At first glance, this trip of mine to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) may seem quite uncharacteristic to some of my earliest readers. After all, so far, I tried my best to write about some of the lesser visited parts of our globe on the Wondering Voyager. If anything, the UAE is an antithesis to such countries. With that being said, I figured it was high time I mixed up my travels as I was getting a mental fatigue from seeing too many cool Soviet mosaics, which slowly turned my trips across the former Soviet and Yugoslav territories into some sort of repetitive missions, rather than truly enjoyable trips where (almost) everything I see is fresh to my wondering gaze.
Moreover, I was certain that there was a different side to the Emirates than the one that was shown off on the social media, a part that I could highlight by writing about it after this trip of mine. In other words, the essence of my work on the Wondering Voyager did not have to change to accommodate a visit to the UAE. Let us briefly think about it. While Dubai and Abu Dhabi are indeed very well known destinations on their own rights, can we really say the same about Ajman or Fujairah, or even the dreamy oases of Al Ain? Furthermore, is it not true that many cities I covered so far, like Samarkand, Almaty, or Batumi are already highly popular tourist destinations that hardly needed any “limelight” from a small time travel writer such as myself?
I would like to think that writing about my journey across the magically rugged terrain of Fujairah is, hopefully, as interesting as writing about the racially divided cities of Kosovo. Humbly, I also think that sharing my experience about Dubai, as someone who is evidently not into luxury traveling, and who almost always travels on a budget unlike most social media phenomena that advertise this glamorous city, is also an interesting read for some of you. Last but certainly not least, I thought that it would be most insincere (not to mention suspicious) for me to skip writing about a city or two that I visited for leisure purposes, since as far as my personal goals go, there is nothing different between me hiking around Kutaisi, or exploring the night markets of Dubai. All of this is to say, mechanically, there is nothing that prohibited me to visit the UAE and write about it on the Wondering Voyager. If anything, this trip proved that I could visit all the countries around the globe and write about them on this website following my own style. Indeed, all that I need now is the money, time, and new meaningless categories to organize my new writings…
Admittedly, there was yet another reason why visiting the UAE was not on the plans for me for a long time. On the Wondering Voyager, I try my best to show that travel does not have to break the bank. I am quite lucky in the sense that the countries that I am most interested in at the moment, which are often the regions I study as a historian, are also relatively cheap ones to enjoy. As a result of that, so far, I did not have an issue finding “cheap” destinations to visit and write about. However, this cannot last forever, and some of these countries are so far away from some of my readers that, frankly, them being so cheap as you travel around them means nothing if you have to spend thousands of USD just to be able to fly to them in the first place. The UAE, on the other hand, is relatively easy to get to for many people across the globe, thanks to its increasingly lax visa policy, and many budget-friendly carriers that connect Emirati cities to the rest of the world.
On an interesting note, I also sort of challenged myself to keep the budget of this trip to under a 1000 USD, all included. While this did make things pretty complicated at times, it was necessary not only as a challenge to show that the UAE could be enjoyed on a budget, but also as a genuine cost cutting procedure. You see, unlike Serbia, Albania, Azerbaijan, or Kazakhstan, there is really no limit to the amount of money you can spend in the UAE. This is not a comment on how “dirt poor” those other countries are, they are not. However, other than paying far too much for your hotel or apartment, being completely swindled in an eatery, or purposefully splurging on top shelf booze, you cannot easily end up spending hundreds of USDs a day in Astana, let alone Skopje. You can, however, easily spend thousands of USD a day in Dubai, or Abu Dhabi, and so on, without even having much to show for. Some theme parks already cost more than a 100 USD just to enter them, and there are even some smaller museums that cost half as much for maybe an hour or so of entertainment. Even renting some basic beach equipment can set you back by 50 USD or more, and I will not even get into how expensive dining out (or if you are truly couregous and loaded, drinking out) can be, if you so desire.
In short, given just how expensive a trip to the UAE can theoretically be, I truly wanted to see if one can enjoy a trip to the Emirates on a budget or not. What can be done there on the cheap, what can you see, what can you eat, what can you buy? I made the challenge significantly harder on myself by going there for a whopping 16 nights and also making it a condition to visit all Emirates by at least a single day trip. Simply locking myself up in a cheap hostel and eating cup noodles would not do, after all, that is not really travel.
You can judge for yourself whether this trip was worth it or not after going through a detailed itinerary of it below. It is, however, a bit difficult to judge a trip with what one does, eats, and sees during it. Some of my best memories in the UAE were those that did not involve any money, but genuine interactions with the locals. In fact, it was the borderline humbling hospitality of the people that elevated my stay in the UAE to a level that I could not even dream about before visiting it. Starting with the police officers at the airport, I had this feeling that people mixed me up with some member of the royalty, because that is pretty much how I was treated all around the Emirates. I can see, both from comments on the internet, and my conversations with other foreigners in the country that this experience is not unique, but also, it is not necessarily the case for everyone. That is why I will try not to emphasize this point too much. Still, do keep in mind that you will most likely be welcomed with open arms as a tourist in the UAE, which adds a lot to the experience. Let us now start with some general remarks on planning a (budget friendly) trip to the UAE and then move on to the eventual shape my itinerary took when I was done with my trip over there.
General Itinerary Notes
- Well, the timing of a trip can really make or break it, and this is most certainly true for the UAE. If you go there at any other time than December, you will likely have a worse experience than me. I am not saying this because I visited the Emirates in December, and that I “know the best.” I have an entire separate article on the issue, but to put it quickly, the Emirati weather is best in December, most Emirates have some sort of festival going on at that time of the year, and some interesting spots like the Global Village Theme Park in Dubai only works when the temperatures are somewhat bearable for the masses. If you want to find out why December is the best month to visit the Emirates in more detail, feel free to check out THIS article of mine.
- I had to quickly visit one Emirate after another to complete my challenge properly, and while I did enjoy some of those day trips thoroughly, I have to say that the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular is well suited first and foremost for slow travel. The infrastructure is good, distances involved are short, so you may be tempted to do what I did and just see the whole country in a fast-paced manner, but in all honesty, I would not do that ever again. It was needlessly tiring, and quite possibly less rewarding than picking two or three Emirates and focusing on getting the most out of them. I do not regret doing what I did, the UAE did not disappoint me in the slightest. However, next time I will simply stay in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and possibly Ras Al Khaimah, enjoy walking around their crowded streets at night for longer, try to have more conversations with locals, and try to eat more locally. People here are laid back; they are not quite as stressed out as the kind that I am used to. To really enjoy this mindset yourself in one of the most comfortable and safest places in the world, you really should consider having a few empty days on your itinerary if possible and just become a part of the atmosphere.
- With that being said, if you are so inclined, and especially if you are staying in Dubai, you can quite easily see all other Emirati capitals through day trips. This is mostly what I did. However, do be warned. I did it to mainly see the most easily discernible differences between these Emirates, such as to get a glimpse of the varying levels of wealth, variations between the local cultures, and to check out the main attractions each Emirate had briefly. Briefly is the key word here. I do not claim to have enjoyed all that Ras Al Khaimah had to offer, for example. Nor can I claim that for any other Emirate in question. While sun is less effective in December, the Emirates are still very hot in the day and remains warm at night. That is why, nighttime is when the Emirates come to life. Truth be told, if you do not spend an actual evening in an Emirati town, you are not really experiencing it properly. I was not fully aware of this fact before I arrived there, so I just wanted to share this piece of “wisdom” with you all. Again, this time, I just wanted to see the Emirati capitals in daytime, visit the museums, see the landmarks clearly, and so on, so these day trips mostly worked out for me. But, if I had unlimited time, money, and energy, I would much rather move from one Emirate to another, as in change where I stay every few nights, to enjoy them fully. This is what I recommend to those of you who are more flexible with their travels.
- I really wanted to visit Hatta as a part of this trip, but I could not. I needed a visa to enter the UAE, and I ended up getting a single entry one, mostly because I did not even know whether I could fit Hatta into my itinerary or not. You see, while it is in the UAE, you need to cross Omani territory if you use the public buses to go there. I can enter Oman without a visa, but with a single-entry visa for the UAE, the trip simply would not work out for me at the end. In case anyone is wondering why I skipped this natural beauty which I am sure would be one of my favourite spots in all of the Emirates, this is why. I hope to be back to see it one day.
- You see, personal preferences really do matter, especially when one is talking about a rather long holiday. The UAE in general, but Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah in particular are very touristic destinations. They cater to all sorts of travelers quite well. I personally know people who spent days, literal days, getting lost in spice and gold souks, figuring out the best deals, and so on. A couple that I know who recently got married went to Abu Dhabi to enjoy their honeymoon and said that they only really spent time in the pool, by the beach, and in a few local restaurants, and loved every single second of their stay. Of course, we also cannot forget foodies, who are there to reap the benefits of the UAE’s multiculturalism by enjoying anything from Filipino mechado to West African jollof rice. Depending on what you want to do, what you care about, your itinerary in the UAE will look extremely different than mine. There really is something for everyone there. In short, use the itinerary below as an inspiration for your own journey, and not some sort of checklist to follow blindly.
General Budgetary Notes
- Well, let us get the public transportation out of the way first. Cost of using the public transportation in the Emirates seemed average to me. Inter-Emirate buses cost 5 to 15 USD one way, and mass transit options within cities usually cost around a USD or two to ride, depending on the length of your journey, at least in Dubai. I ended up spending around a 100 USD for all my transportation needs in this 16-night trip to the Emirates, which is not cheap per se, but it is not unreasonable given how clean, comfortable, and efficient the buses and metros were. This fee included everything, all the buses, metros, inter-Emirate routes, taxi rides, ferries, and so on. Besides, while these cities are not as unwalkable as some claim them to be, they are rather huge, so you will be saving quite some valuable time by burning a bit more cash on transportation. You can check out THIS article to read about the Emirati public transportation system in greater detail.
- Accommodation, however, is a different story. If you intend to stay in Abu Dhabi and Dubai as a budget traveller, you are limited to the hostels that operate in these cities. I cannot write much about the housing situation in other Emirates, as I did not check them out, but as far as these two megacities are concerned, it is not great, at least not for the busy December. Since this lovely month is when tourism skyrockets in the country, prices of accommodation rise significantly. I had to stay in a hostel in the three nights I spent in Abu Dhabi, where I shared a very spacious room with seven others, but miraculously never had a noisy neighbour. Similarly, I spent my thirteen nights in Dubai in a so-called capsule hostel that really was just a small room with capsule-like bunk beds. In both cases, I spent an average of 18 USD a night for the privilege of sharing a room with many others. These did not offer the best conditions to stay in for a long time, and did make me positively miss my home in the last week of my trip, which almost never happens to this degree. I am not making this commentary to rant online, but to describe my actual experiences to all my readers. While it is technically possible to spend a decent number of time in the UAE, and see most of its landmarks, you cannot do that in a very comfortable way if you are on a strict budget, which makes sense given how affluent Emirati towns can be. You can rent hotel rooms or better yet entire apartments for 18 USD a night in many cities of Central Asia, some parts of Caucasus, and bits of the Balkans, but in the Emirates, it only really secures you a spot among a few other (often snoring) bunkmates. Admittedly, there were a few cheaper options, still hostels with shared rooms, but those were not centrally located, and as such staying in those was not really worth the savings in my opinion. While staying in a hostel in itself is not a luxurious act, it was a luxury to be able to reach old Dubai’s central Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, and the nearby metro station, after a three minute walk. In short, expect to pay a decent sum to have a pillow under your head in the UAE, as accommodation will likely make up most of your budget.
- Thankfully, finding reasonably priced (and delicious) food is not that big of an issue to worry about when you are visiting the Emirates. You see, while you may have seen a lot of steaks covered in gold flakes on social media if you check out the sort of food Emirati cities has to offer, that is nothing but a tiny sliver of the full reality on the ground. Obviously, there are expensive places to eat all around the Emirates, but there are also really cheap and good spots alongside them as well. All you need to do is a bit of research or just reading my relevant articles on the issue. You can enjoy a full meal for less than 10 USD and sometimes as low as 5 USD, especially if you are okay filling yourself up with some surprisingly tasty fast food. You can keep the food costs to a bare minimum by buying from the deli section of Carrefour and some local supermarkets as well, which I am told have high quality items. In short, food is plentiful in the Emirates, and it should not stress your budget all that much, that is, of course, unless you want it to.
- Over my 16-night trip, I never paid for using a toilet once. This was surely not the norm in most of the countries I visited up until that point. Also, most of the toilets (especially in Abu Dhabi and Dubai) seemed to be cleaner than the one I have back in my own apartment, which is definitely not the norm when it comes to toilets one comes across as they travel around the world. On another positive note, you can find water freely available all around the Emirates, even in some smaller villages. There is often a free water dispenser right around the corner, or at least that was my experience as someone who ended up walking hundreds of kilometers across all the seven Emirates Moreover, even when you want to buy water like I did a few times, it is often surprisingly cheap, even in restaurants. I must say that I truly appreciated the efforts of local rulers in making sure that these seemingly basic amenities, that is to say clean toilets and accessible drinking water, is readily available across their country. Such amenities make everything significantly easier, not only for budgetary reasons, but for planning and actually enjoying the day ahead with fewer worries.
- Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have very well-connected airports, their own (legacy and budget) airlines, and so on. Make sure to check the airfare well in advance and try to get a ticket on the cheaper end. I found mine for quite cheap, at around 200 USD, and that was actually the main reason why I ended up visiting the UAE in the first place. It is hard to say no to a bargain if it involves traveling.
My Emirati Trip
10.12.2024 Tuesday
I arrived at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport shortly after midnight on this day. After a quick sleep at my hostel, I went out to explore what the city has to offer, focusing on areas closer to me, in the city center. These included Qasr al Hosn and Umm Al Amarat Park.
Hafilat Card with a weekly pass – 45 AED
A quick but tasty lunch at Seashell Café – 24.25 AED
Umm Al Amarat Park entry fee – 10 AED
One serving of cheese filled lygmat from Lgymat & Rgag – 16.80 AED
Qasr al Hosn entry fee – 30 AED
A koshary feast at Koshari Tom and Basal – 25 AED
Total – 151.05 AED
If you want to enjoy some of the finest landmarks Abu Dhabi has to offer, check out THIS article of mine!
11.12.2024 Wednesday
This was my second and (already) last full day in Abu Dhabi. I visited some of the most touristic parts of the town today, like the excellent Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the truly grand Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
A zataar and cheese filled fresh bread at Shalqar Bakery – 5 AED
Louvre Abu Dhabi entry fee – 63 AED
A quick falafel wrap at Qasmieh Al-Fawal – 14.75 AED
A late-night snack at Sangam Vegetarian Restaurant – 26 AED
Total – 108.75 AED
While Louvre Abu Dhabi is the best museum to visit in the city, it is not the only good one. For a quick recap of all the museums I visited in the Emirati capital click HERE.
12.12.2024 Thursday
Today I moved from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, after a quick lunch in the former. I was a bit too excited to see the Burj Khalifa, so after settling in my new hostel, I just went straight to it and spent the rest of the day wondering around that area.
An Emirati feast at Bait El Khetyar – 25 AED
Two soft drinks at the Abu Dhabi bus station – 11.50 AED
Silver Nol Card and 94 AED credit – 100 AED
A quick dinner at New York Fries in Dubai Mall – 41 AED
Total – 177,50 AED
I had some amazing meals for cheap in Abu Dhabi, and to find out more about those, you can read THIS work of mine.
13.12.2024 Friday
Today I took a daytrip to Ajman and also checked out the Deira side of the Creek at night.
Snacks at the bus station – 5 AED
A Nepalese lunch at Lumbini Himalaya Restaurant in Ajman – 25 AED
Dinner at Papa Johns in City Centre Deira Mall – 29 AED
Four pieces of Filipino desserts at a night market – 10 AED
Abra ride back to my side of the Creek – 1 AED
Snacks to enjoy back in my hostel – 26 AED
Total – 96 AED
I ended up visiting Ajman twice for logistical reasons, and that second visit allowed me to properly finalize seeing all the sights its old city has to offer. To see whether Ajman is an Emirate you may be interested in visiting or not, feel free to check out THIS article.
14.12.2024 Saturday
On this lovely day, I visited Al Ain, and practically fell in love with it. Still shocked with how enjoyable its oases were, I also did some strolling around my hostel at night.
Nol Card top up – 100 AED
A quick lunch at Subway in Al Ain – 38 AED
Snacks at the bus station – 5 AED
A surprisingly tasty dinner at KFC in City Centre Al Shindagha Mall – 18 AED
An extremely affordable late night snack at Farisian Star Cafeteria – 3.5 AED
Total – 164.5 AED
Al Ain was the destination I loved the most in this entire trip, and I am sure that this may be the case for most of you as well. To find out all about that day trip of mine, do check out THIS link.
15.12.2024 Sunday
Today was a lazy Sunday for me, well, it had to be. I waited for an Amazon delivery in my hostel and only after receiving it could I enjoy what Dubai had to offer on its older parts, which was already pretty late in the day.
An Indian seafood lunch at Curry Maria – 22 AED
A vegetarian meal at McDonalds in Dubai Festival City Mall – 20 AED
Total – 42 AED
Dubai is mostly known for its modern buildings and luxurious malls, but there is a historic side to it as well. If you are interested in exploring those parts of the city, make sure to check out THIS article of mine.
16.12.2024 Monday
I visited Umm Al Quwain today, by using Ajman as a transfer station. Which is why I also ended up visiting parts of Ajman that I could not before.
Bottle of water and an instant cup of cappucciono in the bus station – 5 AED
Ajman – Umm Al Quwain bus fare (return ticket) – 30 AED
A heavenly seafood feast at Wadi Al Neel Restaurant in Umm Al Quwain – 32 AED
Museum of Umm Al Quwain entry fee – 5 AED
Two soft drinks to help me walk around in the scorching heat – 4 AED
Museum of Ajman entry fee – 5 AED
A feast with too much food for one person at Aroos Damascus Restaurant – 45 AED
Total – 126 AED
Umm Al Quwain was, well, different. It differed quite a lot from what I have been seeing in the busier Emirates so far, and for that, it was worth a visit. To find out more about what I ended up finding in the least populated and possibly the most laidback of all Emirates within the UAE, you can refer to THIS work.
17.12.2024 Tuesday
Today was spent exploring Sharjah, the closest Emirate to Dubai, and also an enormous one. It was a long day trip that started early on with a ferry ride and ended with a late night bus ride back to Dubai.
Nol Card top up – 100 AED
Soft drink – 3 AED
Sharjah Aquarium and Maritime Museum entry fee – 25 AED
A fittingly tasty lunch at Tasty Station in Sharjah – 33 AED
Bottle of water – 1.5 AED
Sharjah Heritage Museum entry fee – 10 AED
Sharjah Fort entry fee – 10 AED
Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization entry fee – 10 AED
A most memorable dinner at Veg World Restaurant back in Dubai – 37 AED
Total – 229.5 AED
Sharjah certainly is one of the better know Emirates, and that is for a good reason. The city offers a good range of options for all sorts of travellers, especially for those that are interested in local and Islamic culture. To see what I ended up doing over there, do read THIS work of mine.
18.12.2024 Wednesday
I embarked on a most enjoyable day trip to Fujairah on this day, and due to how distant it is from Dubai, I only really had time for a quick dinner when I was back in Dubai.
Bottle of water in the bus station – 1 AED
Two minibus rides in Fujairah – 6 AED
A memorable lunch at Pizza Hut in Fujairah – 48.5 AED
Museum of Fujairah entry fee – 5 AED
Snacks and drinks in the bus station – 8.5 AED
An interesting Indian fusion experience at Rollo Bollo – 37 AED
Total – 106 AED
Fujairah turned out to be a far more rewarding destination than I had imagined, and to see why that was the case, you can check out THIS article.
19.12.2024 Thursday
I decided to finally see what Dubai has to offer more in depth, which started with me spending the majority of this day visiting various museums in the city’s Al Shindagha Historic District. I also enjoyed the night markets on the other side of the Creek once again this night.
Al Shindagha Historic District Day Pass – 50 AED
A quick meal at the nearby KFC – 19 AED
Two dhow rides on the Creek – 2 AED
Bottle of water – 1 AED
Laksa at Al Rigga Night Market – 30 AED
Large cup of karak chai at Al Rigga Night Market – 4 AED
Total – 106 AED
Dubai has many museums, some that are free, and some that can be quite costly. To find out which ones I eventually decided to visit and what I think about them in retrospect, do check out the article HERE.
20.12.2024 Friday
I now knew that Fridays were not ideal for traveling around in the UAE, given how it is a day off. That is why, I just visited a few malls around Dubai and enjoyed the Dubai Marina on this day. I ended up finishing the day back in the same night market as yesterday…
An enjoyable lunch at Koshari Abu Tarek – 33 AED
More snacks to enjoy back in the hostel – 7 AED
Pad Thai at the Al Rigga Night Market – 26 AED
Total – 66 AED
Dubai’s more modern and often outright shinier side is a beautiful one, there is no doubt about that. While there are already many better guides out there on what to see in this gorgeous metropolis, if you wish to learn more about the parts of the more glamorous side of Dubai that I got to explore this time around, check out THIS article of mine.
21.12.2024 Saturday
I finally saw what the Etihad Museum has to offer on this day, and also finished seeing some other parts of the more recently built sections of Dubai.
Etihad Museum entry fee – 25 AED
Ice cream at McDonalds – 2 AED
A satisfying lunch at Al Ijaza Cafeteria – 32 AED
An exceptional feast at Al Baik – 31 AED
Nol Card top up – 10 AED
Total – 100 AED
The United Arab Emirates has quite an interesting history, and Etihad Museum is one of the best places to find out more about that today. However, if you would like to read a bit about it beforehand, do check out THIS more experimental piece of mine.
22.12.2024 Sunday
I enjoyed the parts around Burj Khalifa for a few times by this point, but today was the first time I enjoyed it under sunlight. At night, I visited Global Village, a worthy excursion to a lovely theme park that may have pushed me to lose my challenge as I neared the end of this trip…
An excellent fast-food experience at Burger King in Dubai Mall – 29 AED
Global Village entry fee – 30 AED
An Iranian ash reshteh at the Global Village – 20 AED
A scrumptious lobster roll at the Global Village – 40 AED
A Lebanese mankosha at the Global Village – 20 AED
Total – 139 AED
While the food in the Global Village was top notch, it was not cheap by any means. If you wish to know how to eat well on a budget in Dubai, you should probably check out THIS piece of mine.
23.12.2024 Monday
I made the mistake of visiting Ras Al Khaimah on a Monday, when all the museums I wanted to visit over there were closed, and yet still managed to have an enjoyable time on this day.
Bus ride to and back from Ras Al Khaimah – 60 AED
Two taxi rides in Ras Al Khaimah – 30 AED
A surprisingly good lunch at Alhatee Restaurant in Ras Al Khaimah – 38 AED
Best karak chai I had in my life at Nena Tea in Ras Al Khaimah – 2 AED
Another exceptional dinner at Al Baik – 30 AED
Total – 160 AED
Ras Al Khaimah defies being visited as part of a day trip, mostly due to its size, however, it is still feasible. To find out more about my own experience of visiting this northern Emirate, feel free to read THIS work.
24.12.2024 Tuesday
This was, sadly, my very last full day in the Emirates. I visited Burj Khalifa once again, did some souvenir shopping and said goodbye to the city with a Filipino Christmas Eve special show at a random night market in Deira.
A third and final feast at Al Baik – 34 AED
Nol Card top up – 5 AED
Yakisoba at the night market – 20 AED
Bubble tea at the night market – 26 AED
Total – 85 AED
The UAE is home to a plethora of American fast-food chains. To find out which ones to frequent and which ones to avoid, make sure to check out my article HERE.
25.12.2024 Wednesday
I simply left my hostel in Dubai early in the morning and made the journey to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport in order to catch my return flight back home on this sad day.
Shuttle bus to Abu Dhabi from Dubai – 35 AED
Total – 35 AED
Summary of the Budget for the Trip
Daily Costs (Food, Transportation, Entry Fees etc.) – 1892,3 AED (around 515 USD)
Sim Card and Tourist Package from Etisalat – 200 AED (around 55 USD)
Airfare (Wizz Air, NQZ-AUH-NQZ) – 200 USD
Accommodation (16 Nights) – 285 USD
Grand Total: 1055 USD
I am no Phileas Fogg, and there is no plot twist in this story. I failed the challenge fair and square. However, this trip of mine, now that we can see the exact payments that I made over the time I spent in the UAE, was a proof of concept that a trip of that length to the Emirates with a 1000 USD budget is entirely possible. After all, 55 USD (around 200 AED) is not a difference that cannot be fixed with some ease.
I did some mental gymnastics and realized that I spent far too much money on food than I normally would just because I wanted to write about as many restaurants and cafes as possible for the Wondering Voyager, especially since I wanted to write an entire separate article on American fast food. While none of my meals left me unsatisfied, I must admit that paying up to 50 AED to eat at what are essentially fast food joints you can find around the globe is not the smartest move to make, especially from a foodie perspective. My three top dining experiences in this trip took place at the humble koshary place in Abu Dhabi, the seafood restaurant in Umm Al Quwain, and the excellent Al Baik. All of these feasts came to around 30 AED or less. Moreover, all the cheap falafels and even the fresh filled bread I had in Abu Dhabi that costed as little as 5 AED were actually tastier than most of the American fast food I tried for that article. All of this is to say, I could have easily removed 200 AED off of my food budget in this trip, and that would most likely have the added the benefit of improving the quality of my meals (and thus the entire trip), and not vice versa.
It also goes without saying that my day trips across the country were somewhat forced at certain times. They were all interesting to me at the time, but realistically, or I should say reasonably, you should not go ahead and visit all the Emirates in one go unless you have no desire to come back to the UAE (for some reason) and have weeks to do the country justice in this trip of yours. The thing is, I just ended up spending too much money (not to mention time) on transportation even though I could not spend that much time in most of my final destinations. In Ras Al Khaimah, for example, I literally spent less time seeing the town than actually getting to and coming back from that far away Emirate. In fact, it costed me a whopping 90 AED in a single day just to spend time sitting on buses and taxis to move around this one Emirate, so keep that in mind when you are judging my final budget as well. Removing a few Emirates from the itinerary, either to see them in a later trip or simply because you are not interested in them will significantly reduce your budget. It may also keep your trip shorter, which will further reduce the total cost of accommodation and food.
Now, while I do not want to exaggerate this trip’s success, I do think that I managed to see a good chunk of the UAE, “more than most locals did” according to at least one Emirati gentleman, without ever going hungry or thirsty, often by dining well (for my standards that is, as the standards in the Emirates can really go to extreme heights if you have the money for it), and always staying in centrally located hostels. Considering my budget, I humbly think that this is all that one really needs to enjoy a trip properly and it is reason enough to book that ticket to the Emirates without much delay in case you were worried about budgetary issues. While I will not make a bold (and wrong) claim by stating that the UAE is a cheap country to travel to, it is definitely not as expensive as it is assumed to be by many. If you know what you are doing as a somewhat seasoned traveler and do not actually fall for any tourist traps (that are becoming increasingly common across the globe), do your research ahead of time, book your accommodation and flights in advance, and pay attention to what the actual locals will recommend you to do when you arrive at the country, the Emirates will welcome you with open arms and give you nothing but a great time regardless of your humble budget.