Free Things in Dubai

Dubbed as one of the most luxurious cities in the world, it is sometimes surprising to find things to do in Dubai totally free of cost.  Below is the first batch of things you can do while visiting Dubai without shelling out even one dirham.  Aside from the open beaches and shopping malls, there are several fun activities you can do in Dubai for free.  Some activities are seasonal and others require prior booking or registration.  Make sure you check the terms and conditions of the activity before proceeding to avoid disappointments.

Things To Do in Dubai for Free

Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa can be seen upclose from the Dubai Mall's fountain area for free.

Location: Outside Dubai Mall

Direction: Take the metro going to UAE Exchange in the Red Line and get down at Dubai Mall Station. It will be a long walk, with walkalators, going to Dubai Mall, just follow the signs going to Dubai Fountain.  Best shortcut is to go inside the bookstore beside Virgin Megastore and look for the elevator inside the bookstore.  Go to the Lower Ground.

Dubai Fountain

One of the famous landmarks in Dubai is the Dubai Fountain, the largest choreographed fountain system in the world.

The observation decks located on the 124th and 148th floors can be accessed by buying tickets at https://tickets.atthetop.ae

Location: Outside Dubai Mall, Lower Ground Level, Dubai Mall

Show Schedule:

Afternoon shows, daily (except Fridays): 1pm and 1.30pm

Afternoon shows (Fridays only): 1.30pm and 2pm

Evening shows, daily: 6pm-11pm, every 30 minutes

Dubai Aquarium

The Dubai Aquarium features the largest acrylic panel in the world with 10-million litre tank with exotic marine life like sharks and rays.  

There is a paid area of the aquarium starting from AED80.

https://tickets.thedubaiaquarium.com

Location: Outside Dubai Aquarium, Ground Level, Dubai Mall

Burj Al Arab

There are 3 vantage points where you can get a good photo with the Burj Al Arab.  First is the Jumeirah Open Beach 3, the usual tourist spot during a city tour.  Second will be at the gate of Burj Al Arab.  Third is at the Madinat Jumeirah Mall.

Location:  Umm Suqeim 3

Directions:  Take the metro going to UAE Exchange (Red Line) and get down at the Mall of the Emirates Station.  Take a taxi going to either Burj Al Arab main gate, Jumeirah Open Beach 3 or Madinat Jumeirah Mall.

Free Wi-fi

Smart Palms are strategically placed at Umm Suqeim Beach, Kite Beach, Zabeel Park and Dubai Creek Park to provide free wi-fi and charging stations.  For exact locations, you can check the maps in the following sites:

www.smart-palm.com

www.wifiuae.ae/en/locations

Free Movies

Watch a movie under the stars

When the weather is cooler, you can visit Wafi Pyramids Rooftop Gardens in Oud Metha to watch movies under the stars sitting on beanbags,  You can check the movie feature and schedule on www.pyramidsrestaurantsatwafi.com or call 04 324 4100.

Location: Pyramids Rooftop Complex in Wafi complex

Directions:  Take the metro (Green Line) going to Creek Metro and get off at Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station.

Cinema Akil

Alserkal Avenue presents regular film screening programs featuring independent, art house, foreign and classic movies. All film screenings are free to attend, and take place in the A4 Space cinema room or outdoors in The Yard.

www.alserkalavenue.ae (050 556 9797)

Location:  A4 Space, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz

Al Jadaf Ship Docking Yard

Explore the Al Jaddaf dhow-building yard where boats from little abras to ocean-crossing dhows are built and repaired.

Directions:  Off Al Khail Road, turn off just before Business Bay Crossing, Oud Metha.

Atlantis Aquaventure

If you are visiting Dubai during the week of your birthday, you can get a free entrance to Atlantis Aquaventure.

www.aquaventurebirthday.com (04 426 0000)

Location:  Atlantis The Palm - Palm Jumeirah

Dubai Festival City's Imagine

IMAGINE is Dubai Festival City’s record-breaking new attraction, which offers unique sensory experience, harnesses the power of light, water, and fire, combined with giant aqua screens, 30 fountains and surround sound to connect with audiences and produce a show like never seen before.

Boasting the largest water screen projection and largest permanent projection mapping in the world – both a Guinness World Records breaker, it features the latest entertainment technology in water, pyrotechnics, lasers, lights and dramatic effects.

Visit and see the daily show for free.

www.festivalcentre.com/home/Play/Imagine

Daily Schedule (Ramadan)

Dancing Elements Shows

Weekdays and Weekends: 7:30pm, 8:25pm 9:30pm, 10:30pm

Stardancer

Weekdays and Weekends: 8:00pm, 10:00pm

A Child's Dream

Weekdays and Weekends: 9:00pm, 11:00pm

Night Stroll at Marina Dubai

A man-made canal with restaurants, cafes, dinner cruises and yachts-for-rent available along Marina Walk.

Direction: Ride a metro (red line) and go down at DAMAC Properties Station.

Dubai Water Canal

The Dubai Water Canal, a Dhs2.7 billion project, has added more than 3.2km of promenade from JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to the Arabian Gulf. This breathtaking addition to the city gives you never-seen-before views of the Creek and the city’s skyline as well as boats to take a little trip on, waterfalls to marvel at and a meandering waterway to stroll.  A man-made canal with motion controlled waterfalls alongside its bridge and railway. The curtains of waterfall open when a boat or a yacht is passing underneath the bridge and railway.

www.visitdubai.com/en/articles/dubai-water-canal

Direction: Ride a metro (red lane) and go down at Business Bay Station. Just follow the course of the metro railway and walk for about 10-15 minutes.

Birds Sightseeing

Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, a free-to-enter sanctuary, is home to over 270 different types of birds. Home to thousands of birds with the Flamingos as the stars.  Open from Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 4pm.

www.facebook.com/wildlife.ae.

Location:  Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, Ras Al Khor Road

Riverland Dubai

Visit the centerpiece waterway to Dubai Parks' Legoland, Bollywood and Motiongate.  Explore Riverland Dubai for free to check out the enrances to Dubai Parks main features and catch some of the planned free street theatre.

www.riverlanddubai.com (04 820 0000)

Location:  Riverland Dubai, Dubai Parks And Resorts, Sheikh Zayed Road, opposite Palm Jebel Ali