Helping Hands: My Dubai on a Budget: An Experience from an Expat working in Saudi Arabia

First is dreaming and planning.

Are you going to travel by yourself or with friends or loved ones? My 2 colleagues and me were dreaming of going somewhere else other than the present location which is Saudi Arabia, our workplace and the Philippines, which is our mother country. One colleague overheard what we were talking about. Our chosen location for the adventure was Dubai. And she verbalized that she wanted to join. So that makes 4 of us. In the end only the 2 of us, the last one who joined the conversation, were able to pursue with that dream. One colleague changed her mind because she was saving money for her coming marriage. While the other one was not able to come because there was a problem with her visa.

Second, what is your budget?

I alloted 5000 Saudi Riyals, this includes everything, the dubai visa, airline ticket, hotel, food (lunch and dinner, breakfast was included in our hotel), the transportation expenses (use the metro train or by taxi) and the dubai tour and your saudi exit and re entry visa.

Third, apply for dubai visa online.

Please follow this link Dubai visa online for expats in saudi arabia

Fourth, if you were issued a dubai visa, book for your flight early.

The earlier you book, the cheaper is the ticket price that you will get. We chose the Flydubai Airlines. Flydubai was the cheapest airline to go to dubai at that time.

Fifth, choose your hotel.

We chose the suite novotel mall of the emirates. The location was good. Just a 5 minute walk to the mall of emirates. There were 2 free super pass ticket to ski dubai and free daily breakfast.

Sixth, apply for exit re-entry visa from your government relations.

Last, plan your itinerary.

What will you do on your 1st day until your last day in Dubai?

Below was our itinerary for a 4 days, 3 nights stay.

Day 1 Ski dubai inside the Mall of the Emirates.

Malling after ski dubai

Day 2 Dubai Mall in the morning

Desert Safari in the afternoon

Day 3 Aquaventure in Atlantis up to 6 pm

Dancing Fountain at 8:30 pm in Dubai Mall

Day 4 Departure from Dubai

Very tired yesterday, no extra energy to go out anymore, We just prepared our things because our flight is 2 pm.

We did not see the miracle garden because it is close as of the moment. We did not go to dhow cruise, because one tour guide said that the food was not that good and they do not want the travellers to complain. Anyway the tanoura dance in dhow cruise can be seen in the desert safari.

Four days is good but more than 4 days of touring Dubai was better. One tour will consume your time and energy. But with these four days, I am very happy from what I had experienced. I love Dubai. Hoping to go there again. Cheers!

Below were some of our pictures of Dubai