Dubai on a budget – in photos

Following up on my post "Dubai on a budget," here are a few photos to give you an idea of the atmosphere...

Mamzar Park

Kite Beach – Solemio section

Waterfront Market, fish side

Fruit and vegetable side







Bur Dubai... a peaceful stroll along the creek

Iranian mosque right in the city

Indian thali

Afghan bakery

It’s tough to pick what seems the most iconic, so I went with what reflects the tranquility... for a relaxing holiday, you know?!! Yes, Dubai isn’t just a crowded place with an influencer on every corner!!! Laurence

Hi there,

Wow! It looks so quiet! Much more than when I was there in 2016—I remember the old town being really bustling with life.

Yeah, same here—it seems *super* quiet... Weird, even. Maybe Lolodinde could tell us when and in what context these photos were taken.

Hi Elgordo, You didn’t read my post about Dubai where I use the word "early," and you didn’t make it to the end of the 10 photos where I explain my choice... so the key to the "mystery" is that, working 8 hours a day in Paris underground in sometimes very crowded conditions, I avoid it on vacation!! Having visited Dubai for several years now, I know where to go and when... The point of my post on the forum is to give a different idea of what Dubai can be like, but if you want to see crowds, go to the malls in the afternoon, the family beaches on weekends, the souks in the late afternoon with tourist buses, or the Gold Souk on Thursday evening... Sorry, I don’t have any photos of those places to share... I make sure to arrive first and enjoy the peace and the view—that’s my way of traveling, and I thought other travelers might appreciate it too! "It looks *very* quiet": that’s exactly what my friends and family said when I sent them photos of Notre-Dame in Paris, where I was on January 1, 2025, at 8 AM! There were about fifty of us who had the same idea! Wishing you wonderful travels, Laurence

Ah, thanks for the reminder! I had read your post about Dubai. Sometimes the Dubai souk with all the crowds can be nice too. But really, it all depends on what you're looking for. Anyway, it brings back good memories. I lived there for 4 years. The country is strange but amazing if you can look past the first impressions.