Comparison · Dubai vs Singapore · United Arab Emirates / Singapore
Dubai vs Singapore
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: imran shahabuddin, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Dubai for Burj Khalifa and Luxury hotels; choose Singapore for Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Singapore is generally less expensive, and the two are about 5,844 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 5,844 km
- Less expensive
- Singapore
- Best time for Dubai
- November–March
- Best time for Singapore
- February–April and July–August
Side by side
| Dubai | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Arab Emirates | Singapore |
| Known for | Burj Khalifa, Luxury hotels and Shopping malls | Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Sands |
| Best time to visit | November–March | February–April and July–August |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$380 | $160–$300 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 41°C (106°F) | March, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 24°C (75°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 9 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Kite Beach | Palawan Beach |
| Airports | DXB, DWC, SHJ | SIN |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Dubai for…
Burj Khalifa and Luxury hotels. Dubai grew from a pearling and trading port on Dubai Creek into a city of skyscrapers stretched along the Gulf coast. The old quarters of Al Fahidi and Deira keep wind-tower houses, gold and spice souks and wooden abras crossing the creek, while Downtown has…
Choose Singapore for…
Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter. Singapore fits Marina Bay's skyline, the Supertrees of Gardens by the Bay, a UNESCO-listed botanic garden and the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan quarters of the old town into an island about 50 km across. The MRT links almost everything within 40…
Top sights compared
| # | Dubai | Singapore |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burj Khalifa – At the Top | Gardens by the Bay |
| 2 | Dubai Mall | Marina Bay Sands SkyPark |
| 3 | Dubai Fountain | Merlion Park and the Marina Bay promenade |
| 4 | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood | Singapore Botanic Gardens |
| 5 | Abra ride across Dubai Creek | Buddha Tooth Relic Temple |
Food compared
| Dubai | Singapore |
|---|---|
| Shawarma | Hainanese chicken rice |
| Machboos | Laksa |
| Harees | Chilli crab |
| Luqaimat | Char kway teow |
Which is cheaper?
Singapore is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $160–$300 per person there, against $200–$380 in Dubai (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Singapore on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 5,844 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubai or Singapore cheaper?
Singapore is usually less expensive: about $160–$300 a day mid-range against $200–$380 (estimates).
+Is Dubai or Singapore better for a first trip?
Pick Dubai for Burj Khalifa and Luxury hotels, or Singapore for Hawker centres, Gardens by the Bay, lower day-to-day costs and a milder winter.
+How far is Dubai from Singapore?
About 5,844 km in a straight line.