Last Updated on March 30, 2024 by Jamie Marshall
As Dubai continues to lure a large number of tourists to its shores with the promise of exhilarating entertainment, glitz, glam and world class attractions, the demand for cheap hotels in Dubai is on the rise. For most people who visit this fascinating emirate, it is easy to get carried away with the myriad of shopping malls, opulent hotels and mind boggling array of dining options, clubs and bars, only to get hit with a whopping credit card bill at the end of their vacation!
While it is easy for most people to assume that staying in Dubai automatically means spending big bucks on luxury hotels, this is untrue. There are many affordable hotels in the city that offer all the comforts expected by most tourists, are conveniently located close to the city’s most popular attractions and offer great value for money. The hotels listed below offer the best value for money in terms of experience, location and services offered, and while they may not offer gold gilded taps in their bathrooms, many do offer comfortable rooms and amenities such as gyms, swimming pools, shops and dining options located on the hotel premises.
The Orient Guest House Hotel
(Price from USD 60 per night)
Located at the edge of Dubai’s historic Bastakiya district in Bur Dubai, this intimate boutique hotel is reminiscent of a bed and breakfast and is set in a traditional wind tower renovated in Arabian and Indian décor. Rooms are spacious with heavy wooden furniture and Indian textiles from Rajasthan. The service is warm and friendly and is one of the main draws of this charming hotel.
Jumeirah The Meydan
(Price from USD 70 per night)
This new hotel is part of the enormous, multi-million dollar horse racing complex known as the Meydan City, located in an area known as Nad Al Sheba. The perfect venue for anyone who is an avid horseracing fan, the hotel offers spacious rooms with a delicate Arabian touch and magnificent views overlooking the race track. Since it is quite away from the city center, thankfully the hotel offers a choice of five types of cuisine for dining enthusiasts including Prime, a popular steakhouse, a Japanese restaurant and the Equus Bar with stunning views of the racetrack. An infinity pool set on the roof-top also offers great views of the racecourse with a good sized spa. Still very new, this hotel aims to attract equestrian aficionados from across the globe, especially during the race meets that take place in Dubai every year.
XVA Hotel
(Price from USD 70 per night)
One of Dubai’s best kept secrets, this jewel of a hotel features six wonderfully artistic rooms designed by local artists from the region. Also located in the historic Bastakiya district of Bur Dubai, the hotel offers only six rooms, which are bright and airy, with exquisite details and look out onto gorgeous courtyards furnished with wooden furniture and lush planting. Although a little distance away from the beaches and some of the city’s more modern attractions, the XVA hotel is located a stone’s throw from the rich textile district and the Dubai Museum. This hotel is very popular with tourists who are looking to avoid the glitz and glamour of Dubai’s glass towers but with only six rooms available, book well in advance if you plan to stay here.
Crowne Plaza, Dubai Festival City
(Price from USD 110 per night)
A five star hotel, without the five star prices, the Crowne Plaza is a part of the Dubai Festival City complex. It is very popular with business tourists and Western travelers looking for a quieter location, but still within easy access to Dubai’s main attractions. Connected to the rest of Dubai via the Business Bay Bridge, it is midway between the airport and the Burj Khalifa. The rooms are warm and comfortable offering views over the creek and inland. The hotel has a well-equipped gym with steam and sauna rooms, a leisure deck with a heated pool and three spas and is right next door to the popular 18 hole Al-Badia Golf Course.
Al Manzil Hotel
(Price from USD 130 per night)
Blending Arabic style with modern amenities, this hotel is perfectly situated in quaint old Town Dubai, adjacent to the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. Despite, its five-star location, this four star hotel offers smartly furnished, contemporary rooms featuring a glass walled bathroom with a tub at its center. It is located within walking distance of the charming Souk al Bahar, which has some great outdoor restaurants with stunning views of the Burj Khalifa.
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi
(Price from USD 150 per night)
If water sports and relaxing by the beach is your idea of the perfect holiday, the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi offers a variety of fantastic water sports on a gorgeous private beach. Nestled in the Dubai Marina, the hotel is best known for its outdoor facilities including a dive center, yacht rentals next door and a dedicated lap pool for more serious swimmers. It is equally popular for the Barasti bar, one of the city’s most popular casual beach bars. Although not as stylish as some of Dubai’s more sophisticated hotels, with smaller rooms devoid of the city’s usual bells and whistles, this hotel is a hot spot for Western sun-worshippers who enjoy partying after sun down.
Park Hyatt Dubai
(Price from USD 180 per night)
Popular for its Mediterranean style charm, the Park Hyatt is popular amongst holidaymakers and business clientele for its luxury accommodation, leisure facilities and central location. Located across the road from the Deira City Center mall, this waterfront resort is a short taxi ride from the airport and a half hour drive from some of Dubai’s popular mega malls. The rooms come with a patio facing the marina and are designed with distinct Mediterranean overtones. The hotel features a swimming pool and spa at its center, set amidst eight rooms, each with its own private garden. The hotel also offers great dining options for its guests, often at discounted rates.
Shangri-La Hotel
(Price from USD 190 per night)
Centrally located on Sheikh Zayed Road, this hotel is popular with both tourists with families as well as business savvy travelers and offers excellent facilities. The hotel boasts over 300 air-conditioned rooms elegantly designed with light woods and leather headboards. Recreational facilities include an indoor and outdoor pool with a children’s pool, a health club, tennis courts and a range of beauty and spa services inspired by the traditional Chinese medicine. The hotel is also popular for its first-class restaurants including the rooftop bar Ikandy (closed during the holy month of Ramadan and summer months).
The Palace
(Price from USD 210 per night)
Popular with both Western and regional visitors to the city, the Palace lives up to its name. Set in Downtown Dubai, a hop, skip and jump from the Burj Khalifa, this relatively new hotel offers Arab splendor set amidst some of the most modern building in the world. The rooms are traditionally decorated with linens and furnishings from Morocco, Egypt and Syria, but are equipped with all the modern facilities including complimentary WiFi. The Arabian theme runs through the entire hotel from the grand driveway entrance to the large lobby and splendid water features.
Grosvenor House
(Price from USD 250 per night)
Although not cheap, this sophisticated luxury hotel offers great value for money with plush furnished rooms equipped with plasma TVs, marble bathrooms and expert butler service!! Located in the stylish Marina district, the Grosvenor House offers excellent dining options and is perfect for those who want to enjoy the sun and sand and get some shopping in while enjoying all the perks of a big city such as fine dining at some of the city’s best restaurants and hippest bars.
As the city is synonymous with luxury and exemplary service for visitors, the above cheap Dubai hotels do not fail to live up to this reputation and offer most amenities without the over-the-top prices charged by other luxury hotels.