expect 5% VAT on most purchases (UAE Federal Tax Authority) and a small Tourism Dirham fee per room per night set by Dubai
9s Department of Economy and Tourism.

• TL;DR: Solo on a budget: plan AED 250
  400/day ($68
  10). Mid-range: AED 650
  1,000/day ($177
  272). Luxury: AED 1,800
  3,200/day ($490
  872) per person.
• Bring cards for 90% of spend. Cash: AED 300
  600 for tips, small shops, taxis. Pay in AED, not your home currency.
• Big-ticket attractions (safari, waterparks, Burj Khalifa) push your daily average up by AED 15050/day. Budget them on purpose.
• Hotels hold deposits on a card. Add Tourism Dirham (about AED 7
  20 per room per night) on top of your room rate.
• Metro is cheap (AED ~3
  9.5/trip). Taxis are fair but add up. Pricey items: alcohol, brunches, beach clubs.

Your 7-Day Dubai Budget: Quick Math by Travel Style

If you only need the number, here
9s the snapshot for 2025, per person, excluding flights, assuming a twin-share room for non-shoestring levels. Use USD conversions at ~3.67 AED per 1 USD (long-standing peg per UAE Central Bank).

What
9s inside those ranges?

• Accommodation per person per night: dorm AED 90
  160; 3
  4-star double AED 500
  800 (split that by 2); 5-star AED 1,200
  2,500+ (split by 2).
• Food & drinks per person per day: AED 70
  40 (street/food courts) to AED 25050 (sit-down, a drink or two) to AED 600 1,200 (upscale, brunch/nightlife).
• Transport per person per day: AED 15
  60 (metro/tram/bus) to AED 60
  200 (mostly taxis).
• Attractions per person per day: AED 0
  50 (free beaches/malls/museums) to AED 15050 (safari, parks, shows).

Family math? Kids
9 tickets are usually discounted. A family of four (two adults, two kids 6
12) doing 2 big attractions and a safari might sit near AED 1,600
2,600/day in total with a 3
4-star hotel. That
9s AED ~11,200
8,200 for the week before flights.

If you
9re building a Dubai travel budget around one expensive day (say, waterpark + beach club), average it across the week so you don
b9t feel the spike. A single premium day can add AED 5001,200 per person, but spread over 7 days it
9s ~AED 70 170/day extra.

Plan Your Money: Cash vs Card, Fees, and Daily Costs

Dubai is friendly to cards and contactless. Cash still helps for tips, small shops, taxis that don
9t take cards, and market stalls. Here
9s how to set your spend up right.

1. Lock your fixed costs first (hotel + fees). Hotels often take a refundable deposit on your card (common holds are AED 200 500 per night, released after checkout). On top of your nightly rate, expect a Tourism Dirham fee set by Dubai
   9s Department of Economy and Tourism: roughly AED 7
   20 per room per night depending on classification (guest houses and 1
   2-star at the low end; 5-star at the high end). This fee is payable at the property.

2. Choose your transport plan. The metro, tram, and buses use a Nol card. A Nol Silver card costs AED 25 and comes loaded with a small credit. Fares run roughly AED 3
   9.5 depending on zones. For airport transfers, a taxi to Downtown/Marina often lands around AED 70
   120 depending on time/traffic, plus a higher airport flagfall. Regular taxi flagfall is around AED 5
   5.5, per km about AED 1.8
   2.0. Careem and Uber are widely available at similar prices. If you
   9re mixing modes, budget AED 15
   60/day solo or AED 40
   120/day for two sharing taxis.

3. Set a food baseline. Easy daily baselines per person: AED 70
   120 if you lean on shawarma, cafeterias, and mall food courts; AED 150
   250 for casual sit-downs plus coffee; AED 40060 with alcohol or premium venues. Save by eating lunch out and self-catering breakfast (supermarkets are everywhere), then pick your dinner style.

4. Pick your paid sights on purpose. Typical 2025 prices per adult: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck (off-peak) AED ~16929; Museum of the Future AED ~149; Dubai Frame AED ~50; Desert safari with BBQ AED ~12050; Waterparks (Aquaventure, etc.) AED ~34595; Fountain Boardwalk AED ~20; La Perle show from AED ~209; Theme parks (Motiongate, etc.) AED ~27565. Free or low-cost: beaches (Kite, JBR), souks, Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai Mall aquarium viewing area (outside the paid tunnel), Marina promenade, Jumeirah Mosque tours (low-cost guided).

5. Handle cash vs card like a local. Cards are king. Bring a fee-free card if you can. Withdraw cash from ATMs in AED only. When a card machine asks for your home currency, say no. That
   9s dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and it adds a hidden mark-up. Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere.

6. Factor taxes and tips. VAT is 5% across the UAE. Some hotels/restaurants add service charges; tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. A simple rule: round up small bills, or add 5
   10% at sit-down places if nothing is already included. For taxis, rounding up is fine.

7. Phone/data and small extras. A tourist SIM often ranges AED 49
   125 depending on data and minutes. Bottled water from supermarkets is cheap (AED 2
   4 for 1.5L). Sunscreen and beach bits are pricier in hotels than in supermarkets.

Here
9s a quick price list to sanity-check your daily estimates.

Yes, alcohol is expensive even by global city standards. If you
9re budgeting for a few nights out, add AED 15020 per evening per person. If that stings, aim for sundowner happy hours (they
9re common) or stick to mocktails and save a bundle.

Ready-Made Budgets, Checklists, and Mini013FAQ

Here are realistic 7-day money plans you can copy, plus a checklist and answers to the follow-ups I get the most.

Solo Shoestring (7 days)

• Stay: Hostel dorm near metro at AED 100/night = AED 700. Add Tourism Dirham ~AED 7/night if applicable = AED 49.
• Food: AED 90/day (cafeterias, supermarket snacks) = AED 630.
• Transport: Nol + occasional taxi = AED 25/day = AED 175.
• Attractions: Free sights + 2 paid (Frame + safari) = AED 50 + 150 = AED 200.
• Extras: Coffee/water/misc = AED 20/day = AED 140.
• Total: ~AED 1,894 (~$516). Bring AED 300 cash; use card for the rest.

Couple Mid-Range (7 days, price per person)

• Stay: 4-star at AED 700/night = AED 350 pp/night d7 7 = AED 2,450 pp. Tourism Dirham AED 15d7 7 = AED 105 (split = ~AED 52 pp).
• Food: AED 200/day pp (mix of casual + 1 nice dinner) = AED 1,400.
• Transport: Mix metro/taxis = AED 60/day per couple = AED 210 pp.
• Attractions: 3 paid picks (Burj Khalifa 189, Museum 149, Safari 200) = ~AED 538 pp.
• Night out: 2 bar nights at AED 250 each = AED 500 pp.
• Misc/coffee: AED 30/day = AED 210.
• Total: ~AED 5,360 pp (~$1,460). Cash on hand each: AED 400
  600.

Family of Four Value Plan (2 adults, 2 kids)

• Stay: Family room/apartment AED 800/night = AED 5,600. Tourism Dirham AED 15d7 7 = AED 105.
• Food: Breakfast self-catered, lunches out, simple dinners: AED 350/day family = AED 2,450.
• Transport: Metro + some taxis: AED 70/day = AED 490.
• Attractions: Waterpark (2 adults + 2 kids) ~AED 1,300; Desert safari shared car ~AED 600; Dubai Frame family ~AED 150; Museum of the Future (older kids) ~AED 500. Total ~AED 2,550.
• Extras/ice creams: AED 40/day = AED 280.
• Total: ~AED 11, - wait, let
  9s add cleanly: 5,600 + 105 + 2,450 + 490 + 2,550 + 280 = AED 11,475 (~$3,128). Bring AED ~800 in cash for the week; pay the rest by card.

Luxury Week (price per person in a couple)

• Stay: 5-star beachfront AED 1,800/night = AED 900 pp/night d7 7 = AED 6,300 pp. Tourism Dirham AED 20d7 7 = AED 140 (split = AED 70 pp).
• Food & drink: AED 600/day pp (fine dining, brunch) = AED 4,200.
• Transport: Mostly taxis/private transfers: AED 150/day pp = AED 1,050.
• Attractions & experiences: Premium safari, La Perle, spa = AED 1,800 pp.
• Beach clubs/shopping buffer: AED 1,500 pp.
• Total: ~AED 14,920 pp (~$4,065). Cash comfort: AED 600 1,200 pp.

Money checklist you can screenshot

• Cards: 1 primary travel card (no FX fees if possible) + 1 backup. Enable contactless and travel notices.
• Cash: AED 300 600 per person to start. Withdraw more locally if needed.
• Nol card for metro/tram. Keep small change loaded.
• Airport transfers booked or ride app installed (Careem/Uber).
• Booked attractions in your calendar with costs noted. Leave a buffer day.
• Travel insurance with clear medical coverage and deductible.
• VAT receipts saved (snap pics) in case you want to track spend.
• Apps: RTA Dubai (transport), Careem, your bank apps, maps, a currency converter.

Ways to save without killing the fun

• Pick a metro-friendly base (e.g., near Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Deira City Centre). The savings on taxis add up fast.
• Do one pricey experience every other day, not back-to-back.
• Lunch at beach clubs instead of dinner (lower minimums, same views).
• Happy hours for drinks; mocktails otherwise. Also check weekday deals.
• Use supermarkets (Carrefour, Lulu) for snacks, water, sunscreen.
• Compare multi-attraction passes only if you
  9ll do 3
  5 big-ticket items. Do the math; some days you
  9ll prefer free beaches and souks.

Mini-FAQ

• Is Dubai cashless? Mostly. Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis in most cases. Cash helps at small shops and for tips.
• Should I bring USD or EUR in cash? Not necessary. You
  9ll pay in AED. Use an ATM on arrival and choose Charge in AED on the screen.
• How much do I tip? Round up small bills or add 5
  10% at sit-down places if no service charge is listed. Porters: AED 5
  10 per bag.
• Are there hidden hotel fees? Expect a refundable deposit on your card and the nightly Tourism Dirham fee. VAT (5%) is included on invoices.
• How expensive is alcohol? A beer can run AED 456; cocktails AED 609+, wine by the glass AED 458+. Brunches start near AED 299.
• Is tap water safe? Yes, it meets standards, but taste varies. Bottled water is cheap in supermarkets (AED 2
  4 for 1.5L).
• Is Uber or Careem cheaper than taxis? Pricing is similar; it varies with surge and route. Taxi is fine; ride apps add convenience for pickups.
• What
  9s the best SIM? Tourist bundles from major carriers start around AED 49
  125. If your eSIM phone supports it, buy an eSIM to skip lines.
• Can I negotiate in souks? Light haggling is expected in traditional markets. Not in malls.
• Any money gotchas? Dynamic currency conversion at POS terminals. Always pay in AED.

Build-your-own number in 5 minutes

1. Hotel: Take your confirmed nightly rate d7 7 and add Tourism Dirham (AED ~7
   20 d7 7). If you
   9re sharing, divide by 2.
2. Food: Pick a lane 1) AED 90/day, 2) AED 200/day, 3) AED 600/day per person d7 7.
3. Transport: Metro-focused AED 15/day pp; taxi-heavy AED 100
   200/day per couple d7 7.
4. Attractions: List the paid ones you
   9ll do and add the AED numbers above. Divide by 7 to get a daily average.
5. Nightlife/shopping: Add a buffer that fits your style (AED 300 1,500 pp for the week).
6. Cash to carry: AED 300 600 pp, everything else on cards.

Risks and easy fixes

• Card decline due to fraud filters: Pre-notify your bank. Carry a backup card.
• ATM fees: Withdraw fewer, larger amounts; use your bank
  9s partner if any. Avoid airport currency exchange counters for poor rates.
• Hotel deposit holds: Use a credit card, not a debit card, so your cash isn
  9t tied up.
• Surge pricing on rides: Use the metro at peak; book rides a bit earlier or later than the rush.
• Overspending on day one: Split splurge days across the week. Average them out.

Why the ranges are trustworthy

The dirham
3dollar peg has held since 1997, which stabilizes conversions (UAE Central Bank). VAT has been 5% since 2018 (UAE Federal Tax Authority). The Tourism Dirham has fixed bands by hotel classification (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism). The price bands in the tables reflect current 2025 listings across chains, independent restaurants, RTA fares, and popular attractions.

Next steps

• Shoestring solo: Book a hostel near a metro, preload a Nol card, pick 2 paid sights, and cap daily spend at AED 300.
• Romantic mid-range: Choose a 4-star with a pool near the metro, plan 3 anchor experiences (Burj + safari + show), and earmark two nice dinners.
• Family with kids: Lock in a kitchenette apartment, do one water day (waterpark or club) and one desert day, and keep two free beach/souk days.
• Luxury: Pick your must-do splurges first (beach club cabana, fine dining, spa), then layer casual days so you don
  9t burn out your budget or energy.

If anything changes last minute (weather, closures, surge pricing), swap in free beach time, Al Fahidi, the souks, or a marina walk, and your budget stays intact. You won
9t run out of things to do100% promise.