Where to Stay in Dubai (First Time)?

The 5 Best Areas in Dubai for Tourists (First Time Visit)

1. Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall area (Downtown)

This is one of the best places to visit, regardless of what you intend to do in Dubai and the length of your stay. Stay here if you are looking to experience the part of Dubai with some of the tallest skyscrapers such as the Burj Khalifa. It has always been the best district to spend vacations and business trips due to its features, such as a lovely terrain, peaceful atmosphere and community, and affordable Dubai hotel apartments. In this district, you will find some of the most luxurious shops, as well as fancy avenues. Other than that, if you are the party type, there is a wide range of glamorous clubs and high-end dining restaurants and hotels waiting for you in Downtown Dubai.

Some visitors prefer staying in this neighbourhood because they want to be close to notable landmarks such as the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa. It is also a good choice if you are looking to stay not-so-far from the Old City.

This district might not be preferable if you are on a budget or if you want to be closer to the beach located in Marina. The beach is actually 23 km away from the Downtown. However, some accommodations are affordable and still provide the best experience for visitors. Some of them include The Solo Traveler, Movenpick Hotel Apartments, and Rove Downtown. Armani might be a good one, but it is luxurious and expensive. Note that most of these apartments and hotels are modernly designed, so you will be getting good value for your money if you pick any of them.

Downtown Dubai is perfect for those looking for both day and nightlife. It has pubs, restaurants, and bars that remain open 24/7. The Dubai Mall is also close, so you won’t have to spend time moving up and down if you need to grab something urgently. Better still, there are luxurious shops for those looking to window shop, as well as premium boulevards for easy movement within and around the place.

• Best Hotels: Palace Downtown • Address Boulevard • Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Mövenpick Hotel Apartments Downtown Dubai • Manzil Downtown

2. Dubai Beaches (JBR – Jumeirah Beach – The Palm)

The Dubai Beach areas include JBR Jumeirah Beach Residence, Burj Al Arab Area, The Palm Jumeirah, and the Four Seasons Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach area. You should stay in these places if you love to bask on the beach and play some water games.

These parts of town are perfect for visitors coming with their little ones and other family members. The beach areas of Dubai provide more than just a peaceful atmosphere to relax and reconnect with nature. Other than being strategically located to provide exquisite views of Dubai, they receive visitors from all parts of the world, so you will have the best time if you are an outgoing person. Other than being calm, the hotels and resorts also has private pools for those looking for additional privacy while enjoying their visit to the world’s most visited city.

Whether you are on a budget or you came to have the best time without worrying about the much you spend, some hotels and restaurants serve virtually any kind of dish you might ask for. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking the best bars, restaurants, hotels, and apartments in this part of town. Thankfully, there is something for everyone, including those apartments and accommodations that provide premium services but are still spacious and affordable.

When it comes to food, we advise that you try all of them out if you will be staying long enough. You will learn that the restaurants hire highly qualified staff who can speak more than three languages, so you can be sure about getting exclusive customer experience while living in Dubai Beach areas. There is a lot going on in Dubai, and luckily, most beaches in the city are easily accessible from Emirates Airline if that is what you intend to use. Also, there are many other airline options in the city, which make moving around the place unbelievably easy. Finally, choose these locations if you are not looking to live in the busiest parts of town.

• Best Hotels: Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai • Jumeirah Al Naseem • Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Hilton Dubai The Walk (Aparthotel) • Hawthorn Hotel & Suites by Wyndham JBR

3. Dubai Marina

Currently, Dubai Marina is regarded as one of the most developed parts of the city. If you are looking to live in a place that lets you walk and experience more, then Dubai Marina is the place. According to us, this makes it the best place to stay in Dubai. JBR is an abbreviation used to refer to the beach and every building that is situated in the first line. From there, everything else is known as Marina. This includes the tallest buildings and the canal.

If you are looking for where most European expats live, then this is the place. You will find most of them living here, thereby making you feel at home. There is a wide range of bars, and the people living in this place enjoy almost no restrictions. For instance, there are no restrictions on the way people are supposed to dress at the beach. You should choose this place because you will be staying where the most fun is found. Other than plenty of restaurants and the beach, there is a canal and impressive skyscrapers.

Unfortunately, this is not the right place for you if you only came to Dubai for shopping. You will not find impressive options in Marina, but that does mean you won’t find somewhere to buy stuff in this place. But if you need to access Mall of the Emirates, which is the second-largest mall in the city, it is just 7 km from Marina, which is not supposed to be too far.

The other downside of this location is that it is not very close to Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa and is even farther from Deira and Old City. If you are looking for the cheapest hostel in Marina, consider visiting Backpacker Tina and Pearl Marina Hotel. Though they are some of the most affordable, they still have great amenities that will make you enjoy your stay in the area. However, if you need something more luxurious, then try Address Dubai Marina.

• Best Hotel: Grosvenor House Hotel and Apartments
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value : Pearl Marina Hotel Apartment (Aparthotel) • Rove Dubai Marina

4. Bur Dubai

This location is the hub of the Old City of Dubai. Stay here if you are looking to experience the narrow alleys, traditional architecture, and real bazaars. It is simply the soul of the city. This is one of the few locations that have been inhabited for more than 100 years and still manages to stand out in terms of development and activeness. Mostly, you will find Indians in this place, and that is how it has been ever since it was founded. Therefore, it is the one location to stay if you are looking to have a one-on-one experience with the actual culture.

Even if you want to stay in inexpensive hotels, you will still find affordable apartments and budget friendly hotels in Bur Dubai. Actually, compared to other locations, it offers some of the most affordable accommodations. Also, if you choose this location, you will experience some of the most affordable Indian hotels and restaurants in town.

Therefore, if you are on a budget and are interested in learning about the culture, this is the best place for you. But do not choose Bur Dubai if you need nice bars and excellent dining options. Unfortunately, it is not very close to the famous extravagant Dubai Monuments. There are still very cheap apartments if you need to save money. For instance, AI Raien Hotel Apartment is unbelievably affordable but is still a nice place with a cool environment to spice up your stay in Dubai.

Compared to Raien Hotel Apartment, Ambassador Hotel is nicer and seems to be more modernised. But you will have to spend a bit more to book the space. They also have more apartments such as Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai and Movenpick Hotel. If this hotel was in another location, it would have been very expensive. Note that while Bur Dubai is a nice place, it might not be the best option for someone looking to have a lot of fun and experience the luxurious life of the city. If that is the case, you should consider other areas.

• Best Accommodations: Raffles Dubai – Palazzo Versace Dubai
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Hampton by Hilton Dubai Al Seef • Premier Inn Dubai Al Jaddaf

5. Deira

For those on budget, this is one of the best places to stay in Dubai. Deira looks more like a continuation of the Old City but is a little bit more modern. Therefore, you want to stay here if you are not looking to experience a very luxurious life. Also, it is one of the largest traditional hubs in the city, so you will enjoy an authentic old culture. In this region, you should not expect anything more than normal streets that have normal shops. Again, it is a walkable area, so you can take a walk to explore the area. Despite being less developed compared to other parts, Deira is undergoing modernisation, so its current state is likely to change after some time. The government has started to construct some cool structures around.

You should stay in this place if you are on a budget or prefer being very close to the International Airport. Also, it is an excellent alternative to Bur Dubai, which is mostly traditional with old buildings. Currently, Deira has many attractive buildings and a wide range of restaurants and bars for those who love the nightlife. However, it is worth noting that since it is close to the airport, it means it is very far from everything else.

Therefore, if you choose to live in this place, forget about easy access to beaches and famous landmarks. However, you might still be lucky as it is perfectly connected to the metro. If you need the cheapest accommodation, then you can find some places such as AI Jawar Metro Hotel and Lavender Hotel Deira. However, if you are ready to spend a little more, then try Rove City Center and AI Bandar Rotana Dubai Creek.

• Best Accommodation: Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai Creek • Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre
• Good Affordable Hotels: Rove City Centre • J5 Hotels – Port Saeed