How Much Money to Take to Dubai for 7 Days? (2025 Guide)

Ever heard Dubai is crazy expensive? You’re not wrong, but it can surprise you—especially if you plan right. People usually throw random numbers when it comes to budgeting for a week in Dubai, especially if you’ve got some special plans, like booking an escort. Getting your numbers straight before you land will save you loads of stress (and maybe a midnight ATM run).

First things first, some basics: Dubai uses the UAE Dirham (AED), and as of May 2025, $1 USD is about 3.67 AED. Credit cards work almost everywhere, but keep some cash handy for taxis and tipping. Now, what does a 7-day trip actually cost if you want to mix business with pleasure (or just pleasure)? Read on if you want to avoid getting caught off-guard by hidden fees, wild price swings, or tourist traps. I’ll break down hotel rates, meals, transport, and—of course—the budget for some adult fun, without judgment or fluff.

• How Expensive is Dubai Really?
• Accommodation Costs: From Basic to Bling
• Food and Drinks: Eating In, Dining Out
• Transport: Taxis, Metro, and Private Drivers
• Entertainment and Escorts: What to Expect
• Money-Saving Tips for Your Dubai Adventure

How Expensive is Dubai Really?

There’s a lot of hype about how pricey Dubai is, and for good reason. Prices can swing hard—some things feel normal, while others look comically expensive. Here’s what you’re actually looking at for the big stuff: hotels, food, transport, and nightlife. If you’re thinking about an escort in Dubai or just want to live it up, expect your costs to be on the higher side.

Let’s talk numbers. A recent survey of popular mid-range hotels showed an average nightly rate of about 450 AED (roughly $120 USD). Hostel dorms exist, but most people opt for hotels or short-term apartments. Dinner for one at a standard restaurant lands around 100–150 AED ($27–$41 USD), while a club drink starts at 50 AED ($13 USD) and shoots up if you’re at a rooftop bar. Taxis start at 12 AED ($3.27 USD), but longer trips and late-night rides will push the fare up fast.

Here’s what trips people up—extras and taxes. Service fees and tourism fees on hotels can add 20% to your nightly bill. Alcohol is heavily taxed (and only served at licensed venues), so casual drinking racks up quickly. If you book an escort, the price will depend on the agency, time, and location, but expect a minimum of 1500–2000 AED for a basic two-hour booking at a good agency.

Dubai can be both affordable and outrageous, depending on your choices. Skip the tourist traps, watch out for hidden fees, and plan for the big spends upfront. Being realistic about prices lets you enjoy more and stress less about running out of cash on your second night out.

Accommodation Costs: From Basic to Bling

Dubai doesn’t do boring hotels, but how much you spend really depends on what you want to wake up to. You can crash in a hostel, stay in a no-nonsense 3-star, or live it up at the Burj Al Arab. Here’s what you’re looking at, price-wise, for a week in 2025.

If you just want a clean bed and a shower, budget around 1,300 AED (about $355) for a full week. If you’re after something respectable and hassle-free, 4-star places in Business Bay or Barsha Heights run about 3,500 AED ($950) for seven nights. Stick with big brands or hotels with lots of recent reviews—Dubai goes all-out on cleanliness but check for hidden taxes (like the Tourism Dirham fee: 10-20 AED per night sensitive to hotel category).

Looking to impress or just want the fancy rooftop pool for your Insta? Five-star joints usually start at 900 AED ($245) per night but running up to 2,500 AED ($680) is very normal in tourist season (October-April). Places like Atlantis or Burj Al Arab can eat up over 28,000 AED ($7,650) for a week. Insane—but unforgettable. For most, a solid 4-star does the job and frees up budget for other Dubai fun.

If you’re booking with a guest in mind (read: escort-friendly), check hotel rules. Not every place is discreet about overnight visitors and some won’t allow them at all, especially top-end ones. Call or message ahead to double-check. Some mid-range hotels are super chill and won’t blink if someone new comes up to your room, as long as you register your guest at reception. Private Airbnb rentals are also a way to dodge awkward hotel rules and can sometimes be a better deal if you want total comfort and privacy.

Here’s a quick checklist for picking your Dubai trip budget on accommodation:

• Hostel: Only if you don’t mind sharing and have low privacy needs.
• 3-star: Good enough if you’re out most of the day. No frills, clean, decent locations.
• 4-star: Best balance if you want comfort, a pool, and peace of mind.
• 5-star: Go big if you want to impress (or get pampered), but costs climb fast.
• Airbnb: Total privacy, but confirm guest policy with host—Dubai has its quirks.

Don’t forget, hotels snag a deposit—usually 200 to 500 AED ($55 to $135)—in case you raid the minibar or mess up a towel. You’ll get it back at checkout, but plan for that amount being held on your card.

Food and Drinks: Eating In, Dining Out

Dubai is packed with restaurants at every price, but you’ll feel the squeeze if you don’t watch your spending. A simple sandwich with a drink at a casual café can hit 40 AED ($11). Hotel breakfasts? Expect 100–150 AED ($27–40) unless included in your rate. You can save by grabbing snacks at supermarkets like Carrefour or Spinneys, where water is 2 AED (<$1) and ready-made salads start around 15 AED ($4).

Ready to splurge? Dinner at a mainstream chain like Cheesecake Factory or PF Chang’s usually comes to 120–180 AED (about $33–$50) per person. Fine dining at Burj Khalifa’s At.mosphere or Pierchic can shoot over 500 AED ($135+) just for a main and a drink. Alcohol costs a premium in Dubai: even a basic beer at a licensed bar will be 50 AED ($13–14), and cocktails can go higher. Don’t expect grocery store booze; you’ll only find alcohol in hotel bars or private clubs, and buying it outside requires a license most tourists won’t have.

Timeout Dubai mentions, "Brunch culture here is legendary, but expect to shell out at least 350 AED ($95) per person for a decent Friday brunch—and that’s before you add extras."

If you want to keep your Dubai trip budget reasonable, try some local bites. Shawarma from a street vendor costs 8–12 AED ($2–$3), and big plates of Indian or Lebanese food in older neighborhoods like Al Karama run just 25–40 AED ($7–$11) a person.

• Bottle of water (500ml): 2 AED ($0.5)
• Basic cappuccino: 18 AED ($5)
• Fast-food meal (McDonald’s): 30 AED ($8)
• Pasta or burger at midrange café: 60–80 AED ($16–$22)
• Imported wine by the glass in a hotel bar: 70–90 AED ($19–$25)

Tipping is usually 10% (on top of the service charge added in hotels), but not required everywhere. Most places accept cards, though you’ll need cash at local eateries and when tipping escort companions if you hire them for dinner.

Transport: Taxis, Metro, and Private Drivers

Getting around Dubai can feel easy if you know your options and what things really cost. The good news: you don’t need to rent a car unless you’re planning some wild desert adventure. Most places—especially hotels, malls, and nightlife spots—are reachable by taxi, metro, or even private driver if you want to splash out.

Dubai trip budget gets a big chunk eaten up by getting across the city, especially if you stick to cabs. Regular taxis (the cream and red ones) start at 12 AED (around $3.30) from the airport and 8 AED ($2.20) in the city. Meter clicks up by about 2 AED per kilometer. A quick trip across the city center can run you 25-35 AED ($7-10), but traffic during rush hour? That meter will move fast. For night trips or private meetings, taxis are discreet—a key point for some travelers.

If you want something predictable and a bit cheaper, check out Dubai Metro. It’s super clean, air-conditioned, and covers most tourist hotspots. A single ride in a standard class carriage can cost between 3 to 7.5 AED ($0.80 to $2), depending on the distance. You’ll need a Nol Card (like a travel pass)—just grab one at any station. The metro runs from 5 am to midnight most days, with longer hours on weekends.

For those who want extra privacy or plan late night outings, a private driver could be your best friend. You can book a driver through your hotel, or apps like Careem and Uber. Most private rides within the city cost 80-150 AED ($22-40) one way, depending on the ride type and distance. Hourly hires are common too; expect to pay around 150 AED ($40) per hour.

According to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA): "Dubai offers a range of safe, efficient, and affordable public transport options for residents and visitors, making it easy for all to get around."

Quick tips to keep the price down:

• Always use the official Dubai Taxi (not the hotel limos) to avoid getting overcharged.
• If you’re out late, book a ride in advance or through a trusted app—it’s safer and avoids long waits.
• Group your plans by area to cut down on cross-city trips. The city is big and traffic can bust your budget.

To sum it up, expect to spend roughly $100-150 on transport for a week if you mix metro and taxi rides, or up to $300 if you mostly take private cars and taxis. It’s worth planning this part of your trip so you can spend more where it actually matters.

Entertainment and Escorts: What to Expect

Dubai’s nightlife brings in people from around the world. You can party at rooftop bars, hit beach clubs, or just people-watch at one of the city’s super-fancy malls. Most bars and nightclubs are inside hotels because of local alcohol rules. Covers can range from 50 AED (about $13) to over 250 AED ($68) on weekends, sometimes with a drink included. Want to splurge? A VIP table at a high-end club like White Dubai can run 2,000–5,000 AED ($545–$1,360) a night, minimum spend.

If you're here for more than dancing, things get a bit more complicated. Escorts in Dubai operate under the radar since the city has strict laws, but, just being real, the *escort Dubai* scene still exists and is easy to find on certain apps, private sites, and high-end hotel networks.

What should you budget for? For a decent escort, rates start at 1,200–2,000 AED ($326–$545) for a short session (1–2 hours). All-night company may cost 4,000–8,000 AED ($1,090–$2,180) or more, especially at luxury hotels. Rates go up fast for models and exclusive agencies. You’ll often pay more during busy travel seasons (December or April especially).

"Most Dubai escorts work with agencies or directly through referrals, and clients pay deposits up front," says lifestyle blogger Zara Middleton, who covers nightlife in the UAE. "Always confirm the rate, set clear boundaries, and check agency credentials before paying anything."

Keep in mind, escorts don’t usually cover extras. This means transport, food, or hotel rooms are on you. Use cash when paying, or some accept instant bank transfers, but steer clear of cards.

Here's a quick price rundown (2025 estimates):

If you want to save cash but still enjoy Dubai nightlife without escorts, check out free-entry hotel bars or weekday ladies’ nights. For those set on an escort Dubai experience, play it safe: never discuss details in public, stick to private chats, and trust your gut if anything feels fishy.

Money-Saving Tips for Your Dubai Adventure

If you want to keep your Dubai trip fun without wrecking your wallet, you need some tactics. The city can feel like a non-stop shopping spree, but there are smart ways to save without missing out. Here’s how to stretch your budget, down to the last Dirham.

• Book hotels early. Prices jump like crazy when big events roll in. Try booking at least a month ahead, and look for deals on apps like Booking.com or Agoda. Lots of hotels also throw in perks like airport shuttles or free breakfast if you book direct.
• Eat where locals eat. Skip the fancy hotel restaurants unless you’re celebrating. Dubai is packed with budget-friendly Indian, Lebanese, and Filipino spots. A hearty lunch can cost 15–25 AED at a cafeteria instead of shelling out 150 AED on Jumeirah Beach. Street shawarma stalls are your best friend at midnight.
• Use public transport. Dubai Metro is modern, cheap, and air-conditioned. A single ride costs between 3 and 8.50 AED, way less than a minimum 12 AED taxi flagdown. Grab a Nol Card at the airport and recharge as needed.
• Shop smart for entertainment. Many top sites—Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, public beaches—are free. Want to see Burj Khalifa? Buy tickets online to snag discounts (don’t buy from street hustlers, ever). Ladies’ Nights at clubs mean free entry or drinks for women, usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.
• Negotiate respectfully. With private drivers or some personal services (including escorts), it’s normal to discuss the rate up front. Always agree on the price before you commit. Prices in Dubai can vary a lot based on timing and demand.
• Watch for hidden charges. Service fees and taxes often aren’t shown on menu prices. Expect 10%–15% extra at hotels and high-end restaurants. When using ATMs, check if your home bank charges international fees.

Here’s a quick look at typical savings you can make in a week if you ditch luxury for smart planning:

If you keep an eye out, it’s honestly not that tough to have a blast in Dubai without burning through your entire Dubai trip budget. Small choices add up—so spend smart, not just big.