I love the Middle East, but in all fairness, Dubai—the place that has replicated almost everything on an extremely large scale, from buildings to shopping malls to fountains—was never on my list to visit as a family holiday destination.
However, a very good friend has recently relocated there, and since we were fed up with the cold, wet winters in the UK, we went in search of better weather. He could at least get there in a 7-hour direct flight, which was quite cheap, bearing in mind it was half term: £400 each Emirates/Qantas.
Dubai is loaded with many activities that children will enjoy, but most of them are very costly and offer a lot of adrenaline (for instance, Wild Wadi Water Park, Aquarium/ Zoo, or Ski Dubai). Well, it did not take long for us to find out that one can do quite a number of things with limited cash in Dubai—and there are some activities that are free of charge.
Getting Around
The cheapest means of mobility is by using public transport. However, you can still utilize a cheap monthly car rental Dubai to travel around. This would be a great saver especially when you travel with kids, as you can choose the right capacity of the vehicle, insurance and extras like the GPS navigator. Or you can purchase a travel card at the featured stations and move around the city by the schedule of the public transport like we did. We bought Silver Cards for AED 20 each (containing AED 14 of credit). In this aspect, we used an average of 15 Dirhams (£3) per day on transportation. The Tram and Metro are relatively new, highly efficient, and fully air-conditioned. Lady’s mothers-only carriages are provided, and these two means of transport can take you to most of the places within the city, provided you have a map and little planning. The buses are on schedule, and the bus stops have conditioning systems. However, a rental car would have been easier and more time-saving. Maybe we will opt for it next time!
Best Places To Visit in Dubai While on a Budget
Head to the Beach
Dubai is endowed with many beaches, some of which are listed below. Most tourists visit The Beach, close to the Jumeirah Beach Residence. The dress in Dubai can be said to be generally formal but more so relaxed at ‘The Beach,’ where visitors are free to wear anything from loosely fitted black robes, called Abayas, to tight-fitting swimwear on the beach, which I find rather provocative, mainly because of the cultural aspect.
Further, there are a greater number of local beaches, which may not be as crowded or might lack facilities. You can go to Kite Beach, which has a children’s play area, or, in our scenario, Jumeirah Beach.
Visit Desert Safari
This I think was something, which my daughter enjoyed to an extent and was not too costly either at 150 AED/£30 for adults 110 AED for children. We contacted ABC Tours directly; if you are being referred to a hotel they may charge a higher price to the translators. They pick you up in one of their powerful 4 x 4 cars, you move around the sand dunes, you can ride camels, see a falcon, tattoo your body with henna, take meals of the desert and watch bellies dancers.
Dubai Marina
The experience we all will never forget is the ride on the yacht in Dubai Marina. A marvelous view of majestic skyscrapers on the one side, and a stunning view of the sunset and the water on the other – both children and parents enjoyed it much. We hired an impressive speedboat for 10 people from Renty.ae, the Silver Craft Thunder 36 ft Powerboat, which cost us only 147$ per hour. This is a reasonable price among other rentals in Dubai. It was a great idea to end the day without a lot of tiring walking around the city but to sit back and relax on waves on a cruise instead. Worth it!
So, as you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to have a great time with your family in Dubai without breaking the bank. Don’t hesitate and try out all the best from the Golden City next time you visit it.
