While the cost of living in Dubai is exorbitantly high, there are some incredible activities and fun things in the emirate that you can enjoy without having to spend any money. Be it a day out at a park, or an evening at the beach, munching on free snacks or snapping pictures with gigantic skyscrapers in the backdrop, the opportunities are endless.
Let’s have a look at the best free and fun things that you can do in Dubai with friends and family and save money on your leisure expenses.
Watch the Dancing Fountains Show
This is a must. Being in Dubai and not hovering to watch the Dancing Fountains Show is a lethal crime that you shouldn’t commit by any chance. It’s magnificent, exotic, and spell bounding. The Dubai Fountain is the biggest most dancing fountain show that the world has ever witnessed to date. The mesmerizing rhythmic moves and captivating tunes create an aura that you would remember for years. What’s exciting is that you can experience this for free. No tickets, no reservations, and no costs whatsoever involved
Spend an Evening at the Beach
To take a break from the luxurious and extravagant malls and hotels in the city, you can pop over to a public beach in the emirate to spend a fun-filled evening with loved ones. Dubai is loaded with exotic coastlines and stunning beaches that you can access for absolutely free. JBR Beach, Jumeirah Beach, Al Sufouh Beach, and Kite Beach are some of the most bewitching beach sides the city has to offer. Lay down on the sand, surf the waves, watch the sunset, relish stunning views, and spend quality time with family and friends without breaking the bank.
Watch movies for free
Do you know there are venues around the emirate where you can enjoy a movie for free? Yes, you read it right. You can watch a movie without having to pay for the ticket. It’s a perfect opportunity for an evening out with friends.
You can catch up on a lot of outdoor pop-up cinemas around the city, especially during the colder days. Besides this Cinema Akil puts up engrossing movies and films all through the year for free. Learn about the dates and upcoming shows here.
Visit an Art House
Dubai City has a rich cultural heritage. You would be able to locate a lot of art on the walls around the town and several art houses and galleries that you can explore without having to spend hefty amounts on the ticket.
A prominent venue is Alserkal Avenue located in Al Quoz featuring artistic displays and paintings. A lot of workshops, classes, art sessions, and exhibitions are held at the gallery. You just need to stay updated on the latest shows and screenings listed on their website.
Another affordable art gallery that you can visit to quench your thirst for fine art is located in Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood. The Area houses a pretty Majlis Gallery and XVA Gallery Café. Sip on a warm cup of coffee and savor delectable snacks and soak in artistic vibes all around.
Explore and do fun things in the Desert
Besides the utterly popular desert safari, there are a lot of fun things that you can do in the desert for free. Drive around the desert on a motorbike, surf the dunes on a sandboard, do camping, enjoy BBQ, and gaze at the stars at night. You can spot some lovely wildlife creatures too and snap pictures for your Instagram.
Pop Over to a Museum
The Emirate of Dubai is home to a lot of captivating museums that you can visit for free. The enthralling Coffee Museum in the historical Al Fahidi area is a good catch. You can experience ancient methods of brewing coffee and take a look at years-old grounding machines and pots that Arabs used for grinding coffee beans.
You can also spot a Coin Museum nearby that you can also enter for free. The place is worth a visit with antique coins and currencies on the display. Another interesting museum that you can plan to visit in the Emirate is located in the Al Ras neighborhood in Deira. The Al Oqaili museum is situated in an ancient heritage house.
Also, you can visit the Al Fahidi Fort and the magnificent Dubai Museum for as little as AED3.
Go On an Abra Ride
You would be thrilled to know that you can cruise along the ocean in Dubai for as low as AED1. Sounds too good to be true. Dubai Creek is the center of attraction in the city and is much visited by tourists and residents alike. Taking an Abra across the creek is a much-loved activity that you can enjoy for almost free. Spend a dirham and relish the old city architecture in a small wooden boat (Abra).
Grab the Ladies’ Day offers
A lot of venues in Dubai including beach clubs, hotels, bars, and cafes are running ladies’ day promotions where members of the fair sex can enjoy free drinks, snacks, pool access, and activities on certain days of the week. Check out our list of best ladies’ day offers in Dubai to learn more.
Get Freebies on your Birthday
Do you know you can receive free food, drinks, and gifts, on your birthday at certain venues in Dubai? a lot of restaurants and leisure spots in Dubai treat their customers with special discounts, offers, and freebies on the day of their birthday. Enjoy free access to Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park, get free stuff from Sephora, and grab some of your favorite drinks from Starbucks when you register with them for news and updates.
Find out more fun things that you can do for free on your birthday here.
Gaze birds for free
No need to spend money on zoo tickets as you can now spot exotic bird species at certain locations in Dubai. The popular Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary hosts more than 20k species of birds including swans, flamingos, mallards, pintails, and shorebirds. Other attractions that you can visit for birdwatching include Al Qudra Lake, Al Mamzar Park, Mangrove National Park, and Green Mubazzarah.
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