🇬🇧 From the UK › Dubai
Dubai trip cost from the UK — prices in £
Updated October 2026 · £0.74 ≈ $1For everyday spending, Dubai is about 38% cheaper than London. Here's what things cost in GBP, what a day really costs, and the price where "tourist price" turns into a rip-off.
Daily budget per person (no flights)
Prices in Dubai vs London
| Item | Local | In GBP | vs London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | AED 35 | £7.06 | 58% less |
| Street food1 item | AED 16 | £3.23 | 68% less |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | AED 120 | £24 | 36% less |
| Coffeeone cup | AED 22 | £4.44 | 20% more |
| Beerone bottle | AED 45 | £9.07 | 33% more |
| Bottled water | AED 2 | £0.3 | 77% less |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | AED 4 | £0.81 | 60% less |
| Taxi5 km in town | AED 20 | £4.03 | 75% less |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | AED 13 | £2.62 | 71% less |
| Transitone ride | AED 5 | £1.01 | 42% less |
| Hotel night3-star | AED 500 | £101 | 44% less |
| SIM card1 week data | AED 84 | £17 | 69% more |
| Laundry | AED 12 | £2.42 | 19% less |
| Massage1 hour | AED 200 | £40 | 38% less |
| Half-day tourper person | AED 340 | £69 | 37% more |
| Entry ticketTourist town | AED 170 | £34 | same |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveller reports switch to the median of real reports.
What £100 gets you in Dubai
Rip-off check: fair price vs "too much"
| Item | Fair range | Rip-off above |
|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | AED 24–AED 56£4.94–£11 | AED 67+£14+ |
| Coffeeone cup | AED 13–AED 35£2.66–£7.1 | AED 42+£8.52+ |
| Beerone bottle | AED 27–AED 76£5.44–£15 | AED 92+£19+ |
| Taxi5 km in town | AED 16–AED 32£3.23–£6.45 | AED 38+£7.74+ |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | AED 9–AED 23£1.83–£4.72 | AED 28+£5.66+ |
| Massage1 hour | AED 140–AED 320£28–£65 | AED 384+£77+ |
| Bottled water | AED 1–AED 3£0.21–£0.6 | AED 4+£0.73+ |
| Half-day tourper person | AED 238–AED 544£48–£110 | AED 653+£132+ |
- Ask the price before you order or get in — and say it back.
- Use a ride-hailing app instead of street taxis when you can; the fare is fixed upfront.
- Pay in local currency. If a card machine offers to charge you in GBP, say no — the conversion rate is usually worse.
Compare Dubai with your city
FAQ
How much does a trip to Dubai cost from the UK?
Not counting flights, a mid-range day in Dubai is about £169 per person (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides). On a shoestring it's about £64 a day; comfortable travel is about £385. A 7-day mid-range trip comes to roughly £1,180.
Is Dubai cheaper than London?
For everyday things Dubai is about 38% cheaper than London. Compare item by item in the table above, or open the app to see it against your own city and income.
How much is a meal in Dubai in GBP?
A simple local meal is around AED 35 (about £7.06); a sit-down restaurant dinner is around AED 120 (about £24).
What price is a rip-off in Dubai?
As a rule of thumb, paying about double the usual local price is a warning sign. For a taxi that means anything above AED 38 (£7.74) for about 5 km. Check any price in 3 seconds in the app.