Below is a ready-to-book 7‑day Middle East trip tailored for an affordable, short multi-city route starting from Saudi Arabia (I used Riyadh RUH as the departure city). I give a sample set of dates (example: Monday, November 10 → Sunday, November 16, 2025) so prices and connections can be checked and booked directly — if you want different dates or a different Saudi departure airport (Jeddah, Dammam), tell me and I’ll re-run exact options.

Quick summary (7 days)

• Day 1: Fly Riyadh → Dubai. Evening: explore Dubai Marina / JBR.
• Day 2: Dubai: Burj Khalifa + Dubai Mall + Fountain show.
• Day 3: Dubai: Old Dubai (Al Fahidi), Gold/Souk, evening Ibn Battuta / or beach.
• Day 4: Day‑trip to Abu Dhabi (Louvre, Qasr Al Watan) — return to Dubai.
• Day 5: Fly Dubai → Muscat (overnight in Muscat). Explore Mutrah Corniche & souq.
• Day 6: Muscat: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Royal Opera House, beach time.
• Day 7: Fly Muscat → Riyadh (return).

Why this route?

• Short flights (≈2 hours or less) keep travel time low.
• Two popular, well-connected capitals with affordable low‑cost carriers and many 3‑star hotel options.
• Easy day‑trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai by bus or shared transfer rather than adding another hotel change.

Estimated transport & cost notes (book early for lowest fares)

• Riyadh → Dubai (one-way): budget carriers operating RUH–DXB include flydubai and Flynas; one‑way fares often start from about SAR 400–600 depending on season and how early you book. See flydubai/Flynas fare pages for current low fares and promos. (flydubai.com)
• Dubai → Muscat (one-way): flydubai and other regional carriers commonly advertise fares from roughly AED 400+ (one‑way) — book early for deals. (flydubai.com)
• Muscat → Riyadh (one‑way): multiple regional carriers operate this route (Oman Air, SalamAir, Flynas); fares vary — check provider sites or aggregator for best price.
• Dubai ↔ Abu Dhabi day trip: public bus (Dubai’s Al Ghubaiba/Dubai Bus to Abu Dhabi) or shared day‑tours; buses are much cheaper than private taxis/ride‑share.

Sample itinerary with timings and budget tips (example dates Nov 10–16, 2025)

Day 1 — Mon Nov 10: Riyadh → Dubai

• Morning: Fly RUH → DXB (early flight saves time and often money). Budget fares from ~SAR 400–600 one way (flydubai / Flynas). (flydubai.com)
• Afternoon: Check in to an affordable 3-star hotel (areas: Al Barsha, Deira, Bur Dubai). Typical 3★ hotel rate in Dubai (off‑season/advance booking) ≈ SAR 150–350/night; hostels/guesthouses lower. (Use Booking/Agoda for day‑of deals.)
• Evening: Dubai Marina walk / JBR promenade, low-cost dinner options at food courts.

Day 2 — Tue Nov 11: Dubai highlights

• Morning: Burj Khalifa (book At The Top timed tickets in advance) + Dubai Mall.
• Afternoon: Walk Al Fahidi / Dubai Museum or beach time at Jumeirah Beach.
• Evening: Dubai Fountain show (free), budget dinner in Deira/Al Rigga.

Day 3 — Wed Nov 12: Old Dubai + markets

• Morning: Al Fahidi Historic Neighbourhood and coffee/tea.
• Afternoon: Abra across Dubai Creek to the Gold & Spice Souks (very cheap experience).
• Optional evening: Desert safari (many value operators offer shared tours with 4x4 + BBQ — budget ~SAR 150–300).

Day 4 — Thu Nov 13: Abu Dhabi day trip (from Dubai)

• Early bus or shared transfer to Abu Dhabi (buses from Al Ghubaiba; one‑way bus fares low — check local schedules; shared shuttles 40–120 AED depending on operator).
• Visit: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (free entry), Louvre Abu Dhabi (ticketed).
• Return to Dubai at night.

Day 5 — Fri Nov 14: Fly Dubai → Muscat

• Morning flight DXB → MCT (≈1–1.5 hrs). flydubai and others have fares from ~AED 400+ one‑way when booked early. (flydubai.com)
• Afternoon: Check in inexpensive Muscat hotel/guesthouse (areas: Mutrah, Al Khuwair). Typical 3★ rates ≈ OMR 10–20/night (or equivalent — book early).
• Evening: Walk Mutrah Corniche & Souq (free, great local food).

Day 6 — Sat Nov 15: Muscat sights

• Morning: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (check visitor hours; modest dress required).
• Afternoon: Royal Opera House (exterior / tour if available), Qurum Beach or small coastal drive.
• Evening: Local Omani dinner (affordable restaurants in Mutrah/Al Khuwair).

Day 7 — Sun Nov 16: Muscat → Riyadh

• Morning: Last-minute shopping or beach visit.
• Midday/afternoon: Fly MCT → RUH (pick a mid‑day flight to allow a relaxed morning).
• Arrive Riyadh evening.

Where to stay (budget-friendly suggestions)

• Dubai: look for 3★ hotels in Al Barsha, Bur Dubai, or Deira. Example budget chains: Ibis, Premier Inn (often good value). Expect SAR 150–350/night depending on deals.
• Muscat: 3★ hotels or guesthouses in Mutrah/Al Khuwair, expect OMR ~10–25/night or comparable USD rates.
• Abu Dhabi (if staying): budget hotels near city or on Yas Island if booked in advance can be reasonable.

Booking tips to keep it affordable

• Book flights 4–8 weeks ahead for best fares on regional routes; use carrier sites (flydubai, Flynas, Oman Air, SalamAir) and compare on aggregators (Skyscanner, wego). flydubai and Flynas both advertise low starting fares on RUH–DXB—check their promos. (flydubai.com)
• Consider low‑cost carriers’ secondary airports where applicable (e.g., Dubai World Central DWC sometimes has lower fares) — check flight listings.
• Use refundable/holdable bookings or compare baggage fees (low-cost fares may exclude checked baggage).
• For hotels, use flexible cancellation and sort by “lowest price” on Booking.com / Agoda; check location and transport costs — staying slightly outside the center (but near metro/bus) saves money.
• For Abu Dhabi day trips, bus or shared shuttle is the cheapest; book Louvre or mosque visits ahead to avoid queues.

Estimated total budget (approximate, per person, excluding meals and local transit)

• Flights (Riyadh → Dubai → Muscat → Riyadh): SAR 1,000–1,800 (book early to find lower end).
• Hotels (6 nights mid-range budget): SAR 900–1,400 (SAR 150–230/night average).
• Local transport, entries, day trip & extras: SAR 300–700.
• Estimated total (7 days): SAR 2,200–3,900 per person (wide range depends on exact dates, how early you book, and hotel class).

Relevant sources to check and book right now

• flydubai: cheap flights Riyadh→Dubai and Dubai→Muscat fares pages. (flydubai.com)
• Flynas Riyadh→Dubai route page (useful for domestic/regional promos). (Flynas.com)
• Aggregators (example wego) show live comparisons for RUH–DXB pricing trends. (sa.wego.com)

Would you like me to:

• Search exact low‑fare flights and hotel options for specific travel dates (I can return direct links and cheapest current fares for your chosen departure city and dates)? OR
• Adjust the route (for example: include Cairo, Amman, or Jerusalem instead of Muscat; start from Jeddah or Dammam)?

If you want me to book sample flights + 3★ hotels for your preferred dates, tell me the departure city (Riyadh/Jeddah/Dammam), how many travelers, and exact travel dates and I’ll return a concrete, bookable list (with prices and links).