Pay less in Dubai
Living in Dubai can be quite overwhelming in terms of expenses. From increasing rent to elevating the costs of groceries, there is a lot to deal with every month. Amid juggling all the monthly expenses, people do need to take a breath of fresh air and rejoice with leisure activities and good food that the Emirate is popular for. But how exactly can we save, pay for liabilities and still dine, shop, and hang out in the city? It can be tricky but it’s certainly possible. Let’s find out how!
Dine, Shop, and Party in Dubai on a Budget
With lots of sales and offers happening around Dubai, it sometimes gets quite hard to hold yourself back from shelling out your wallet. But a little retail therapy won’t harm, right? And how can you just ignore the pretty chic cafes and eateries popping out around the city from nook to nook? Those piping hot steaks, delectable shawarmas, and delicious beverages are all that you need to unwind on the weekend after a tiring work week. But all this can take a financial toll and you may end up spending more than you should have.
However, if you move ahead with wise planning and budgeting, you can live your best life and still save money without burning a hole in your wallet.
Here is a run-down of tips and tricks to help you eat, shop, and party without having to spend a bit over the odds. Let’s hop on to the details without any further delay!
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Set Aside a Budget
It must seem quite obvious but you will be surprised to know that a lot of people move across the month without proper budgeting. Set aside some money for leisure and do not exceed the amount. Whether you are planning to eat out, get yourself some gifts, or want to visit an attraction in the city, set a budget and swear by it.
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Look for Free Things to do
Although Dubai is known for its avant-garde landmarks and upscale eateries, there are tons of things that you can do for absolutely free. Pop over to Expo City Dubai and experience its range of free activities, spend a day on JBR beach, plan a picnic at Al Qudra Lake, walk around the Dubai Marina Boardwalk, pay a visit to Dubai Coffee Museum, watch dancing fountain show or take kids along to sit, play and relax at Al Barsha Pond Park.
For more free things to do in Dubai, read an interesting article here.
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Eat and Dine for Less
You can never run short of deals when it comes to dining out in Dubai. There is a myriad of budget options to choose from and even top-notch eateries drop their prices on special occasions and festivals. Oh, and how can you forget about Entertainer, FAZAA, and SMILES? If you haven’t gotten one of those, it’s time to download and sign up for a membership. These and many other apps have hundreds of “buy one get one” deals and discount offers on brunches, ala carte, and set menus.
Also, make the most of the Dubai street food and thank us later. Eat for as low as AED 10 and satisfy your hunger pangs with tantalizing local, Lebanese and Asian food.
Looking for brunch offers and business lunch deals? You might be interested to find out the 15 best brunches in Dubai under AED 200. Also, find out some affordable Business Lunch offers here.
For more exciting details about budget brunches in Dubai, here is an interesting read for you here.
Did you know your kids can eat for free at select eateries in the Emirate? No, we aren’t joking. Here is a list of eating joints and restaurants where kids eat free when adults order a full meal.
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Shop Smart
Shopping in Dubai can sometimes leave you staring at your empty wallet. To save yourself from such awkward situations, take advantage of shopping festivals and discount deals that keep popping around at the malls from time to time. You can get yourself some good bargains during DSF, Black Friday Sales, and National Day discount offers.
If you prefer to shop online, Namshi, 6th Street, Brands for Less and SIVVI can be your safe haven. For kids and baby shopping, First Cry, Mom Store and Mumz World can be good choices. There are tons of deals and discounts available all year round and you can further thrash the prices down with discount coupons and promo codes.
For more details on the best online shopping websites that deliver in UAE click here.
Also, if you are fond of luxury shopping and do not want to spend a fortune in stores, be glad that you can save yourself a good amount of money while stocking premium goods that you have been eyeing for a long. Read more details here.
Always be mindful when indulging in retail therapy. Shop with purpose and avoid impulsive buying.
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Visit Affordable Attractions
There is no shortage of affordable experiences and attractions when the discussion of hanging out in Dubai is on the table. From Global Village to Expo City Dubai, Hatta Heritage Village, and exotic Parks, there is a range of budget-friendly activities that you can plan with your family for a fun day out.
Make the most of the colder months and plan day outs outdoors. Visit downtown, snap pictures with Burj Khalifa, spend a day in Creek Park for as low as AED5, visit Global Village, take a stroll in Dubai Miracle Garden, take a ride on Palm Jumeirah Monorail, spend an evening at Pointe the Palm, take a city tour and do BBQ on beaches.
Snap some instagrammable shots at stunning locations across Dubai for free, watch free fireworks on New Year and do a lot more without shelling out a lot of bucks.
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Look Out for Happy Hour Deals
Curated especially to satisfy all your urges to drink lavishly, Happy Hour Deals in Dubai are sure to take your drinking game to a whole new level. Whether you need to relax over the weekend with friends or want to break through the mid-week blues, happy hour offers are the best options to gulp down premium beverages on a budget. Sip over signature house drinks, mixed cocktails, pints of expensive beer, and glasses of grapes at amazingly discounted rates.
Check out this list of the best happy hour deals in Dubai to save money and drink your heart out.
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Make use of Cashback Credit Card offers
Do you know you can save a good deal of money when using cashback credit cards? Some banks in Dubai offer their customers the option to sign up for cashback credit cards where they can swipe the card at hypermarkets, retail outlets, and restaurants and get cashback when spending a specific amount. This takes some load off your shoulders as you get a portion of your money back when shopping, traveling and dining out in the emirate.
Find out some of the best cashback credit cards offers in Dubai here.
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Travel for Less
A lot of people spend a reasonable amount when commuting daily within the emirate. While public transport is affordable, traveling on buses and metro daily still can take up a good portion of your monthly budget. Students in Dubai can save up on their traveling costs by choosing to register for a 50% discount on NOL cards. RTA announced the latest initiative where students and senior citizens can now pay half of the actual amount when using an NOL card for public transport.
Besides this, you can also save up big when traveling abroad. Flight tickets can cause a major dent in your holiday budget that might leave you guilty for months. Do not let high price tickets hold you back from going on your dream vacation. If you are a student you can get attractive discounts on flight tickets when flying with Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways.
Read more on student offers by Etihad and Emirates to save up traveling costs when flying abroad for leisure and academic purposes. Emirates Skywards program and Etihad Guest Miles Program are also good options for saving money on ticket costs. Members of the loyalty program by both airlines allow passengers to earn points that they can later exchange for discounts on air tickets, dining, shopping, and leisure activities.
Also, find yourself some cool flight booking hacks here for affordable air tickets.
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Final Word
It’s just a matter of days before you finish off your entire salary on eating, partying, and paying utility bills in Dubai. However, if you play smart and do budgeting, you would still have some money in hand by the end of the month. While there are lots of attractive options to buy and pay later in installments, prefer to pay with available cash, and if you do pay using credit, clear off the debt as soon as possible to avoid fines and hefty penalties.