Guide to budget hotels in Dubai

From international budget chains to great-value independent properties, it's easier than ever to find cheaper hotel options in Dubai – even in the city's most desirable districts. Budget hotels are ideal if you're watching your expenses, or if you're planning to be out and about seeing the city's sights most of the time.

We've put together a guide to some top-notch budget hotel options across the city, as well as a few tips on making the best-value hotel booking you can.

Dubai has plenty of hotel options, all the way from ultra-luxe resorts to budget hostels. The city has a growing number of fantastic budget hotels, which are ideal when you don’t need all the frills of a high-end property. Here are a few tips on finding the best budget hotel in Dubai for you.

• Plan ahead: Hotels are usually cheaper when booked well in advance (although sometimes late deals are also available). Start looking for a hotel as soon as you begin planning your trip, and keep an eye out for special offers and changing prices. Also try to choose dates which aren’t during public holidays or big events in the city – during peak periods, even budget hotel rates can soar.
• Be flexible with your location: Hotels in some areas in Dubai will always be more expensive than others; a hotel near the beach will generally cost more than one in the city. Depending on your plans, you may find you can choose a cheaper hotel, and still do everything you want in the city – especially with Dubai’s excellent public transport system.
• Check reviews: If you have to choose between several hotels, a good way to make a decision is to read reviews on sites including Google, Tripadvisor and others. Checking individual reviews is better than just relying on a property’s overall rating, as you can see what specific things customers mention – and decide how relevant they are to you.
• Join loyalty programmes: Big hotel chains including Ibis, Hyatt, Marriott IHG and others all operate loyalty schemes, and usually offer their best prices exclusively to members. The good news is, it’s free to join these schemes – and if you stay at the same chain frequently enough, you can gain even more benefits.

Bur Dubai is home to a lot of hotels, including plenty of top-notch budget options. Near the fashionable Al Seef district are two great-value hotels from Hilton, including the fantastic boutique Al Seef Heritage Hotel, part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, which gives a taste of old Dubai on a budget, with rooms in a traditional Arabian building.

If you want to be close to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, XVA Art Hotel is located in the heart of the area, with several more budget hotels very close by. And nearer the coast and Port Rashid are more options, including Aloft Al Mina from Marriott and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Bur Dubai.

You can also find plenty of hotels near to Burjuman Mall, with City Seasons Towers Hotel right next to the shopping centre. The area around the mall is home to many aparthotels, such as the well-reviewed Rose Garden Hotel Apartments – although note that some of these properties can vary in age and amenities.

See all these hotels and more on our interactive map:

Outside of old Dubai, Al Barsha is one of the best places in Dubai to find cheaper hotels and accommodation. Premier Inn Barsha Heights is based opposite Dubai Internet City, along wit Gholden Tulip Media Hotel not far away.

You’ll find several branches of French chain Accor’s budget Ibis and Novotel properties in the area: Ibis Dubai Mall of the Emirates and Novotel Suites Dubai Mall of the Emirates close to the mall in question, with Novotel Dubai Al Barsha and Ibis Dubai Al Barsha further along Sheikh Zayed Road.

There are more great international chain options, including Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Barsha, close to a metro station, and Studio M Al Barsha from Millennium Hotels near to Mall of the Emirates. Also close to the mall are two branches of regional budget chain Citymax Hotels.

See all these hotels and more on our interactive map:

While the most famous hotels in Dubai Marina are five-star properties, including Grosvenor House and Address Beach Resort, there are still ways to find cheaper rooms in the area.

Part of the same group which created the Address Hotels brand, Rove Dubai Marina is a wonderful three-star hotel in the district. And you can also find plenty of four-star properties, along with hotel apartments, throughout Dubai Marina.

Instead of staying in the marina itself, you can often find lower-priced options in areas nearby, including Al Sufouh and Al Barsha. For more information and tips on where to look, see our article on budget stays in Dubai Marina.

Deira is one of the best areas for budget hotels in Dubai, thanks to its bustling character and thriving trade and commercial culture. The neighbourhood also has good transport links, with both the Red Line and Green Line of Dubai Metro passing through, along with plenty of buses which can take you across the city.

One of the best budget hotels in Deira is Rove City Centre – part of Dubai's homegrown budget hotel chain, Rove is close to both City Centre Deira mall and the metro station of the same name. Nearby are two budget Accor properties, Ibis Dubai Deira City Centre and Novotel Dubai Deira City Centre – and there are several more Ibis hotels elsewhere in Deira.

There are plenty more budget accommodation options in Deira – for more information, see our guide to Deira's budget hotels, or if you're specifically looking for a hotel close to DXB, then have a look at Dubai’s best airport hotels.