Dubai's reputation for expense comes mostly from the top end, the suites, the fine dining, the helicopter tours. Skip those and it is comfortably mid-range, particularly compared with Europe.
Accommodation is where the biggest saving sits. A four-star in Deira or Bur Dubai costs a fraction of the same standard on the Marina, and the metro connects both to everything a visitor wants to see.
Eat where the residents eat. The Pakistani, Indian and Sri Lankan restaurants around Karama and Al Rigga serve full meals for a few dirhams, and the food is excellent.
The attractions that matter, the Burj Khalifa deck, a desert safari, the fountain show, are worth paying for and are usually cheaper bundled into a package than bought individually on arrival. The ones to think twice about are the indoor ski slope and the pricier aquarium add-ons.
Finally, travel in the shoulder season. October and March are pleasant, and rates fall well below the December peak.
