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Dubai or Singapore? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Dubai for a winter-sun break of beaches, desert safaris and big-ticket luxury, ideally from December to February. Pick Singapore for food, greenery and an easy, safe city at any time of year; on our mid-range numbers it is also cheaper, about €181 a day against €214 in Dubai.
Dubai: suits couples, honeymooners and friends who want winter sun, desert trips, beach clubs and luxury hotels.
Singapore: suits families and first-timers to Asia who want superb hawker food, gardens and effortless public transport all year.
Side by side
| Dubai | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €215 AED890 local | €182 S$262 local |
| Budget day* | €92 | €77 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €214 a day mid-range; luxury pushes prices up fast. | ●●●●●About €181 a day; hawker food saves, hotels cost plenty. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Malls and Burj Khalifa busy, but the spread-out city absorbs crowds. | ●●●●●Marina Bay and hawker lunch rushes busy, but well managed. |
| Food | ●●●●●Huge international range; Deira and Karama for cheap, good meals. | ●●●●●Hawker centres serve superb chicken rice, laksa and satay cheaply. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Hotel bars and beach clubs; alcohol is licensed and expensive. | ●●●●●Clarke Quay and rooftop bars, but drinks are very expensive. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Water parks and beaches, but summer heat limits outdoor time. | ●●●●●Zoo, Sentosa and Gardens by the Bay; safe and walkable. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Metro covers one corridor; otherwise taxis and long distances. | ●●●●●Excellent MRT and covered walkways; easiest city in the region. |
| Best months | Jan, Feb, Dec | year-round, see below |
| Warmest / coolest | Aug 43°C / Jan 24°C | Feb 30°C / Jan 29°C |
| Known for | Burj Khalifa, gold souks, desert safaris, and dancing fountains. | Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, hawker centre Michelin street food |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Dubai and Singapore day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Dubai if…
- you want winter sun between December and February
- Desert safaris and beach clubs appeal
- you are on a honeymoon with a luxury budget
- Shopping and big modern architecture excite you
Pick Singapore if…
- Food is a main reason for your trip
- you are travelling with children
- you want easy public transport and walkable districts
- you are travelling in summer, when Dubai is too hot
Weather month by month
| Month | Dubai high / rainy days | Singapore high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24°C · 3 | 29°C · 21 |
| Feb | 27°C · 0 | 30°C · 17 |
| Mar | 31°C · 0 | 29°C · 24 |
| Apr | 34°C · 0 | 30°C · 27 |
| May | 39°C · 0 | 30°C · 25 |
| Jun | 42°C · 0 | 29°C · 28 |
| Jul | 42°C · 1 | 30°C · 23 |
| Aug | 43°C · 0 | 29°C · 27 |
| Sep | 41°C · 0 | 29°C · 23 |
| Oct | 37°C · 1 | 30°C · 25 |
| Nov | 32°C · 0 | 29°C · 25 |
| Dec | 27°C · 2 | 29°C · 29 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Dubai
Shawarma · Spiced rice with meat or fish · Wheat and meat porridge · Sweet dumplings · Emirati breakfast · Spiced milk tea
Where: Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (Bastakiya), Bur Dubai, Deira Spice Souk and Creek, Waterfront Market, Deira, Karama
Singapore
Hainanese chicken rice · Laksa · Fried flat noodles · Satay · Pork rib soup · Indian flatbread
Where: Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar), Chinatown Complex Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat and Satay Street, Tekka Centre (Little India)
Doing both in one trip
10 days: 4 in Dubai + 6 in Singapore, including the flight day
They are about 5,800 km apart, so combining them only makes sense on a longer trip with a flight, typically as stopovers on the way to Southeast Asia or Australia. Do Dubai first, between December and February when it is not scorching.
Getting between them: Direct flight about 7 h to 7 h 30 plus airport time, with several daily departures — check current schedules. Distance about 5,835 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–4: Dubai — Burj Khalifa, Old Dubai and the souks by abra, a desert safari, a beach day
- Day 5: Fly to Singapore, about 7 hours, Marina Bay in the evening
- Day 6–8: Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown, Little India, hawker centres
- Day 9–10: Sentosa or the zoo, then fly home or continue in Asia
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Common questions
Is Dubai or Singapore cheaper?
Singapore, slightly, on our mid-range numbers: about €181 per person per day against about €214 in Dubai. The gap comes mostly from Dubai's hotels, attractions and alcohol. Both can be done more cheaply: Singapore's hawker centres serve full meals for a few euros, and Dubai's older districts of Deira and Karama have inexpensive restaurants away from the malls.
When is the best time to visit?
Dubai's best months on our data are December to February, with January around 24°C; by August it reaches about 43°C and outdoor sightseeing becomes unpleasant. Singapore stays around 29–30°C all year with frequent showers and no real dry season, so any month works. If you are combining the two, aim for December to February.
Which is better for a short stopover?
Singapore, for most travellers. The MRT reaches the city from Changi in under an hour, and one day is enough for Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown and a hawker dinner. Dubai's Metro also links the airport to the centre, but its sights are spread out and you will rely on taxis, so a stopover there works best with two days.
Is it worth combining Dubai and Singapore?
Only on a longer trip. They are about 5,800 km apart, a flight of roughly seven hours, so as a pair they make sense mainly as stopovers on the way to Southeast Asia or Australia. For a one-week holiday, pick one: Dubai for winter sun and desert, Singapore for food and an easy city.