The taxi meter was already running higher than I expected, and we had barely left the airport.
That was my welcome to Dubai in 2020. I live here now, but back then it was my first time in the country, and I only saw Dubai on that trip. I had a picture of the city in my head from photos and stories. Some of it was right. A lot of it wasn't.
This isn't a list of tourist attractions. It's what actually surprised me on my first trip to Dubai, what I'd do differently, and what those things cost today, so you can plan better than I did.
The Taxi Ride That Set the Tone
I walked out of the airport, got into the first taxi I saw, and paid more than I expected for the ride to my hotel. Nothing went wrong. I just hadn't planned it.
Here's the reason, which I only understood later. Taxis that pick you up from Dubai airport start the meter at around AED 25. A regular taxi you stop on the street has a minimum fare of AED 12. So that first ride costs more before you've moved a single kilometre.
If I were landing for the first time again, I'd look at these options before leaving the terminal:
- Dubai Metro: the Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3. If you have light luggage and your hotel is close to a station, it's the cheapest way into the city.
- Careem or Uber: both work in Dubai, and you see the price before you book. Compare it with the taxi line.
- Hotel pickup: some hotels offer it. Ask for the price in advance, not at the desk.
Small lesson, but it set the tone for the whole trip. In Dubai, the things you plan are cheap, and the things you don't plan are expensive.
Rules Here Are Not Suggestions
The second thing I noticed was how seriously people follow rules. Coming from Pakistan, it was a real change.
Cars stop at signals even when the road is empty. Lanes mean something. Cameras are everywhere, and everyone knows it.
What surprised me more was that pedestrians have rules too. Crossing the road anywhere other than a proper crossing is called jaywalking, and the fine is AED 400. Ignoring a pedestrian signal costs the same. So if you're used to dodging traffic to cross a road, stop. Walk to the crossing or the bridge, even if it's a few minutes away.
The cleanliness comes from the same place. Streets, metro stations and public areas were spotless almost everywhere I went, and it's not by accident:
- Eating or drinking on the Dubai Metro can get you a AED 100 fine.
- Littering or spitting on the metro is AED 200.
Honestly, I liked it. A city feels calmer when everyone knows the rules and follows them. Just make sure you know them before you arrive, because "I didn't know" doesn't cancel a fine.
The Good Surprise: Food
I expected every meal in Dubai to hurt my wallet. That turned out to be wrong, and it was the best surprise of the trip.
Food was cheaper than I expected, as long as I ate where ordinary people eat, not where tourists eat.
Dubai has a huge South Asian community, so the older parts of the city are full of small Pakistani and Indian restaurants. In areas like Karama, Deira and Bur Dubai, a full curry and rice meal usually costs around AED 15 to 35, and a cup of karak chai can be as little as AED 1 to 3. You get food that tastes like home without paying tourist prices.
Compare that with a sit-down restaurant in a mall or a tourist area, where you can easily spend AED 80 to 150 per person. Try those once or twice for the experience. For everyday meals, head to the old areas.
Where I Wasted the Most Money
My biggest mistake on that first trip was booking an expensive hotel.
At the time it felt like the right choice. First trip, new country, why not stay somewhere nice? Looking back, it's the one decision I'd change. And it's the first thing I'd tell a friend who's going to Dubai: don't book an expensive hotel.
Think about how you actually spend a trip like this. You're out most of the day. The room is where you sleep, shower and charge your phone. The extra money you put into a fancy hotel could cover days of transport, food and activities instead.
There's another thing most first-timers don't know. Dubai hotels add a Tourism Dirham fee per room, per night, based on the hotel's rating:
| Hotel type | Tourism Dirham per room, per night |
|---|---|
| 1 and 2 star / guest house | AED 7 |
| 3 star | AED 10 |
| 4 star | AED 15 |
| 5 star | AED 20 |
On top of that, hotels add other charges such as municipality fees, service charges and VAT. So the price you see first is often not the price you pay. Always check the final total before you book.
What I'd look for instead:
- A clean, well-reviewed budget hotel in Deira or Bur Dubai
- Walking distance to a metro station
- Cheap restaurants nearby
- Recent reviews, not ones from years ago
What These Things Cost Now
My trip was in 2020, and prices change. So here's a quick look at the numbers mentioned above, as of October 2026:
| Item | Current cost |
|---|---|
| Airport taxi starting fare | Around AED 25 |
| Regular taxi minimum fare | AED 12 |
| Jaywalking fine | AED 400 |
| Eating or drinking on the metro | AED 100 fine |
| Curry and rice meal in Karama, Deira or Bur Dubai | AED 15 to 35 |
| Karak chai | AED 1 to 3 |
| Tourism Dirham | AED 7 to 20 per room, per night |
Fares and fees get revised from time to time, so double-check with the RTA and official Dubai tourism sources right before you travel.
If a Friend Asked Me
Living in Dubai now, I look back at that first visit a little differently. If a friend told me tomorrow that they were planning their first trip to Dubai, I'd keep it simple.
Skip the expensive hotel. Sort out how you'll leave the airport before you land. Respect the rules, especially on the road and on the metro. And eat where the locals eat, because that's where Dubai surprised me the most.
Frequently asked questions
- It depends on where your money goes. Hotels, airport taxis and tourist attractions can be expensive. But everyday food in older areas like Karama, Deira and Bur Dubai is affordable, with full meals around AED 15 to 35. Planning your hotel and airport transport in advance makes the biggest difference.
- The Dubai Metro is usually the cheapest. The Red Line connects to Terminals 1 and 3. Ride-hailing apps like Careem and Uber show the fare before you book. Airport taxis are convenient, but their meter starts at around AED 25, much higher than a regular street taxi.
- Crossing the road outside a designated crossing is fined AED 400, and ignoring a pedestrian signal carries the same fine. Dubai Police enforce this regularly. Always use zebra crossings, signals or pedestrian bridges, even if the road looks empty and the crossing is a short walk away.
- No. Eating or drinking on Dubai Metro trains can lead to a AED 100 fine, and littering or spitting is AED 200. Finish your food and drinks before you board. These rules are one reason the metro stays so clean, and inspectors do check.
- Deira and Bur Dubai are good budget choices. They usually have cheaper hotels, good metro access and plenty of affordable restaurants. Check the final price including the Tourism Dirham fee and other charges, and read recent reviews before booking so there are no surprises at check-in.