For meals, transport, tips - whats the safe amount to carry in UAE ? Trying to plan a daily budget for a month long trip
I spent 3 weeks in Sharjah and Dubai and kept it under $50/day, but I had to be careful. Took only public transport (bus + metro with Nol), ate at budget places in Al Rigga and Deira (shawarma for AED 8, biryani for AED 12), and stayed in a hostel dorm. I didn’t tip unless it was a proper restaurant, which was rare. If you’re sticking to public transport and budget food, you can get by under $1,400 for the month - just skip the malls and rooftop bars.
I worked remotely from Jumeirah for a month and budgeted about $100/day. Accommodation was the biggest expense - even a modest studio rental ran me AED 3,000 for the month. Coffee and coworking spaces added to that. For food, lunch at a Lebanese cafe was AED 25-40, and I used taxis sparingly (they add up). Uber is pricey - the metro is better. Overall, UAE is doable on a tighter budget, but $3,000 for the month is a safer number if you want comfort.
I spent a month bouncing between Dubai and Abu Dhabi this spring. My daily budget was around $75-$80 including decent Airbnb stays, daily metro/bus rides, and meals at food courts or casual spots. I used a Silver Nol card for all transport - about AED 7 per trip. Tips aren’t always expected at cheap places, but I usually left 5-10% at sit-down restaurants. Groceries helped me cut costs. If you’re staying longer, get a local SIM and cook a few meals - it adds up.
Dubai’s not cheap, but if you avoid touristy stuff, you can get by on $50-$60/day. I stayed in hostels in Bur Dubai, ate at Pakistani and Indian cafeterias (meals for AED 10-15), and used the metro every day with a Nol card. Taxis and alcohol will kill your budget fast. I tipped around 10% when I ate somewhere mid-range. If you’re planning to stay a month, $1,500-$1,800 total is doable if you go local and low-key.