Hotel rooms still available in Dubai for New Year's Eve, but prepare to dig deep

Last-minute bargain hunters will struggle to find pocket-friendly prices around Burj Khalifa

Prices of hotel rooms and suites in key areas of Dubai surge over New Year's Eve. AFP

For anyone still scrambling for a hotel room with a view on New Year’s Eve in Dubai, the good news is there is still availability. The bad news is prices are through the roof.

A one night stay at a basic hotel apartment will set back guests a minimum of Dh1,200 on December 31. And the rate for rooms in luxury four-star and five-star hotels in the area are a staggering Dh6,000, depending slightly on room preference.

Customer service agents for key hotels in Downtown Dubai, including Vida Downtown, Manzil Downtown and Address Dubai Mall told The National they were all fully booked for the evening.

Of the few rooms still available in the Dubai district, a one-night stay in a deluxe room at Palace Downtown Hotel is Dh4,575 on Tuesday night, without breakfast.

The same room was available for booking one week later for Dh1,899 a night.

A larger ‘Palace’ room in the same hotel, measuring 51 square metres, was at a minimum of Dh6,513 for a 24-hour stay - a considerable mark up from its usual Dh2,399 rate for a midweek stay.

Just a five minute walk from the Dubai Mall fountains, rooms were also still available to book at the Address Fountain Views Hotel - a three-tower complex.

A deluxe room with a city view facing away from Burj Khalifa was Dh3,327. And to book the same room one week later is Dh1,599.

For those willing to brave the traffic and stay a little further away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Dubai, Business Bay had some good offers.

A one-night stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel with views of Burj Khalifa was less than Dh1,000. And The Grand Millennium, a seven-minute drive from Burj Park, was Dh900.