Winter sun, beach resorts and the world's tallest tower – compare stays from Downtown to Dubai Marina.
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Dubai has one of the largest hotel markets in the world, and the range is enormous: city hotels by the metro, beach resorts on the Palm and older, simpler properties around the Creek. Prices swing hard with the seasons, because the mild winter months bring huge demand while the summer heat sends rates at many upmarket hotels sharply lower. Comparing hotels in one search lets you see how far your budget stretches in each area.
The city is long and spread out along the coast, so where you stay shapes your trip more than in most destinations. Distances between Deira, Downtown and Dubai Marina are significant, and walking between areas is rarely practical in the heat. Below you will find the areas we'd shortlist, when demand peaks, how to get in from Dubai International, Al Maktoum and Sharjah, and the fees that appear on Dubai hotel bills.
Busiest monthsDemand peaks from November to March, when daytime temperatures are pleasant and the city hosts New Year's Eve at the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Shopping Festival and a heavy calendar of trade shows. Christmas, New Year and European school holidays are usually the most expensive weeks.
Best valueJune to September is the cheapest period, often by a wide margin at luxury hotels and beach resorts, but the heat makes outdoor sightseeing hard work. April, May and October are a reasonable middle ground, with hot weather and lower rates than in winter.
Based on typical seasonal hotel demand, not live prices. Run a search to see current prices for your dates.
Downtown is built around the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the Dubai Fountain, with hotels ranging from towers linked to the mall to quieter places in the Old Town area. The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station is connected by a long air-conditioned walkway, and Dubai International is about 15 to 25 minutes away by taxi. There is no beach, so plan on taxis to the coast.
Dubai Marina is a cluster of high-rise towers around a man-made canal, with a waterfront promenade lined with restaurants. Next to it, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) has a public beach and The Walk. The Dubai Tram links the area with the Red Line metro and the Palm Monorail, but the drive from Dubai International takes around 30 to 50 minutes.
The palm-shaped island is lined with large beach resorts, many with private beaches, several pools, kids' clubs and a choice of restaurants on site, which suits a holiday where you rarely leave the hotel. Atlantis The Palm sits on the outer crescent. The monorail runs along the trunk, but you will rely on taxis for most trips into the city.
On either side of Dubai Creek, these older districts have the Gold and Spice Souks, the Al Fahidi historical neighbourhood and the abra boats that cross the water. Hotels are generally simpler and better value than in the newer areas, and Deira is close to Dubai International. Both the Red and Green metro lines run through here, so the rest of the city is easy to reach.
The Red Line metro has stations at Terminals 1 and 3, reaching Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 20 to 30 minutes and Dubai Marina in roughly an hour; Terminal 2 has no metro stop. The metro does not run around the clock, so late arrivals usually take a taxi from the official ranks, which takes about 15 to 25 minutes to Downtown.
Al Maktoum is in Dubai South, around 45 km south-west of Downtown, and currently handles a much smaller share of passenger flights, although Dubai plans to move most operations here over the coming years. There is no metro station at the terminal, so most travellers take a taxi: about 30 to 40 minutes to Dubai Marina or the Palm, and longer to Downtown.
Sharjah is a separate emirate next door to Dubai, and its airport is the hub for the low-cost carrier Air Arabia. There is no metro link into Dubai, so most visitors take a taxi or a pre-booked transfer. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to Deira and an hour or more to Downtown or Dubai Marina, as traffic between Sharjah and Dubai can be very heavy at peak times.
For a first visit, Downtown Dubai puts you next to the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall with a metro link, while Dubai Marina and JBR suit travellers who want a beach and plenty of restaurants. Choose the Palm for a resort-style holiday, or Deira and Bur Dubai for lower rates and a taste of older Dubai.
Four to five nights gives you time for the main sights, a desert safari, a beach day and a day trip to Abu Dhabi, which is roughly 90 minutes away by road. Many travellers also stop for one or two nights on the way to or from Asia or Australia.
Hotels are cheapest from June to September, when daytime temperatures regularly exceed 40°C and visitor numbers fall. Ramadan can also bring lower rates. The most expensive periods are late December to early January and the cooler months from November to March, especially around major events and school holidays.
The Tourism Dirham is a fee charged per room per night, with the amount depending on the hotel's category, for up to 30 consecutive nights. Hotel bills also include a service charge, a municipality fee and VAT. Some prices you see include all of these and some don't, so check the total before you book.
If you land at Terminal 1 or 3 while the metro is running, the Red Line is the cheapest way to Downtown and Dubai Marina, though large luggage can be awkward at busy times. Otherwise use the official taxi ranks outside arrivals, which operate around the clock and take about 15 to 25 minutes to Downtown and 30 to 50 minutes to the Marina.
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