Hotels in Dubai: prices, timing and areas
Dubai is an emirate of modern architecture, with the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the man-made Palm Jumeirah island and miles of beaches along the Persian Gulf. Guests stay about five nights on average and split their time between the Downtown towers with the Dubai Mall and the fountain, the marina with its restaurants, the Jumeirah beaches and trips out to a desert safari. This list has 18 522 properties, from a hostel bed to five stars right by the beach. Below is what really drives the price of a stay in Dubai: the month, the choice of district and the standard of the property.
When to book a stay in Dubai for less
Dubai is cheapest in summer. June, July and August are the bottom of the market, as much as about 45 percent below the peak season, because temperatures pass 40 degrees and tourist traffic eases. The priciest is winter, peaking in December, when the weather is pleasant and guests escape the cold for the desert sun. It is also the time of big events such as the Dubai Shopping Festival. The day of the week matters too, though in Dubai it is safer to aim for weekdays outside the weekend. Interestingly, for many properties good rates appear close to the date, so booking even a few days ahead can pay off, but for December and the festivals it is better to book earlier.
What a stay costs by property type
Dubai has a huge spread of prices, so a hostel bed and a family apartment by the beach are worlds apart. The cheapest sleep is in hostels and simple hotels in the older districts; you pay the most for five-star all-inclusive on Palm Jumeirah. Below are indicative nightly rates for two people, from the summer season.
| Property type | Indicative price per night (from) |
| Hostel bed | from approx. AED 80 |
| Room in a simple one or two-star hotel | from approx. AED 130 |
| Three-star hotel | from approx. AED 140 |
| Four-star hotel | from approx. AED 200 |
| Family room or apartment | from approx. AED 280 |
| Five-star hotel | from approx. AED 320 |
Where a stay is cheaper and where it costs more
The cheapest sleep is in the older districts by Dubai Creek, such as Deira and Bur Dubai, with their souks and museums, and in Al Barsha by the Mall of the Emirates. It is dearer in business-focused Business Bay and by the marina in Dubai Marina, and the priciest are the Downtown towers with a view of the Burj Khalifa and the resorts on the man-made Palm Jumeirah island. Below are indicative rates by district, from the summer season.
| District | Indicative price per night (from) |
| Deira, the old quarter by the Creek | from approx. AED 150 |
| Bur Dubai, the historic centre | from approx. AED 170 |
| Al Barsha, by the Mall of the Emirates | from approx. AED 200 |
| Business Bay, the business district | from approx. AED 280 |
| Dubai Marina, by the marina and beach | from approx. AED 290 |
| Downtown Dubai, by the Burj Khalifa | from approx. AED 380 |
| Palm Jumeirah, island resorts | from approx. AED 400 |
Indicative rates for a double room, from the summer season, which is the cheapest period. In Dubai the gap between a hot summer and the December peak can be several times over, so check the real price for your dates in the search above.
Which stay in Dubai suits whom
- First time in Dubai. The easiest base is Downtown by the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, or by the marina in Dubai Marina. From here the metro quickly reaches most sights.
- On a budget. Deira and Bur Dubai by the Creek are the cheapest to sleep, and the metro or an abra boat reaches the modern part of the city. It is close to the souks and local food.
- For families. Hotels with family rooms near the Atlantis Aquaventure waterpark and the Mall of the Emirates with Ski Dubai. Easy to mix the beach with indoor attractions.
- For couples. Resorts on Palm Jumeirah and by the marina, with a spa and dinner with a view of the skyline. Handy for a romantic trip.
- By the beach. Jumeirah Beach Residence and Dubai Marina put the beach at your window. Summer is hot, but you have the sea, pools and an evening walk by the water.
- Near the airport. Hotels in Garhoud and Deira by Dubai International airport suit an early flight or a layover. The metro reaches the centre from here.
Example hotels in Dubai with prices
From a cheap room by the Creek to five stars in the centre, a few Dubai names with a from price. Just a starting point from the summer season, as rates can climb noticeably in winter and around the festivals.
| Property | Category | Price per night (from) |
| Landmark Hotel | Budget hotel by the Creek | from approx. AED 108 |
| Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai | Hotel by the airport | from approx. AED 162 |
| Atana Hotel | Four-star hotel | from approx. AED 163 |
| TRYP by Wyndham Dubai | Chain hotel | from approx. AED 168 |
| Mövenpick Dubai Creek | Five-star hotel | from approx. AED 216 |
| Paramount Hotel Dubai | Hotel in Business Bay | from approx. AED 219 |
| Dusit Thani Dubai | Premium hotel | from approx. AED 254 |
From prices for a double room, from the summer season. In Dubai the same hotel can differ several times over between summer and December, so check your exact dates in the search.
When Dubai costs more
The priciest is winter, November to March, when the weather is pleasant, around 24 to 30 degrees, and guests from around the world escape the cold. The peak falls in December, around the holidays and the Dubai Shopping Festival, joined by the Dubai Food Festival. The cheapest and quietest is summer, in June, July and August, when the heat passes 40 degrees and life moves to air-conditioned malls and the pools. It is a good window if you want low prices and do not mind the heat.