Dubai under AED 100 a day
Back lanes, one-dirham karak, and whole days planned to the dirham. From a third-generation Dubai kid. Trust me, I know where I’m sending you.
One day, done for you
day five of five, the summer Saturday, straight from the guide.
the whole Saturday: AED 91. the covered names are in the guide, with four more days like this.
What you actually get
saves you the googling, and about 400 dirhams.
It’s the guide I’d give my closest friend.
A look at what’s inside
five parts. twenty-four chapters. nothing hidden behind the checkout.
Before you go anywhere
transport, the city map in ten names, and the rules that matter.
Eat
my local regulars, pinned and priced: shawarma, cafeterias, the veg spread and more.
Do and see
beaches, museums, the one-dirham boat, and old Dubai on foot.
Days out, planned
five ready days, screenshot and go.
The survival kit
tourist traps, Ramadan, and the splurges actually worth it.
The living map
the whole book, pinned.
Everyone shows you the gold cappuccino
this is the hidden Dubai nobody wants you to know about.
My grandparents came here. My parents grew up here. I still eat at some of the same counters, and some of my best Dubai days have happened in these hidden bylanes.
None of this is googled. The one-dirham karak. The shawarma I would cross town for. The disco sandwich (yes, you will find out). And whole days, five full itineraries, planned properly, under a hundred dirhams.
I get decision fatigue too. You do not need to. The planning is done; you just turn up and enjoy it.
Look inside
Who it’s for
- You just moved here
- Your first weekends, sorted, without paying to find out what is good.
- Your cousins are coming
- Send them the plan instead of typing it out again at midnight.
- You’re visiting
- The food, the route and the cost, worked out already, by someone who lives here.
- You’ve been here years
- A Saturday that isn’t the same mall and the same restaurant.
What it isn’t
It doesn’t cover hotels or flights. AED 100 is food, public transport and the things to do in the book, per person.
It isn’t a restaurant directory. These are my places, and there are fewer of them on purpose.
It isn’t a luxury guide. There are four splurges in it and that’s the lot.
Read a chapter for free
The cafeteria chapter, yours for nothing. The twelve counters I actually drink karak at, what to order at each, and what it costs. Most of it is under AED 10 and half of them never close.
Send me the free chapterQuestions
How do I get it?
Instant download after payment. A PDF, so read it on your phone or print it.
Do I need internet?
Only for the maps and the links. The book itself works with no signal at all.
Do the map lists expire?
No. Tap Follow once and they sit in your Google Maps under Saved. They stay there.
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. If you find something wrong before I do, tell me and I will fix it for everybody.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, within seven days, no questions.
Is it useful if I live here?
That’s who I wrote it for first. Half of it is Saturdays, not sightseeing.
Dubai on a budget, quick answers
From the September 2026 edition of the guide.
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.
Dubai food and travel, written by someone who lives here. @wheresachi