dubai budget stays

Where to Stay in Dubai on a Budget

Where to Stay in Dubai on a Budget 

Dubai hotel prices can be high, especially between October and February. A country built on oil profits that put up the luxurious Burj Al Arab with $24000-a-night hotel rooms can seem formidable to a budget traveler. 

Regular rooms in the city can cost between $35 and $50, which is not too high but still higher than backpacker budgets. However, depending on when and where you go, you may find cheaper accommodation. 

Airbnb properties are also excellent since Dubai has a strong real estate market, and some gorgeous properties are rented out by owners. Airbnbs don’t have the amenities of hotels, but they are usually priced lower per-night than hotels. 

A list of some good budget hostels and serviced apartments in Dubai should include:   

  • California Hostel Dubai Beach
  • Discovery Garden Poolside
  • Backpacker Top 10 
  • Traveler’s Stay 
  • Bollywood Beach Hostel
  • The 7 Hostels 
  • Sleep n Shop at the Dubai Mall
  • Sam99 Tecoms

Some budget hotels for those with a slightly higher budget and the requirement for better amenities can include:

  • Rove at the Park
  • Maisan Hotel
  • Dusit D2 Kenz Hotel
  • Avani Deira Dubai Hotel 
  • Ramada by Wyndham Jumeirah Hotel 

Also check this out for a complete budget experience in Dubai.

Budget Hostels in Dubai 

There are enough budget hostels around the city for travelers who don’t want to burn a hole in their yearly travel budget on Dubai alone. Many of them are around Jumeirah Beach and well-connected to the most popular attractions. 

California Hostel Dubai Beach

California Hostel has an excellent location for beach lovers. It’s located right on Jumeirah Beach and features cheerful, cheap rooms with plenty of sunlight. 

The views from the hotel are of the sea and the Ain Dubai in the distance. The hostel is close to the metro and bus links and close to all the attractions, cafes and restaurants of Jumeirah Beach. This is an ideal accommodation for solo travelers to Dubai. 

Rooms feature bunk beds in male, female, or mixed dorms and wardrobes starting at around $15 with an additional $15 for breakfast. If you prefer your own company when traveling or are traveling as a pair, you could get a single room with a private bathroom for around $69 plus taxes.

The property also has a terrace, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge, and a fitness center. Guests can enjoy an American breakfast every morning. Guests staying at the hostel have easy access to Hidden Beach, Marina Beach, and Barasti Beach. 

Discovery Garden Poolside

This one bedroom service apartment at Discovery Gardens is a little hidden gem for those traveling in a group of 5 adults and a child up to 12 years. It is a value-for-money, no-frills property that’s like a home in a local residential neighborhood. 

The highlight of the property is the pool. But the rooms are also clean, comfortable and feature a fully-equipped kitchen. You have access to room service and a fitness center. You can also enjoy a shuttle transfer from the airport, 45 minutes away. 

The property is a private apartment in a building with a microwave, washer and dryer, refrigerator, ironing facilities, children’s high chair, and other features that make it a home away from home. 

The 24-hour front desk sets it apart. At around $51plus taxes, the Discovery Garden Poolside is a good deal. It is around 32 km from the international airport and 3 km from Hidden Beach. 

Backpacker Top 10 

Backpacker Top 10 is a 6-minute drive from the Mall of Emirates and the Souk Madinat Jumeirah. It’s also six minutes from Ski Dubai. It’s ideal for solo travelers who want to explore the city from a central location. There are six air-conditioned dorms at the property with WiFi, safes and hair dryers, and daily housekeeping. 

Good hostels have a friendly and backpacker-friendly service desk. If you need an ironing board, laundry detergent, local maps, guidebooks, etc., the Backpacker Top 10 staff helps out. Guests find the property friendly, and if you’re okay with no-frills properties, this is for you. You can bring your pets too. 

Traveler’s Stay 

Traveler’s Stay is another hostel close to Barsha Heights and five minutes from the metro. It is a large, spacious, and modern property with individual lockers for every bed. Guests praise the comfortable beds, the friendly atmosphere, and the cleanliness. Guests also enjoy discounts with activities such as desert safaris, city tours, etc.

The hostel will help you out with maps, provide you with a Jacuzzi to relax after a day of sightseeing, and give you free access to a gym and a pool. The property is 2 kilometers from the Mina Seyahi beach and Sufouh Beach. 

You can get a bed in a dorm for less than $30, and as low as $16 if you enjoy membership deals on sites like booking.com, hotels.com, etc. A bed in a 2-bed dorm can set you back by around $33 or less. 

Bollywood Beach Hostel

Located at the Jumeirah Beach Residence, the Bollywood Beach Hostel is a homely flat high up in a quiet, residential building. At the same time, it’s close to all the restaurants and cafes of the Jumeirah Walk. 

The apartment features a common lounge, a terrace with a view of the ocean, comfortable rooms with bunk beds and views, microwave in the kitchen, and evening entertainment. 

Guests can choose between a bed in a 6-bed female dorm for $21, or a bed for $19 in a mixed 10-bed dorm. You can enjoy services such as wakeup calls, laptop safes, the use of a tumble dryer, ironing facilities, and even streaming service on a TV. 

The 7 Hostels 

Located right on Dubai Marina at the Elite Residence Tower, The 7 Hostels is something of a premium hostel from the future. For as low as $20, guests enjoy beds in the midst of soothing colors and tasteful, minimalist decor. The property offers stunning views over the beach, being a beachfront property just four hundred meters from Barasti Beach. 

Guests of The 7 Hostels can enjoy walks to Marina Beach, which is less than a kilometer away. They have access to a kitchen with amenities like a dishwasher and kettle. All non-dorm rooms have coffee machines and desks. There is an outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge, and a basic gym for guests. 

Most people have praised The 7 Hostels for being high value for money. The 24-hour front desk is a huge bonus when you need help checking in at 4 am after a long-haul flight.  

Sleep n Shop at the Dubai Mall

One of the most unusual places to sleep for shoppers who want a rest break from shopping but don’t want to go back to their hotels is the Sleep n Shop pods in the parking lobby of the Dubai Mall. For $23, you can book 2-hour slots for some shuteye in an air-conditioned pod. You can also book for longer at the kiosk. 

The pods have space for storing your bag under your mattress, as well as a socket to charge your cellphone while you sleep. Plus, there’s free WiFi, so you can put your favorite Spotify playlist on while you sleep. 

The sleeping pods are a great option for you if you’re on a long layover to Dubai and want to get some sleep while your partner shops.

Sam 997 Hostel

The Sam 997 Hostel is a clean and value-for-money dorm with a shared kitchen, a balcony with a view, and a warm host. Prices are low by Dubai standards – you can book a bed in the dorm for $25. 

Guests enjoy access to a swimming pool, fitness center, restaurant, private beach area and a free shuttle to the airport. Some units also feature a washing machine and a full kitchen. Not all units are air-conditioned, but that may not matter during certain times of the year. 

Budget Hotels & Service Apartments in Dubai 

Rove at the Park

Rove at the Park is a large, friendly property with the scale of a hotel and the vibe of a hostel. It is twenty minutes from the airport and within easy access of Dubai’s theme parks and the Wild Wadi Water Park at the Dubai Parks and Resorts area. 

Room tariffs start at around $50 or less for a standard double Rover Room. But you can get discounted all-inclusive packages for under $100, with room rates and Parks & Resorts tickets as well. 

Rooms feature blackout curtains, so you get your beauty sleep before a day of sightseeing, soundproofing, minibars, and attached baths. Family interconnecting rooms are also available. 

Breakfast is extra at $16 per person, and the hotel is a little far from the other attractions around the city. If you’re traveling to the water parks with your family and want a budget hotel, Rove at the Park is one of your best options. 

Maisan Hotel, Dubai Investment Park  

Maisan Hotel is a B&B with 3-star amenities and excellent reviews. The property is located in Dubai Investment Park and is highly recommended for short and long stays. Although it’s located a little away from the main attractions, it can suit travelers who are planning to rent a car. 

Rooms at the Maisan are large and spacious. The property features a pool, a restaurant, bar, gym, and laundry service. There are several pubs and restaurants less than a fifteen-minute walk away. Next door is the Jumeirah Golf Estates and the Jebel Ali Industrial Area. 

Guests find the property get great value for the money, with rates under $50, depending on where you book. Booking.com, Hotels.com, and other such hotel aggregators can get you excellent deals on the property.  

Dusit D2 Kenz Hotel 

The Dusit D2 Kenz is close to the Internet City Metro Station, so you can use it as a base for sightseeing. Modern and warm interiors, a highly-praised breakfast, friendly and helpful staff, and upscale amenities and decor for under $80 make this hotel highly recommended for budget travelers with a little desire for luxury. 

The hotel has a swimming pool, airport shuttle, fitness center, spa and restaurant for its guests. If you book online at sites like Booking.com, for $61 plus taxes, you can currently enjoy a stay at a standard twin room with a good breakfast. Guests agree that at Dusit D2 Kenz, you get more than you pay for.  

Premium Hotels on a Budget in Dubai

Just as Dubai is home to 7-star properties with impossibly high tariffs, you can also find a five-star room for less than $100. 

Avani Deira Dubai Hotel 

Not every budget traveler is averse to a good deal on a high star property. Avani Deira Dubai is a five-star property close to the metro and ideal for business travelers. 

But it can also be a good option for shoppers who want to visit the Dubai Gold Souk or anyone who wants to soak in the frenetic atmosphere of the banks of the Dubai Creek and roam the Spice Souk. 

If you book a suite, at around $141, you get a complimentary airport shuttle. The shuttle to the Dubai Outlet Mall and Al Ghurair Mall is available for all guests. 

But if you don’t want to book a suite, the king-bedded Avani Room will be a good deal for under $60. The hotel features all the amenities of a five star, including buffet breakfast, a rooftop swimming pool, and gym. 

Ramada by Wyndham Jumeirah Hotel

The Ramada hotels offer hotel-like amenities at motel-like rates all over the world. The Ramada by Wyndham Jumeirah is no different. You can book a king room for $71 and enjoy a varied breakfast buffet for $11 more. 

You can use the rooftop pool and spa for unwinding after a hectic day of sightseeing. The hotel serves praiseworthy buffets and a la carte at the four restaurants on-site. 

The hotel is a little far from the main attractions, so it won’t suit you if you plan to use a lot of public transport. But if you book a taxi, you can make the most of the value that this Ramada hotel offers its guests at five-star ratings. 

Elite Byblos Hotel

Located just behind the Mall of Emirates, the Elite Byblos Hotel has really big rooms that you can stay in for less than $100. For around $196 or less on a Deluxe Room, depending on where you book, you can enjoy breakfast and dinner for two people as well.  

The hotel has a Lebanese restaurant in-house that offers Shisha 24/7, an outdoor swimming pool, a good fitness center, and a spa and a bar. 

A taxi to the Wild Wadi Waterpark will reach you there in 10 minutes, and the Dubai Mall is around 15 km away. A free shuttle bus takes guests from the hotel to Jumeirah Beach every morning at 10 am and back at 3 pm. Taking the shuttle will save you around $8 that you’d otherwise spend on a taxi to the beach. 

Summary 

The takeaways from this list of budget hotels are as follows: 

  • Dubai has hotels for all kinds of budgets. You can find cheerful, clean, and comfortable hostel rooms for less than $20, and you can stay at a five-star property for less than $100. It depends on where you book and when you book.  
  • There are a large number of hostels around Jumeirah Beach, that place you in the center of restaurants, cafes and things to do at the beach. 
  • You can book a service apartment and enjoy home-like comfort at under $50 if you don’t need the services that hotels offer. Many service apartments in Dubai feature pools, fitness centers, and a help desk, many of the features that you’d find at a good hotel. 
  • Travel off-season for great savings. In off-season months, in the peak of summer between July and August, you’ll find hotels offer rooms at rock-bottom prices. You can find the cheapest places to stay at this time. But only go in peak summer if you think you can handle the 50-degree heat. You could always spend most of your holiday at the Dubai Mall and the other shopping destinations, which are conditioned to be witheringly cold. 
  • The Holy Month of Ramadan also sees a smaller tourist influx. That’s when hotels (and airlines) hand out great deals. Note that many restaurants may close during the day in respect for Muslims who are fasting. But many are open all day, as there is a huge expat community in the city. 
  • Book online and in advance as much as possible, so you can cash in on some great deals. Don’t forget that sometimes, however, hotel properties can offer you better deals, especially for stays of more than a few days, than you’ll get online. Just ask for a price match.
  • Also, check out Airbnb properties, often available at prices lower than hotel prices in the same area. Your Airbnb may have fewer amenities than a hotel, but it can be your home away from home, especially if you’re traveling for more than a few days in Dubai.