What's the best neighbourhood to sleep in Dubai?

Where to stay in Dubai on holiday?

Finding good accommodation is one of the most important elements of a successful holiday. Booking portals offer us various accommodation options: hotels, private flats or beds and hostel rooms. The best places to stay in Dubai are not easy to identify, as the city offers a varied choice of accommodation for people with different preferences. For some, the most important thing will be the proximity of Dubai's tourist attractions to the apartament, while for others, luxury hotels in Dubai with pools and food and drink will be important. Wondering what the best Dubai accommodation areas are? Find out more and book comfortable accommodation for your Dubai holiday.

Flats in Dubai

Dubai's tourist districts are famous for their private flats, rented out to tourists on a short-term rental basis. Apartaments in Dubai give you a sense of privacy on holiday, your own space, the ability to cook in a fully equipped kitchen and the feeling of being ‘at home’. You can find private flats for rent in many areas of Dubai: Downtown, or Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, or JLT. Dubai's beachfront districts, namely Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah or Jumeirah, are famous for their private flats for rent.

Hotels in Dubai

The most popular option for accommodation in Dubai is hotels. You can find hundreds of hotels in Dubai, varying in comfort, location, price and luxury. Tourists have a huge choice and can tailor it to their own preferences: whether they want to pay $1,000 a night for a night in luxury and in a prestigious neighbourhood, or $50 for a night in a 3-star hotel in a good location close to the metro. There is something for everyone. The best hotels in Dubai for tourists can be found in districts such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, JBR, Business Bay and Palm Jumeirah.

Dubai Marina - the best neighbourhood for accommodation in Dubai

What is the best neighbourhood in Dubai for tourists? Definitely Dubai Marina. Of all Dubai's neighbourhoods, Dubai Marina combines the most important things for tourists: close to public transport, excellent hotels and flats, a variety of restaurants and grocery shops, close to tourist attractions and amazing city views. Which Dubai neighbourhoods offer the most restaurants and shops? You'll find shops and restaurants in the Downtown Dubai, Palm Jumeirah and Business Bay districts, but by far the most best shops and restaurants can be found in Dubai Marina (especially on Marina Walk and JBR Walk).

Dubai Marina is the tourist hub of the city, very well connected to all the most important attractions in Dubai, with wide sandy beaches, the tallest skyscrapers and the best restaurants. By renting a flat in this district you are only a short metro ride away from the city centre, right next to each other you have the promenade and the JBR beach complex, and from the balconies of the skyscrapers you can admire the Palm Jumeirah skyline.

Private flats in Dubai Marina from Two Continents combine luxury and accessibility for everyone at a low price. The apartaments are located in the central part of Dubai Marina, most of them in the tallest (only) residential skyscraper in Dubai - Princess Tower. You can rent a flat as high as the 77th floor: with a private bedroom, your own kitchen, a phenomenal bathroom and a view from your balcony of the stunning Dubai Marina and the skyline of the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah. In the building where the flats are located, tourists have pools, gyms and specially designed areas for children. Want to live with a view of the Dubai skyline from your own balcony and have a drink overlooking the skyscrapers? Choose Dubai Marina and accommodation from Two Continents.

Where to stay overnight in Dubai? Other popular neighbourhoods

Dubai is a huge city that is divided into more than a dozen diverse districts, each with something distinctive and appealing. We can categorise some of the neighbourhoods into the areas of Dubai with the best attractions, some into those with the best hotels, and some into the cheapest. Where to book accommodation in Dubai?

• Downtown - the centre of Dubai, home to the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. The district stretches along Dubai's most famous road, Sheikh Zayed Road, and the number of hotels, attractions and shops is only comparable to Dubai Marina. Downtown is where you'll find one of the largest congregations of attractions in the entire city, and the Red Metro line allows you to get here quickly from the airport or travel to other parts of the city.
• Palm Jumeirah - Dubai's famous artificial island Palm Jumeirah is a phenomenal and luxurious district with more than a dozen 5-star hotels, private beaches, the trendiest clubs and high-end restaurants. Palm Jumeirah is a true symbol of Dubai, its glamour and high living standards. You will find literally everything in Palm Jumeirah, from the most expensive hotels in the world such as Atlantis. The Palm and Atlantis The Royal (the most expensive hotel in Dubai), as well as with the famous Aura Skypool and Atlantis Aquaventure water park. If you intend to explore Dubai extensively, I would strongly advise against this area due to the heavy traffic jams and long distances to get to other parts of the city. Palm Jumeirah is the perfect choice for high-end relaxation with occasional sightseeing.
• Business Bay - a neighbourhood located next to Dubai's main highway, Sheikh Zayed Road, with several metro stations and by the Dubai Water Canal, or Dubai Creek. It is one of the fastest growing districts in Dubai. It is full of five-star hotels and high-rise office blocks, restaurants, shops, cycle paths and recreational areas, and the district is very well connected to the rest of Dubai.
• Jumeirah Lakes Towers - is a neighbourhood near Dubai Marina. A mix of glass flat blocks and office buildings that have been built around the artificial green-coloured lakes that give the district its name. It's a great place to go out to a stylish café or restaurant, the largest number of which are found here when considering foreign cuisine. It's not a long walk from the neighbourhood to the beach, and JLT is well connected by metro to other areas of Dubai.
• Jumeirah - is a mix of a quiet residential area with luxury hotels and the best beaches in the city. In the Jumeirah district you will find exceptional beaches such as Kite Beach (the best beach for sunsets), high-end hotel resorts, independent cafes and small eateries. Jumeirah is a district of tranquillity - further from the metro, with walking and sports areas next to the beaches, ideal for an active holiday combined with relaxation.

The cheapest neighbourhoods for accommodation in Dubai

When it comes to accommodation on holiday, it's not just the quality that matters, but also the price. Good quality at a low price is what holidaymakers enjoy most. You can also visit Dubai on a budget and sleep for really little money. What are the popular hotel districts in Dubai, where will you rent a flat or book a hotel for the lowest price near the tourist attractions?

• Deira - is one of the oldest districts in the city and is popularly known as ‘Old Dubai’. It is located in the northern part of the city, close to Dubai Airport and is very well connected to the rest of Dubai by the metro network (red and green) and buses. In Deira you will find budget hotels of a good standard, less often private flats, also hostels and budget restaurants restaurants to suit all budgets. The district is full of shopping streets, inexpensive shops, cafes and shopping centres. Deira is also home to attractions such as the Gold Souk (Gold Market), Spice Souk (Spice Market), the Abra crossing of Dubai Creek and the best souvenir shop in Dubai - the Shop at Arafat's.
• Bur Dubai - the district is located in the north of the city and is one of the oldest districts in Dubai. Here you'll find the Indian Quarter and many other culinary hotspots, but most importantly there is ample access to cheap hotels, hostels, restaurants and cafes for comfortable accommodation and daytime sightseeing in Dubai.
• Al Barsha - this is a quiet residential area, very quickly and rapidly developing on the map of Dubai. From a tourist's perspective, the Al Barsha 1 area is particularly interesting - here you will find affordable hotels of very good quality, close to the metro and the main roads in Dubai, allowing you to get to the most important tourist attractions. The district is famous for the Mall of the Emirates - an extensive shopping mall with chain clothing shops, department stores, international restaurants and attractions such as the indoor ski slope and penguin enclosure at Ski Dubai. In the Al Barsha district you can book accommodation at the Atana Hotel - The Atana Hotel is a cheap, very good quality hotel close to the metro, ideal for families with children.

A touch of luxury - where to spend a night in Dubai?

Which areas of Dubai offer the best hotels? Definitely Downtown, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah. We can also ask another interesting question - where to find luxury hotels in Dubai? Where are most of them? Also in Downtown, Dubai Marina and especially in Palm Jumeirah. On the Palm in Dubai you can book the most expensive accommodation in the city - for one of the suites at the Atlantis The Royal hotel you will come to pay around $100,000! Such neighbourhoods in Dubai are ideal for a short stay for those who want to experience some high-end luxury on a limited budget. Want to know more about hotels in Dubai? Read our article on the most interesting places to stay in hotels in Dubai.

Which Dubai neighbourhoods are best for families with children?

Where to find places to stay in Dubai suitable for families with children? For family tourism, the most important is a hotel or flat close to the beach, with self-catering or self-catering options and in close proximity to shopping and public transport. For families with children, neighbourhoods such as Dubai Marina, Al Barsha or Jumeirah Beach Residence would be best. These neighbourhoods are characterised by their proximity to tourist attractions for children and adults and well connected to the rest of the city. There are plenty of restaurants and grocery shops close to the hotels. What's more, Dubai Marina and JBR are neighbourhoods located near wide, sandy beaches.

Which Dubai neighbourhoods are closest to the main tourist attractions?

Dubai is a large city and tourist attractions are not evenly distributed across the city. Some neighbourhoods will be closer to the tourist attractions, while some hotels or accommodation may be in out-of-the-way neighbourhoods - where you may find lower prices, but you will also lose a lot of time commuting to the centre of Dubai. What is the best neighbourhood to book accommodation in to be close to the tourist attractions? In Dubai neighbourhoods such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Al Fahidi, Business Bay, Umm Suqeim, Deira and Bur Dubai. Slightly further away from the tourist attractions, but also good locations (or neighbourhoods with quick access to Downtown Dubai) are: Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Jumeirah Lake Towers.

You've booked your accommodation and now you're wondering where to buy attraction tickets in Dubai? You can book tickets for Dubai attractions and tours in Dubai and Abu Dhabi at Two Continents.

Questions and answers (FAQs)

• Where to stay in Dubai for a holiday?

Dubai is a very large city, with a diverse landscape and convenient access to hotels and flats of different standards - from hostels and budget hotels to luxury flats. If you are going to Dubai on holiday, your best bet is to stay in districts such as Dubai Marina, Downtown, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Palm Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Business Bay or Deira.

• Which Dubai neighbourhoods are most convenient for a short stay?

Short stays in Dubai are characterised by intense sightseeing and the need to move from place to place. In such a case of a short stay in Dubai, it is best to choose neighbourhoods with good metro access and close to tourist attractions, viz: Downtown, Deira, Bur Dubai, Dubai Marina or Business Bay.

• Where to find hotels close to the beach in Dubai?

In Dubai, you will find hotels close to the beach in the coastal districts of the city, lying directly on the waters of the Arabian Gulf. You can find hotels close to the beach in Dubai in districts such as Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim, Palm Jumeirah.