Dubai from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Dubai, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my Dubai tripDay to day in Dubai, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £29 | £33 |
| A balanced mix | £47 | £52 |
| Mostly restaurants | £94 | £99 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £2 to start, then £0.45 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £12 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about £1 a person a night, paid at your stay.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: budgetyourtrip.com, livingcost.org, en.wikivoyage.org; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
23°F
24°M
27°A
31°M
35°J
37°J
39°A
39°S
37°O
34°N
29°D
25°
The most pleasant months are November to March. July is the driest month (1 mm of rain) and January the wettest (17 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit United Arab Emirates, place by placeVisa for British travellers
UAE visit visa on arrival
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Dubai
Dubai Miracle Gardengarden · a couple of hoursOpen October to May. Open roughly November to May only
Burj Khalifa observation decktower · a couple of hoursBook 'At the Top' online; sunset slots sell out first
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Al Bastakiya)old town · a couple of hoursWind-tower houses, galleries and the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding's cultural meals
Jumeirah Mosque guided visitmosque · a couple of hoursOpen to non-Muslims only on the SMCCU 'Open Doors, Open Minds' tours; modest dress, robes provided
Dubai Frametower · a couple of hoursIn Zabeel Park; old Dubai on one side, the new skyline on the other
- Palm Jumeirahisland · half a day
Ride the monorail along the trunk to Atlantis; The View at the Palm for the aerial shot
Gold Soukmarket · a couple of hours
Spice Soukmarket · a couple of hours- Deira Fish Marketmarket · a couple of hours
- Traditional Souq, Deiramarket · a couple of hours
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Dubai cost?
Food and getting around come to about £33 a person a day eating street food, £52 with a balanced mix and £99 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Dubai?
The most pleasant months are November to March. July is the driest month (1 mm of rain) and January the wettest (17 mm); daytime highs run from 23 to 39 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for United Arab Emirates?
UAE visit visa on arrival. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Dubai?
Dubai Miracle Garden, Burj Khalifa observation deck, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Al Bastakiya), Jumeirah Mosque guided visit, Dubai Frame.
Your whole Dubai trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my Dubai trip