A budget guide from a Dubai kid
130 hidden spots and back lanes I grew up on, 5 full-day itineraries, zero tourist traps.
- 130 hidden spots2am karak, the AED 1 boat, free museums
- 5 full-day itinerariesevery stop and every dirham
- 10 Google Maps listssorted by craving, one tap to open
- 78-page PDFinstant download, made for your phone
Launch price. $13 after the first 100 copies.
Everyone shows you the gold cappuccino.
this is where I actually eat.
Third generation in Dubai. My grandparents came here, my parents grew up here, and I still eat at some of the same counters. None of this is googled.
Four of my 130.
the names are in the guide.
My dad’s first cup of tea here was in 1981. Sandwiches still under AED 5.
Paratha folded round an omelette and Chips Oman. For when you can’t sleep.
Three old men and one oven on a side street. No seats. Eat in the car like everyone else.
can eatAED 10
Maharashtrian breakfast, unlimited, for a tenner. Best value in the breakfast chapter.
And it's not just food.
the rest of Dubai, mostly for free.
Plus the 9 tourist traps to skip, Ramadan timing, how to survive August, and the 4 splurges actually worth it.
5 full-day itineraries.
every stop and every dirham. screenshot one and go.
The Creek
- MorningStuffed bread from a clay oven6
- ThenThe AED 1 boat across the creek1
- DinnerIranian kebabs, since 197840
The Coast
- MorningCrispy Emirati regag in a car park6
- SunsetThe Burj Al Arab photo from the sandfree
- DinnerFish fried in masala at the harbour40
New Dubai for nothing
- MorningAll-you-can-eat breakfast10
- ThenMuseum of the Future, the free wayfree
- DinnerKarahi where visiting chefs eat30
The summer Saturday
- 9amTwo museums, both free, both coldfree
- 10:30The spice souk, by boat2
- 8:30pmChicken karahi and a naan30
The winter Saturday
- 9amBeach morning by the barbecue pits5
- 1pmKerala fish curry and rice25
- 7:30pmGlobal Village, through the gate30
swipe for all five →
100 copies.
Then $13.
- About AED 26, paid once
- Instant download, made for your phone
- 10 Google Maps lists, sorted by craving
- Free updated copy when prices move
- 7-day refund, no questions
Read a chapter free
The Cafeteria Manual. The 12 counters I actually drink karak at, what to order, and what it costs. Most of it under AED 10.
Send me the free chapter10 Google Maps lists, sorted by craving.
karak at 2am? shawarma worth the drive? tap a list, it opens in your Google Maps, every spot already pinned.
See all 23 chapters
Straight from the pages.
Who it's for.
Your next Saturday, sorted.
Get the guide for $7 →Launch price. $13 after the first 100 copies.
Questions.
How do I get it?
Instant download after payment. It’s a PDF, so read it on your phone or print it.
Does AED 100 include my hotel?
No. AED 100 is food, public transport and the things to do in the book, per person. Hotels and flights aren’t in it.
Is it useful if I live here?
That’s who I wrote it for first. Half of it is Saturdays, not sightseeing.
Do I need internet?
Only for the maps and links. The book itself works with no signal.
Do the map lists expire?
No. Tap Follow once and they sit in your Google Maps under Saved.
Prices change. Then what?
They will. I go through the lists and send out a corrected PDF at least twice a year, and you get it.
Is it a restaurant directory?
No. These are my places, and there are fewer of them on purpose. Four splurges, and that’s the lot.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within seven days, no questions.
Dubai on a budget, quick answers
How much does a day in Dubai cost on a budget?
Under AED 100 per person, if you eat where residents eat and ride the metro. That covers food, public transport and things to do; your hotel is extra. My summer Saturday in the guide comes to AED 91, and three days back to back come to about AED 262.
What is the cheapest way to get around Dubai?
The metro on a Silver Nol card. A trip costs AED 3, 5 or 7.50 depending on distance, and your spending caps at AED 14 a day, so after that every ride is free until midnight. The abra across the creek is AED 1, cash only.
What can you do in Dubai for free?
More than people think. Kite Beach, Sunset Beach and JBR are free public beaches. The Al Fahidi neighbourhood is free to wander, with two museums inside that are free most days: the Coins Museum and the Coffee Museum. The guide lists 17 free things in total.
Where can I eat breakfast in Dubai for under AED 10?
At the cafeterias and bakeries every community brought with it: Kerala parotta, Lebanese manakeesh, Egyptian beans, Iranian bread, with karak on the side. Most plates cost AED 3 to 10. The guide pins 15 of them on a map.
Where should I stay in Dubai on a budget?
Deira or Bur Dubai. They have the cheapest beds in the city, the metro and the abra on the doorstep, and most of the food in this guide within walking distance.
Is Dubai expensive for tourists?
Only the version most people are shown. The gold cappuccino and the AED 400 sunbed are real, but so are one-dirham karak, free beaches and a metro day that caps at AED 14. Eat where residents eat and a full day stays under AED 100.