Deira City Center Hostel by PHM

I booked this hostel for an overnight layover in the UAE, and it was absolutely perfect for that purpose! It's just a minute's walk from Deira City Centre Metro Station. The area is fantastic – affordable and safe. The bus terminal for buses from Sharjah is right there, and Dubai Airport is just a few metro stops away. The hostel itself is great too. I had a small, single room as described, about 6 square meters, with a bed, nightstand, desk lamp, and wardrobe. It was quiet. The common areas had a fridge, ironing board, iron, kitchen, and two bathrooms. For its low price in an expensive city, it's excellent. I don't understand why people leave bad reviews. Perhaps they see the price, don't read the description, and expect a luxury hotel. No, this is a hostel. You need to understand and read where you're going; then you won't be disappointed. I loved everything; I had a very budget-friendly overnight stay and continued my journey. Immediately after booking, a manager contacted me with detailed instructions on how to get there. They stayed in touch before check-in and answered all my questions quickly. They do take a 50 AED deposit upon check-in. I paid by card, and the deposit was also returned to my card (but keep in mind, it's returned to a UAE bank card). I had one of those. If you have a different bank card, pay/get your deposit back in cash. Thanks to the staff; everything was great! If I ever need to stay overnight in Dubai again, I'll definitely come back here!

If you're not particular about cleanliness and just need a place to crash for a night, then it's fine... but be aware that the front desk isn't staffed 24/7. I told the owner the night before check-out that I'd be leaving in the morning, and they readily agreed for me to come at 9 AM. However, I ended up waiting from 9 AM until 11 AM before the owner finally showed up to check me out, quite unhurriedly (luckily, I wasn't in a rush for a flight, otherwise I definitely would have missed it).

The hostel is decent, conveniently located, and the room is spacious. There's a kitchen available. The staff are friendly, everything's good.