- Accommodation
- Transport
- Nutrition
- Entertainment
- Purchases
The United Arab Emirates is a country on the Arabian Peninsula, consisting of seven emirate regions. The largest emirate is called Abu Dhabi. Its main city is also the capital of the UAE. The smallest emirate in area - Ajman - occupies an area of only 250 square meters. km.
Tourists travel to the Emirates to witness how a man in just 50-70 years was able to turn a barren desert into a blooming oasis. Here, in a matter of decades, man-made canals, artificial islands, glass skyscrapers, and shady gardens have appeared. Whichever city travelers choose for their vacation in the Emirates, they will not be disappointed.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are considered the most expensive, Sharjah and Fujairah are more budgetary. Stopping in any of these cities, you can go on an excursion to the neighboring emirates. The choice and quality of souvenirs in any city in the UAE are about the same. And the prices in the emirates for what guests of the country usually buy as gifts to relatives and friends are kept at the same level. The same cannot be said about travel in buses and taxis. In Abu Dhabi, you can save on getting around the city. Tourists often ask on specialized forums on the Internet the question of how much money to take in the UAE in order to have enough for accommodation, food, entertainment and more.
People usually come to the UAE with dollars or euros, which are exchanged for dirhams on the spot. In 2020, as in previous years, the exchange rate of the dirham against the dollar does not change. It is 1: 3, 7, that is, 1 dollar is equal to 3, 7 dirhams.
Accommodation
Tourists are always welcome in the United Arab Emirates. Distinguished guests are received here with dignity. Every year, new hotels are opened in the Emirates, which only delights tourists. This is not to say that holidays in the UAE are available only to the rich. Here you can find inexpensive, comfortable hotels that will not "eat up" the lion's share of the budget allocated for recreation.
You can settle in the Emirates:
- in hostels. There are few of them, and they are no different from similar establishments in other countries. Accommodation in the hostel will cost 75 dirhams;
- in hotels 2-3 stars. The minimum cost of a room in such hotels will be about 150 dirhams per day;
- in 4 star hotels. In them you can find a number for 185 dirhams;
- in luxury 5-star hotels. Prices for accommodation in these hotels start at 380 dirhams.
The most luxurious hotels in the Emirates are Desert Palm Dubai (a room in it costs from 1500 to 8000 dirhams per day), Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai (2700-5700 dirhams per day), Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, where, by the way, you can go in completely free of charge to admire the luxurious atmosphere of the lobby or have a snack at a local restaurant (a room in this hotel will cost 1900-2400 dirhams), and some others.
Very few hotels in the UAE (about 10 hotels in Dubai, about 20 hotels in Abu Dhabi and several hotel complexes in Ras al-Khaimah) operate on the All Inclusive system. Domestic travel agencies willingly offer such hotels to their customers. The cost of a package stay at the All Inclusive hotel, marked with 3-4 stars, will be 2220-3145 dirhams (600-850 dollars) per person for 7 days. In a 5-star hotel, renting a room will cost AED 4625-7400 ($ 1250-2000) per week. It should be remembered that in many hotels in the UAE alcohol is prohibited for consumption and sale, and hotels of the All Inclusive system are no exception.
The quality of rest often depends on the successful choice of the hotel. It is better to take care of this in advance and choose the best accommodation option in terms of comfort, proximity to the beaches and price.
Transport
It is unlikely that any tourist would think of walking around the cities in the Emirates. Attractions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other cities are located at a considerable distance from each other. Therefore, people travel between them by public transport, taxi or rented car. There are buses and metro in Dubai, in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other cities of the UAE - only buses. Metro in Dubai is very convenient and understandable. The fare in it costs 8-25 dirhams. You should pay with a special Red Nol Card.
City buses are not popular with visitors, because for the smallest trifle they can run into a large fine. For example, buses have special places on the floor that should never be stepped on. Bus travel costs 2-7 dirhams in different cities.
Traveling around the city by taxi is much easier: the taxi driver knows where to go, and the cost of one trip is not so critical. For a week, tourists spend about 185 dirhams ($ 50) on taxi rides.
Renting a middle class car will cost 150 dirhams per day. Car rental offices can be found at airports and in historic city centers. Be prepared to be asked to leave a security deposit of AED 1,850-3700 ($ 500-1000).
The best way to travel between the emirates is by large, comfortable buses. A trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi will cost 25 dirhams, from Dubai to Sharjah a little cheaper.
Nutrition
In the United Arab Emirates, you can feel like a wealthy sheikh eating at expensive restaurants, or a lighthearted student grabbing some kebab on the run between local sightseeing. The cheapest eateries in the Emirates are owned by Indians. It is mainly visited by workers who have come to work from neighboring eastern countries. One dish in such restaurants costs about 5 dirhams. In a more expensive cafe, lunch will cost an average of 40 dirhams. There are also respectable restaurants in the UAE, where the check will contain a fairly substantial amount of 100-170 dirhams.
Don't miss the opportunity to sample the local seafood. Often, the visitor himself can choose the ingredients that will become the basis of his dinner, because in some restaurants there are aquariums that contain live shrimps, lobsters, fish of different types.
A separate amount must be left for drinks. Because of the heat, I always want to drink juice, tea, coffee or just mineral water. A small bottle of drinking water costs 1 dirham, a glass of freshly squeezed juice in a street kiosk - about 20 dirhams, coffee will cost 10-12 dirhams, refreshing mint tea - 16 dirhams.
Decent restaurants can be sold out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. These days are considered an Arab weekend when all the locals go out. Tour operators recommend booking a place in restaurants during this period in advance.
Top 10 dishes to try in the UAE
Entertainment
Experienced tourists are advised to set aside $ 300-400 for sightseeing trips.
In Dubai, it is worth spending from 141 to 600 dirhams (38-162 dollars) to climb one of the observation decks, which are located in the Burj Khalifa skyscraper. The cost of tickets depends on the observation deck that you choose: it will be cheaper to climb to the 125th floor than to the 148th.
A visit to the picturesque Miracle Garden flower park will also be remembered for a long time. For 23 dirhams, you can find yourself in a place where about 45 million fragrant flowers grow. The park is closed in summer.
Top 15 places of interest in the UAE
Perhaps the most popular attraction in Abu Dhabi is the Marina Eye. You can ride it for 50 dirhams per person. Next to the Ferris wheel, there is the Marina Mall, which has a trampoline park that is adored by children of all ages. A ticket to it will cost 80 dirhams.
From Abu Dhabi it is recommended to go to the city of Al Ain, travel agencies bring tourists there for 330-440 dirhams. In Al Ain, you should definitely go to the zoo, which is the largest in the emirate. Ticket price - 50 dirhams (for children - 20). Another place in Al Ain not to be missed is the camel market. Guided tours are conducted on it for 30 dirhams.
Desert safari in jeeps is considered quite popular among tourists. Desert excursions are offered from many cities in the UAE: Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi. Prices for such tours in different emirates, if they differ, are insignificant. The trip will cost 220-330 dirhams.
Purchases
Jewelry made of gold will be an original Arabian gift for your beloved woman or mother. There are markets in the cities of the Emirates, where there are numerous shops selling gold rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. The most popular place to buy jewelry is the Gold Souk bazaar in Dubai. A little advice for those who want to buy jewelry at a big discount: come to the market early in the morning. The first buyer, according to local beliefs, should never be missed, so sellers willingly make concessions and sell the selected product for less than its cost. The minimum price for jewelry will be 200-300 dirhams.
They also buy in the UAE:
- traditional souvenirs - magnets, T-shirts, caps, glass models of buildings - sights of the country, soft toys in the form of camels - the symbol of the Emirates. The cost of such lovely gifts starts from 5-10 dirhams and can reach 200;
- new models of iPhones, smartphones and other popular gadgets. The UAE levies a low value added tax, so any goods will be a little cheaper here than at home. For an iPhone, for example, they ask for about 2,200 dirhams;
- sweets and dates. Look for them in supermarkets and grocery markets. 1 kg of dates costs about 30 dirhams;
- fur coats. A mink product will cost AED 11,100;
- carpets. The average cost of an oriental carpet with a mesmerizing pattern is 740 dirhams.
One person for a vacation in the United Arab Emirates will be enough 800-1000 dollars. Part of this amount will be used to pay for travel expenses and food in restaurants, the rest can be spent on buying souvenirs and ordering excursions. Accommodation and flight expenses are not included in the travel budget. It is worth setting aside about 25% of the hotel room rate in advance, because it will be required at the reception as a tourist tax.
<! - ST1 Code Travel insurance is required for travel to the UAE. It is profitable and convenient to buy a policy via the Internet. It only takes a couple of minutes: Get insurance in the UAE <! - ST1 Code End
How much money to take in Abu Dhabi
How much money to take in Sharjah
How much money to take to Dubai
