Under $100: Dubai

Dubai is infamous as an expensive oasis in the desert, and looking around you can understand why. With all the high-rise buildings and luxury boutiques, the city is certainly built for the extremely wealthy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it on a budget. Here’s how to spend the day in Dubai with 367 dirham.

Dubai’s recently launched metro makes the city one of the best in the Middle East for public transportation. A day pass for unlimited metro and bus rides will cost you Dh14, available at metro and bus stations throughout the city.

Jumeirah Mosque © TasFoto | Dreamstime

You can start your day with a tour of Jumeirah Mosque, the largest and most photographed in the city. This mosque offers tours for free at 10 a.m. everyday except for Friday. Modest dress covering knees and shoulders is required.

Like many cities in the Middle East, the market is the best place to get a feel for the culture. To get there, take a relaxing ride in an abra, a traditional wooden boat, for just Dh1. Take in the diverse landscape as you sail toward Dubai’s famous souks. The Spice Souk has been in decline due to the growing presence of supermarkets, where you can get a higher quality at a better price. What you can’t get at Carrefour, though, is the experience of walking through a market as old as the city itself.

Gold Souk © Wiktor Wojtas | Dreamstime

The Gold Souk is another popular destination, brimming with sparkling, 22-carat jewelry, definitely a sight to be seen. If you’re looking to make purchases, know the current price of gold and be prepared to haggle. Many of the vendors have storefronts in the modern malls, so they’re reliable. Another option is to head to Satwa, Dubai’s Little India with a large population of Indians and Filipinos, as well as plenty of gold shops without the crowds.

Shopping can work up an appetite, but you can skip Dubai’s fine dining for a trip down Al Dhiyafah Road (now called December Road). This famous street has restaurants from all corners of the globe, but specializes in a variety of Middle Eastern cuisines. You can get a meal here for Dh30–40, so don’t be afraid to sample a few different places.

Jumeirah Beach © Rui Matos | Dreamstime

If you’re looking for a place to relax, you can not only do it at the world’s only 7-star hotel, you can do it for free! Burj Al Arab’s beach is free to the public, which is not the case for some of Dubai’s other beaches. Once you’ve recharged, spend the rest of your day at Alserkal Avenue, a former industrial compound that has been revitalized as Dubai’s arts district. With 25 contemporary art galleries to choose from, you can see a side of the U.A.E. rarely experienced by tourists.

Now that the sun is setting, you have more than enough Dirham to splurge on the rest of the night. Enjoy!