Where to stay · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
Where to stay in Dubai
9 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Imre Solt, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Downtown Dubai. The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows. Best alternatives — budget: Business Bay; nightlife: Dubai Marina.
Key facts
- First visit
- Downtown Dubai
- Families
- Downtown Dubai
- Budget
- Business Bay
- Nightlife
- Dubai Marina
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Downtown Dubai | The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows |
| Families | Downtown Dubai | The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows |
| Couples | Dubai Marina | Waterfront towers, Marina Walk and yacht-lined promenades |
| Budget | Business Bay | Canal-side towers next to Downtown at lower prices |
| Luxury | Downtown Dubai | The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows |
| Nightlife | Dubai Marina | Waterfront towers, Marina Walk and yacht-lined promenades |
| Food lovers | Deira | Gold, spice and perfume souks on the creek's east bank |
| Solo travellers | Business Bay | Canal-side towers next to Downtown at lower prices |
| Shopping | Downtown Dubai | The Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the fountain shows |
| Quiet stays | Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim | Low-rise villas, public beaches and the Burj Al Arab |
| Beach | Dubai Marina | Waterfront towers, Marina Walk and yacht-lined promenades |
Dubai neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, luxury and families
Downtown Dubai
Built around the Burj Khalifa and its lake, Downtown has the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain shows and Dubai Opera, with the Souk Al Bahar's restaurants overlooking the water. It is the most central base for first-time visitors, and the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station is linked to the mall by a long air-conditioned walkway.
- Good
- Walk to the city's headline sights; Restaurants with fountain views; Metro access
- Watch out
- Expensive; No beach; Long walks between towers
- Nearby
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera
$$$ · Best for budget, first-timers and solo travellers
Business Bay
Just east and south of Downtown, Business Bay is a district of hotel and apartment towers along the Dubai Water Canal, often cheaper than Downtown but within walking distance or a short taxi ride of the Burj Khalifa. The canal promenade makes a pleasant evening walk in winter.
- Good
- Lower prices than Downtown; Close to the Burj Khalifa; Modern hotels with good facilities
- Watch out
- Still under construction in places; Limited street life
- Nearby
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Water Canal, Dubai Mall
$$$$ · Best for nightlife, couples and beach
Dubai Marina
Around a man-made marina lined with skyscrapers, Marina Walk is a long promenade of cafés and restaurants, and dhow dinner cruises and yacht charters leave from its quays. The Dubai Tram links it to JBR beach and to the Metro's Red Line, though Downtown is 30–40 minutes away.
- Good
- Lively waterfront dining; Close to the beach; Tram and Metro links
- Watch out
- Far from old Dubai; Busy traffic at rush hour
- Nearby
- Marina Walk, JBR Beach, Bluewaters Island, Palm Jumeirah
$$$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence)
JBR's beachfront promenade, The Walk, is lined with restaurants and shops beside a wide public beach with lifeguards and water sports, facing Bluewaters Island. Its large beach hotels make it the most popular family base, and the Dubai Tram stops behind the towers.
- Good
- Beach and restaurants on the doorstep; Family-friendly hotels; Easy tram connection
- Watch out
- Crowded at winter weekends; 30–40 minutes from Downtown
- Nearby
- JBR Beach, The Walk, Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples, families and beach
Palm Jumeirah
The palm-shaped artificial island is lined with resort hotels with private beaches, from Atlantis The Palm and its Aquaventure water park at the tip to quieter properties along the fronds. The View at The Palm gives a bird's-eye view of the island, and the Palm Monorail runs from the trunk to Atlantis.
- Good
- Resort hotels with private beaches; Calm and self-contained; Water parks and beach clubs
- Watch out
- Very expensive; Relies on taxis to reach the rest of the city
- Nearby
- Atlantis The Palm, The View at The Palm, Palm West Beach, Dubai Marina
$$$ · Best for beach, couples, quiet stays and families
Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim
Along the coast between Downtown and the Marina, Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim are low-rise residential districts with public beaches such as Kite Beach and Sunset Beach, the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah, plus the La Mer and City Walk developments. Most hotels here are beach resorts.
- Good
- Free public beaches; Relaxed, low-rise atmosphere; Views of the Burj Al Arab
- Watch out
- No Metro nearby; taxis needed; Few budget hotels
- Nearby
- Burj Al Arab, Kite Beach, Madinat Jumeirah, La Mer
$$ · Best for budget, culture and solo travellers
Bur Dubai and Al Fahidi
On the west bank of Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai holds the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the Textile Souk and Al Seef's heritage-style waterfront, with the Al Shindagha Museum at the creek mouth. Hotels are good value, and abras cross to Deira's souks in minutes.
- Good
- Good-value hotels; Old Dubai on the doorstep; Metro and abra links
- Watch out
- Far from the beaches; Traffic and crowds in the evenings
- Nearby
- Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Seef, Textile Souk, Dubai Creek
$ · Best for budget, food lovers, culture and shopping
Deira
Deira is old Dubai's trading centre: narrow lanes hold the Gold Souk, the Spice Souk and the Perfume Souk, dhows load cargo along the creek, and South Asian and Iranian restaurants serve inexpensive meals. It has some of the city's lowest hotel prices and is close to the airport.
- Good
- Low hotel prices; Authentic souks and street food; Close to the airport and Metro
- Watch out
- Far from the beaches and Downtown; Older hotels
- Nearby
- Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Dubai Creek, Al Rigga
$$ · Best for budget, families and shopping
Al Barsha
Inland from the beaches, Al Barsha centres on the Mall of the Emirates and its indoor ski slope, with many mid-range hotels and apartments and a Red Line Metro station. The beaches at Umm Suqeim are about a 10-minute taxi ride away.
- Good
- Good-value hotels; Metro station; Short taxi to the beach
- Watch out
- Little character; Busy main roads
- Nearby
- Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai, Umm Suqeim beaches, Al Quoz
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | $$$$ | Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera |
| Business Bay | $$$ | Burj Khalifa, Dubai Water Canal, Dubai Mall |
| Dubai Marina | $$$$ | Marina Walk, JBR Beach, Bluewaters Island, Palm Jumeirah |
| JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) | $$$$ | JBR Beach, The Walk, Dubai Marina, Bluewaters Island |
| Palm Jumeirah | $$$$ | Atlantis The Palm, The View at The Palm, Palm West Beach, Dubai Marina |
| Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim | $$$ | Burj Al Arab, Kite Beach, Madinat Jumeirah, La Mer |
| Bur Dubai and Al Fahidi | $$ | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Al Seef, Textile Souk, Dubai Creek |
| Deira | $ | Gold Souk, Spice Souk, Dubai Creek, Al Rigga |
| Al Barsha | $$ | Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai, Umm Suqeim beaches, Al Quoz |
Getting to your hotel
Dubai International (DXB) Terminals 1 and 3 have Red Line Metro stations about 20–30 minutes from Downtown, and taxis take about 15–25 minutes outside rush hour. Al Maktoum International (DWC) is about 45–60 minutes' drive south-west of Downtown and handles far fewer passenger flights. Sharjah airport (SHJ), used by low-cost airlines, is 30–60 minutes away depending on traffic.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Dubai for first-time visitors?
Downtown Dubai. Built around the Burj Khalifa and its lake, Downtown has the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Fountain shows and Dubai Opera, with the Souk Al Bahar's restaurants overlooking the water.
+Where should families stay in Dubai?
Downtown Dubai: Walk to the city's headline sights.
+Which area of Dubai is best for a budget stay?
Business Bay ($$$): Canal-side towers next to Downtown at lower prices.