A short history of Dubai
Wooden abra boats still shuttle between the two banks of Dubai Creek. The city grew up on the shores of this inlet as a small town living from fishing and pearl diving. The Al Maktoum family settled here in 1833, and the dynasty still rules the emirate today.
In the early 20th century, merchants from the Iranian coast built the wind-tower houses of Al Fahidi. Before air conditioning, these towers were the way to cool a house. In the narrow lanes you find shade even in the midday heat, and small museums and courtyard cafés have moved into the houses.
Oil was found in 1966, the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1971, and Dubai was one of its founding emirates. Dubai had far less oil than neighbouring Abu Dhabi, and the city turned early to trade, its port and tourism. The Burj Khalifa, opened in 2010, is the most visible result of that turn.
Dubai neighbourhoods
Dubai Marina is built around a man-made canal ringed by tall towers. The canal-side promenade fills up in the evenings, and the JBR beach right next to it is free and reached by tram.
Alserkal Avenue, set among the warehouse streets of Al Quoz, is an arts district full of galleries, design shops and cafés. If you want to see a side of the city other than its shiny shop window, stop by.
Al Karama and Satwa show the everyday life of Dubai's large South Asian community. Cheap restaurants, fabric sellers and shops open late into the night are found in these two districts.
Palm Jumeirah is a palm-shaped island built out into the sea. The monorail runs out to the Atlantis hotel at its tip, and from the viewing deck of The View at The Palm you can see the island's shape from above.
Where to stay
- Deira: Gold and spice souks, busy streets and cheaper hotels.
- Bur Dubai / Al Fahidi: Next to old wind-tower houses and the abra piers.
- Downtown Dubai: Beside the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, right on the metro line.
- Jumeirah: A calm seaside area among beaches and villas.
When to visit Dubai
In Dubai, the heat decides which month you go. The best time is November to March, with days of 24-30 °C and pleasant evenings for sitting outside. In December and January the Dubai Shopping Festival's sales and fireworks make the city its busiest, and hotel prices peak. The Global Village theme park is open only in the cooler months.
From June to September temperatures pass 40 °C and humidity is high. Walking outside during the day is genuinely hard, and life moves into malls and indoor spaces. In return, hotels drop to their lowest prices of the year.
Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Ramadan shifts by roughly eleven days a year, so look up the dates before booking. During this month it is considerate not to eat or drink in the street in daytime, and, as always, to cover shoulders and knees. Most restaurants stay open, though some places change their hours. In the evenings, iftar meals and activity that runs late into the night give the city a different rhythm.
Food culture in Dubai
Dubai's table belongs to the immigrants who make up most of its population. In Deira and Karama you get Indian, Pakistani and Iranian cooking at very low prices, and on Al Dhiyafah Road you can find shawarma even at midnight.
If you want to taste Emirati food, look for machboos, a spiced rice dish with meat, and luqaimat, small fried dough balls soaked in date syrup, much like Turkish lokma. Guests are offered light Arabic coffee brewed with cardamom, along with dates. Many restaurants stay open until midnight, and dinner is eaten late to match.
Alcohol is served in licensed hotel restaurants and bars, and you won't find it in neighbourhood eateries. If you see no service charge on the bill, leaving around 10-15% is the custom.
Dubai trip budget
Whether Dubai is expensive depends on where you stay and when you go. It is famous for luxury hotels and cocktail prices, but lunch in Deira costs 25-40 AED and crossing the city by metro is cheap. In the summer months hotel prices fall noticeably.
In 2026, someone staying in a simple hotel in Deira and eating at neighbourhood restaurants spends 300-450 AED a day. A mid-range hotel near Downtown and a few paid activities come to 700-1,200 AED. A day of beach hotels, brunch and evening bars easily passes 2,000 AED. A small charge called the Tourism Dirham is also added to your hotel bill for each night.
Tickets for the At the Top observation deck of the Burj Khalifa start at around 170 AED. The evening shows of the Dubai Fountain, the public beaches at JBR and Jumeirah, and wandering the lanes of Al Fahidi are free. Crossing the Creek by abra costs just 1 AED.
Prices are approximate as of October 2026.
Build your route on the Dubai map