MTC cost guide

Dubai trip cost: three stays for two, January 2027

Dubai suits a trip that mixes the Creek's older trading districts with major attractions, shopping and time by the coast. Choose one main base: Downtown for a landmark-led visit, Marina for waterfront evenings, or the Creek area for souqs and older neighbourhoods. Palm hotels offer a resort setting with additional journeys for city sightseeing. These examples price a January week, with every stay, meal and allowance itemised.

Scope, dates and party

These are dated ground-cost illustrations for two adults sharing one room or unit, six nights over seven days, 19–25 January 2027. They cover three named bases — the Creek, Dubai Marina and Oud Metha. Palm resorts, theme parks, desert safaris and attraction tickets are excluded. Hotel prices are public room-table observations from 2 October 2026, not checkout quotes. Flights, visas and insurance are excluded. They are not bookable, not quotes, and not year-round ranges or calculator defaults.

What is specific to this budget

  • Three named hotels or apartments, each with two baskets. Baskets A and B keep the stay and change only the dinner. They are ordered by the observed room price alone: the budget, mid-range and premium labels are not quality categories and do not rank full trip totals.
  • Every total shows, right beside it, a provisional hotel-tax reserve and the subtotal before it. The taxes are mandatory, not optional, but the reserve is calculated from the listed percentages and fees — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum. Replace it with the actual charges, never pay any part twice, and do not add the included service charge again.
  • Lunch and dinner come from one Emirati restaurant's menu at Al Seef, whose prices include VAT; dinner B is a starter, main and dessert. VAT is not added again.
  • The Tourism Dirham is part of the provisional tax reserve, not a second add-on. The Al Bandar Rotana rate's food-and-drink discount is not applied to outside restaurant meals.
  • Deposits, holds and any unlisted hotel or restaurant charges are unknown, not zero. Breakfast, drinks, transport and activities are MTC gross planning estimates, clearly labelled, not supplier quotes.

Planning the days

Choose one main base. The Creek suits the older trading districts and souqs; Dubai Marina suits waterfront evenings but is a long ride from the Creek; Oud Metha sits between the Creek and Downtown. A Palm hotel is a different product from a city base, and a room rate does not include attraction tickets.

Season

November to March is the strongest walking window. April and October can work with afternoon breaks; summer is better planned around indoor activities and short outdoor periods. These are climate-based planning judgments, not a weather forecast.

Arrival and practical notes

Use DXB for this airport model. DWC needs a different transfer plan. Check the room's beach access, breakfast and tourism-fee treatment; a hotel rate does not automatically include attraction tickets.

Dated cost examples

Six dated, itemised examples from 2027-01-19 to 2027-01-25: 6 nights and 7 days for two adults sharing one room, which is 14 person-days. Prices are as observed in October 2026, cover ground costs only, and are not multiplied out to other party sizes or trip lengths.

Dated planning illustration for two adults sharing one room or unit, 19–25 January 2027: seven days and six nights, flights excluded. Hotel prices are public room-table observations from 2 October 2026, not checkout quotes. Breakfast allowances, transport, drinks and activities are MTC gross estimates, not supplier quotes. Not bookable, not a quote and not an annual default.

Only Sofitel includes breakfast (12 credited once). Every total carries a separately shown provisional hotel-tax reserve — VAT, municipality fee and Tourism Dirham — with the subtotal before it. Lunch and dinner use Al Fanar's VAT-inclusive menu. Ordered by price alone, not quality.

Budget · Example A

Total for two adults

1,841.74 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 121.48 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 1,720.26 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A Creek base for the older trading districts. The rate's food-and-drink discount applies at the hotel and is not applied to the outside restaurant meals here. Room only: all 14 breakfasts use the MTC allowance.

131.55 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 740 USD (stay) = 740 USD ≈ 740.00 USD

    Source-backed: Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai Creek — City View Room, king bed (rate includes a 20% food-and-drink discount at the hotel); room only. 740.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 88.8 USD (stay) = 88.8 USD ≈ 88.80 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 20 AED (room-night) = 120 AED ≈ 32.68 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    14 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 490 AED ≈ 133.42 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast for all 14 breakfasts, because no breakfast is included.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-dinner) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai Creek — City View Room, king bed (rate includes a 20% food-and-drink discount at the hotel); room only. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 19 January 2027; nothing to pay until 17 January 2027.

Budget · Example B

Total for two adults

2,043.78 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 121.48 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 1,922.30 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A Creek base for the older trading districts. The rate's food-and-drink discount applies at the hotel and is not applied to the outside restaurant meals here. Room only: all 14 breakfasts use the MTC allowance.

145.98 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 740 USD (stay) = 740 USD ≈ 740.00 USD

    Source-backed: Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai Creek — City View Room, king bed (rate includes a 20% food-and-drink discount at the hotel); room only. 740.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 88.8 USD (stay) = 88.8 USD ≈ 88.80 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 20 AED (room-night) = 120 AED ≈ 32.68 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    14 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 490 AED ≈ 133.42 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast for all 14 breakfasts, because no breakfast is included.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 118 AED (person-dinner) = 1,652 AED ≈ 449.83 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: Al Bandar Rotana – Dubai Creek — City View Room, king bed (rate includes a 20% food-and-drink discount at the hotel); room only. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 19 January 2027; nothing to pay until 17 January 2027.

Mid-range · Example A

Total for two adults

2,174.05 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 149.79 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 2,024.26 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A Dubai Marina base for waterfront evenings, far from the Creek. Its listed Tourism Dirham is 15 AED a night. Room only: all 14 breakfasts use the MTC allowance.

155.29 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 1,044 USD (stay) = 1,044 USD ≈ 1,044.00 USD

    Source-backed: The First Collection Marina, Dubai, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel — Deluxe King Room; room only. 1,044.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 125.28 USD (stay) = 125.28 USD ≈ 125.28 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 15 AED (room-night) = 90 AED ≈ 24.51 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    14 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 490 AED ≈ 133.42 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast for all 14 breakfasts, because no breakfast is included.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-dinner) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: The First Collection Marina, Dubai, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel — Deluxe King Room; room only. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 19 January 2027; pay at the property.

Mid-range · Example B

Total for two adults

2,376.09 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 149.79 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 2,226.30 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A Dubai Marina base for waterfront evenings, far from the Creek. Its listed Tourism Dirham is 15 AED a night. Room only: all 14 breakfasts use the MTC allowance.

169.72 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 1,044 USD (stay) = 1,044 USD ≈ 1,044.00 USD

    Source-backed: The First Collection Marina, Dubai, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel — Deluxe King Room; room only. 1,044.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 125.28 USD (stay) = 125.28 USD ≈ 125.28 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 15 AED (room-night) = 90 AED ≈ 24.51 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    14 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 490 AED ≈ 133.42 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast for all 14 breakfasts, because no breakfast is included.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 118 AED (person-dinner) = 1,652 AED ≈ 449.83 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: The First Collection Marina, Dubai, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel — Deluxe King Room; room only. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 19 January 2027; pay at the property.

Premium · Example A

Total for two adults

2,211.22 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 173.32 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 2,037.90 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A central base between the Creek and Downtown. Breakfast for two is included, so 12 breakfasts are credited once and two outside breakfasts are budgeted.

157.94 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 1,172 USD (stay) = 1,172 USD ≈ 1,172.00 USD

    Source-backed: Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk — Deluxe Room, king bed; breakfast included for two. 1,172.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 140.64 USD (stay) = 140.64 USD ≈ 140.64 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 20 AED (room-night) = 120 AED ≈ 32.68 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    2 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 70 AED ≈ 19.06 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast. The room includes breakfast for two, so 12 breakfasts are credited once and only two outside breakfasts are budgeted.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-dinner) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk — Deluxe Room, king bed; breakfast included for two. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 18:00 on 18 January 2027; pay at the property.

Premium · Example B

Total for two adults

2,413.26 USD

Includes a PROVISIONAL hotel-tax reserve of 173.32 USD. Subtotal before the reserve: 2,239.94 USD. The tax is mandatory, not optional, but this is a calculated reserve — not an observed checkout total or a guaranteed maximum; replace it with the actual charges and never pay any part twice. Qualified illustration, not a checkout quote: hotel prices are dated public room-table observations in whole US dollars; deposits and unlisted extras are unknown, not zero. Hotels are ordered by observed hotel price alone, not quality. A central base between the Creek and Downtown. Breakfast for two is included, so 12 breakfasts are credited once and two outside breakfasts are budgeted.

172.38 USD per person per ground day

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  • Hotel, six nights — observed room price before the listed excluded charges

    1 × 1,172 USD (stay) = 1,172 USD ≈ 1,172.00 USD

    Source-backed: Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk — Deluxe Room, king bed; breakfast included for two. 1,172.00 USD as displayed. A dated public room-table price observed 2 October 2026, shown in whole US dollars; not an exact checkout quote. Converted cents add no supplier precision; deposits, holds and unlisted local charges are unknown, not zero; future availability and discounts are not guaranteed.

  • Provisional hotel-tax reserve (listed percentages, mandatory)

    1 × 140.64 USD (stay) = 140.64 USD ≈ 140.64 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Tourism Dirham, per room-night (part of the provisional tax reserve)

    6 × 20 AED (room-night) = 120 AED ≈ 32.68 USD

    Source-backed: Provisional Dubai hotel-tax reserve. The room table includes 10% service and lists 5% VAT and 7% municipality fee as excluded; we provisionally apply their 12% sum to the displayed service-inclusive room price, and add the listed Tourism Dirham (20 AED per room-night at Al Bandar Rotana and Sofitel, 15 AED at The First Collection Marina). The supplier's taxable base and compounding, and the January 2027 assessment, were not verified: this is a calculated reserve, not an observed hotel total or a guaranteed maximum. The taxes are mandatory, not optional; replace the reserve with the actual charges, remove anything already collected, and do not add the 10% service again. No free Tourism Dirham is assumed.

  • Breakfast allowance per adult (not a hotel or café price)

    2 × 35 AED (person-breakfast) = 70 AED ≈ 19.06 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): 35 AED per person-breakfast. The room includes breakfast for two, so 12 breakfasts are credited once and only two outside breakfasts are budgeted.

  • Lunch per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 65 AED (person-lunch) = 910 AED ≈ 247.79 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Dinner per adult (menu benchmark)

    14 × 118 AED (person-dinner) = 1,652 AED ≈ 449.83 USD

    Source-backed: Al Fanar, Al Seef branch — official PDF menu, undated, reviewed 2 October 2026. Lunch: chicken biryani 65 AED; dinner A: chicken machboos 65 AED, each with the described half chicken and rice. Dinner B adds lentil soup 25 and luqaimat 28 = 118 AED per adult — a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu, not a set menu; no limited-time dessert is used. The menu states that prices include 5% VAT, so VAT is not added again. Cover and service are not set out separately, so any unlisted charge is unknown, not zero. The Al Bandar Rotana room's food-and-drink discount is not applied to these unrelated restaurant meals. A price benchmark, not a seven-day dining plan or a January price guarantee.

  • Additional drinks allowance per day for the two of you

    7 × 30 AED (party-day) = 210 AED ≈ 57.18 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Optional budget for additional drinks only.

  • Airport car allowance, each way

    2 × 100 AED (direction) = 200 AED ≈ 54.46 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget for one car for two adults between Dubai International (DXB) and the hotel, each way; not a fare, and no transfer time is promised.

  • Local ride allowance for the two of you

    12 × 40 AED (ride) = 480 AED ≈ 130.70 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Planning budget, not a quoted fare. Dubai Marina is far from the Creek, so a Marina base needs longer rides to the older districts.

  • Optional city activities allowance per adult

    2 × 200 AED (adult) = 400 AED ≈ 108.92 USD

    MTC gross estimate (not a supplier quote): Discretionary; no named ticket is promised. Theme parks, observation decks and desert safaris need their own prices.

Hotel: Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk — Deluxe Room, king bed; breakfast included for two. Cancellation and payment: Free cancellation before 18:00 on 18 January 2027; pay at the property.

Not included: Flights, Visas and insurance, Shopping and regional trips

Reference exchange rates dated 2026-10-01: 1 USD = 3.6725 AED. Your card rate at payment may differ.

Rate source as recorded in the research: Central Bank of the UAE reference, 1 October 2026: 3.6725 AED per USD. Hotel prices were shown in USD. Not a card or retail rate

Practical notes

Use DXB for this airport model. DWC needs a different transfer plan. Check the room's beach access, breakfast and tourism-fee treatment; a hotel rate does not automatically include attraction tickets.

Limits of these examples

Covers three named bases — the Creek, Dubai Marina and Oud Metha. Palm resorts, theme parks, desert safaris and attraction tickets are excluded. Prices are dated snapshots for 19–25 January 2027, not year-round ranges or calculator defaults; exact checkout totals were not verified.

Cost sources (10)

Compiled and totalled by My Travel Choices (MTC) from the dated sources credited with each example. Research estimates, not bookable offers. How we build these examples · Cite this guide

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