From 25 Feb, quarantine-free travel to the UAE will be resumed — if you’re planning a future escapade to the City of Gold, here’s a comprehensive walkthrough on how much it’ll cost to eat, sleep and stay in Dubai!
I’ve only ever been to Dubai once — back when travelling to Europe on a budget dictated that you’ll be spending at least 13 hours in a layover somewhere. Like most, I went in completely blind with little to no impression of how Dubai will be like other than vague (and frankly, quite passé) references from old Hollywood movies. Lucky for me, I had a friend who was based in Dubai at the time. Thus I had a place to crash, and more importantly, a guide to take me around. This may not be the case for everyone, so we took it upon ourselves to backtrack on our, albeit, short but memorable adventures in this part of the United Arab Emirates to present to you a more accurate idea of how much a trip might cost with YouTrip’s guide to Dubai — for the budget, moderate, or luxury traveller.
💜 Stay Up To Date:
#1: Singapore Vaccinated Travel Framework Updates: What You Need to Know
#2: Ultimate Guide to VTF Travel From Singapore
#3: Best COVID-19 Travel Insurance: Policies For VTL Travel
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Entry Requirements
Present (one of these options):
✅ Proof of vaccination certificate with QR code
👉🏻 Printed or digital PCR test certificates or vaccination certificates are accepted in English or Arabic and must include a QR code OR
✅ Negative COVID‑19 PCR test (taken within 48 hours) with a QR code
👉🏻 COVID‑19 PCR test results in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the departure point OR
✅ For recent COVID-19 patients: Medical certificate issued by the relevant authorities
👉🏻 One month from the date of recovery to the date of arrival
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Travel Expenditure Checklist
Disclaimer: We used the dates of 2 to 9 Feb as a safe gauge of the average costs of current post-pandemic travel via VTL Dubai.
| Budget | Moderate | Luxury | |
| Accommodations | S$ 121/night | S$ 139/night | S$ 555/night |
| Dining | S$ 4/meal | S$ 19/meal | S$ 50/meal |
| Attractions | free | free | free |
| Transport | S$2.20 | S$2.20 | S$2.20 |
| Flights | S$ 470 round trip | S$ 470 round trip | S$ 470 round trip |
| Travel Insurance | S$49 | S$49 | S$49 |
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Accommodations
Psst! Get an extra 7% off your Agoda bookings when you make full use of YouTrip Perks and check out with your YouTrip card. We’ve made sure to only include options that provide free cancellations!
(A) Budget
Studio M Arabian Plaza Hotel & Apartments by Millennium
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 11.3 km to Burj Khalifa (330m to nearest public transport)
Price: S$121 per night
No. of Reviews: 4k
Score: 8.3/10
Golden Sands Hotel Apartments
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 6.4 km to Burj Khalifa
Price: S$127 per night
No. of Reviews: 11.5k
Score: 8/10
(B) Moderate
FORM Hotel Dubai, a member of Design Hotels™
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 6.7 km to Burj Khalifa
Price: S$139 per night
No. of Reviews: 2k
Score: 8.5/10
Gevora Hotel – The Tallest Hotel in the World
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 1.7 km to Burj Khalifa
Price: S$242 per night
No. of Reviews: 12.9k
Score: 8.2/10
(C) Luxury
Jumeirah Al Qasr
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 11.6 km to Burj Khalifa
Price: S$1,091 per night
No. of Reviews: 1.4k
Score: 9.1/10
The St. Regis Downtown, Dubai
Photo credits: Agoda
Distance from City Center: 1.3 km to Burj Khalifa
Price: S$555 per night
No. of Reviews: 68
Score: 9.2/10
🇦🇪 VTL Dubai: Dining
As all savvy travellers do, we sought the help of our travel bible Tripadvisor to sieve out the best food recommendations and reviews to locate the ultimate belly-fillers for every budget.
(A) Budget
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
Operation Falafel The Beach Mall JBR
Where: Jumeirah Beach Residence
What: Hearty Lebanese fast food — Traveller’s Choice 2021
Price range: from S$4
No. of Reviews: 725
Score: 4.5/5
Find out more.
Mama’Esh
Where: Al Abraj Street
What: Authentic and fresh Palestinian street food
Price range: from S$7
No. of Reviews: 163
Score: 4.5/5
Find out more.
Ravi’s
Where: Satwa Al Satwa Road
What: For a no-frills Pakistani feast
Price range: from S$5
No. of Reviews: 1,051
Score: 4.5/5
Find out more.
(B) Moderate
Tribes Carnivore
Where: Sikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard
What: A carnivore’s paradise with amazing service
Price range: from S$20
No. of Reviews: 1,459
Score: 5/5
Find out more.
The Grill Shack
Where: The Dubai Mall
What: Good ol’ American steakhouse
Price range: from S$20
No. of Reviews: 1,025
Score: 5/5
Senor Pico
Where: Palm Jumeriah, Dubai United Arab Emirates Palm Dubai
What: Colourful Mexican cuisine in a romantic setting
Price range: from S$19
No. of Reviews: 1,005
Score: 5/5
(C) Restaurants
White Orchid Restaurant
Where: JA Palm Tree Court, JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort
What: Fabulous Asian fusion food — also Traveller’s Choice for Best of the Best
Price range: from S$80
No. of Reviews: 728
Score: 5/5
Amala
Where: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Right Wing
What: Exotic yet authentic Persian-inspired Indian grub, aka Mughlai
Price range: from S$50
No. of Reviews: 1,516
Score: 4.5/5
Tong Thai
Where: Al Sa’ada St Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay
What: Rich contemporary Thai cuisine, Traveller’s Choice
Price range: from S$90
No. of Reviews: 1,142
Score: 4.5/5
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Attractions
There are aquariums in malls, palm-shaped islands, as well as exquisite boutiques and buzzy souks. However, if you’re in need of some fresh air after a night of shopping in the city, you can always take a ride out and explore new territories too.
Souks
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
Especially if you don’t speak the language it might be quite overwhelming to navigate through the local markets. Thankfully, there are a ton of tours on Tripadvisor that help eliminate this issue — one of which is Mohamed Mawla’s Dubai Aladdin Tour. You’ll get to enjoy stress-free visits to the Grand Souk, Spice Souk, Gold Souk and more! Plus, you’ll get to go in small groups which is great for solo travellers looking to meet new people.
Admission: From S$63
Find out more here.
Lehbab Red-Dune Desert Tour
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
If there’s one thing you can’t miss when in Dubai, it would be a trip into the desert. Opt to join this six-hour tour that includes hotel pick up and encompasses everything from camel rides, quad bike rides, sandboarding, henna-painting, to the perfect sunset photo op for the ‘gram. You’ll also get to enjoy a barbecue lunch or dinner buffet and be treated to a live traditional dance at Al Khayma Desert Safari Camp in between bites — talk about an immersive experience!
Guided Tour: S$167
Find out more here.
Dubai Mall
I always thought Singapore’s malls were great — well, till I stepped into the ones in Dubai. Opulent doesn’t even quite cover it. Their malls are huge. But Dubai Mall, specifically, is so huge that they can fit an aquatic tank with an actual shark diving in there, plus a skating rink, a waterfall, and of course everything that money can buy. I would save a whole day for this one, preferably when it’s hot outside.
Admission: Free
Find out more here.
La Mer
Photo credits: Tripadvisor
You’ve heard of the Palm Islands of Dubai. Well, Palm Jumeirah is the ‘archipelago’ of these manmade islands — also touted as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’. Jumeirah also happens to be the Beverly Hills of Dubai, with a ton of cafes, art galleries and of course the public stretch of sand always in sight aka La Mer.
Admission: Free
Find out more here.
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Transport
Unlike popular belief, it’s way easier for women to travel in Dubai than what people make it out to be. Women are allowed to drive cars, you can also take taxis alone or walk alone on your own! Plus, you don’t have to wear a burka or headscarf around — however, being respectful of the culture there will always be received warmly. I.e being sure to cover your shoulders and knees. It’ll also help to reduce unwanted attention. Read more here.
Navigate the various modes of public transport with the NOL card (S$9.30) or an NOL Red Ticket (S$2.20) so you don’t have to carry cash around! Buy your NOL card or ticket here, or plan your trip here.
| Trains & Trams | → Dubai Metro: Connects Dubai Airport to the Burj Khalifa and all major malls and spots → Palm Jumeriah Monorail: Privately owned transport system designed to take tourists or residents from one end of the Palm to the other → Dubai Tram: Connects the Metro station as well as the Palm Monorail |
| Buses | Takes you to places that you can’t reach through the Metro. It can even take you between emirates. Or to Jumeirah Beach. |
| Taxis | Taxis are pretty cheap in Dubai — plus they are strictly regulated by Dubai Road and Transport Authority. They are all metered, and there is even a Smart Taxi App. |
| Water Taxis | The best way to evade road congestion — or if you wish to opt for the scenic route! |
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Flights
To help gauge an average cost, we used a one-week travel span across the various airlines (from 2 Feb to 9 Feb) to Dubai when calculating the costs of the return-trip flights.
| Cost of Flight to Dubai | |
| Singapore Airlines | S$470 |
| Emirates | S$483 |
🇦🇪 YouTrip’s Guide to Dubai: Travel Insurance
Similarly, to help gauge an average cost, we used a one-week travel span across 6 travel insurance options (from 2 Feb to 9 Feb) when calculating the costs of the plans. We are also choosing the basic option of each plan so you get a gauge of the minimum amount you’ll be paying for insurance, amongst the other real costs of travelling via Vaccinated Travel Lanes.
Live The Luxurious Life With YouTrip!
As the pandemic rages on, and health professionals all over the world work hard to combat it, let’s do our part to ensure that we have taken the necessary precautions when going out or travelling. Till then, make sure you’ve got your YouTrip card ready to take advantage of our Wholesale Exchange Rates for all purchases when embarking on YouTrip’s guide to Dubai (or enjoy great savings on all your international online shopping in the meantime)!
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Stay safe, and happy travels!
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