Cheap and Free Things to Do in Dubai
Dubai is home to numerous cost-friendly and cost-free tourist destinations that feature its distinct culture, modern cityscape, and natural treasure. Here are some suggestions:
Dubai Fountain
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Dubai Mall Area
Visiting Hours:
Daytime Shows: Weekdays: 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m, Weekends: 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m
Nighttime Shows: 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, twice every hour
The Dubai Fountain is one of the city’s most beautiful tourist attractions, and is one of the best free things to do in Dubai due to its free entry. The fountain is located in the Dubai Mall area, in front of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. It was opened in May 2009, costing approximately US$220 million.
According to TripAdvisor reviewers, the Dubai Fountain is one of the top three things to do in Dubai.
Dubai Mall
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Dubai Mall Area
Visiting Time: Daily 10:00 am to 11:00 am except Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it closes after one hour.
Being more than a shopping mall, Dubai Mall is another well-deserved attraction in Dubai city. The mall offers a unique shopping experience from the world’s leading and luxury brands in fashion, leather, watches and jewelry lines. Apart from shopping purposes, Dubai Mall is home to the spectacular Dubai Aquarium. The largest aquarium in the world. Also KidZania Dubai Mall is where you will love to bring your kids for gaming and entertainment. Although you may spend a lot of money at the Dubai Mall, entering the mall is definitely free with us!
Miracle Garden
Entrance fee: 11.1 USD
Location: Al Barsha South 3, Barsha, Dubai Land Area – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Timings: 0900 AM to 0900 PM with two additional hours on Fridays and Saturdays
The Dubai Miracle Garden is a large flower garden with a total area of 72.000 square meters and a collection of 45 million flowers! The garden was opened in 2013 to make it the world’s largest natural flower garden. DMG is one of the best choices for families to travel to Dubai during weekends and national holidays with one of the cheapest things to do in Dubai with a ticket of only 40 AED, moreover it is the most important tourist destination for visitors to Dubai.
Due to the nature of the weather in Dubai, the Garden is only open from October to April.
Dubai Museum
Entrance fee: 1.00 USD
Location: Al Fahdi Fort, Bur Dubai
Visiting Timings: Opens 0830 AM to 0830 PM except Fridays till 0230 PM.
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In 1971 and celebrating the unification of the 7 emirates, the Ruler of Dubai opened the Dubai Museum as a witness to the heritage of the Emirate of Dubai and to tell its story definitively for new generations and visitors to Dubai.
The Dubai Museum experience provides a complete view of how older people lived in Dubai, daily life activities, their jobs and occupations, food, clothing, and lifestyle. In addition, the Dubai Museum houses local antiquities and even tombs dating back to BC!
In 2013, the museum announced to receive 1 million visitors. Locals and tourists prefer to visit the local museum as it is one of the cheapest things to do in Dubai with a ticket of only 3 AED especially since it opens on a daily basis without any day off.
Etihad Museum
Entrance Fee: 7.00 USD
Location: 1 Jumeirah St. – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Visiting Hours: Daily 10:00 AM to 08:00 PM
The Etihad Museum is an interesting tourist attraction for locals, but a visit to it can give you an idea of what life was like in the seven emirates before the historic Etihad.
The museum is considered one of the newest additions to the city since it opened in early 2017, while most people are drawn to its architectural style and rich decorations.
Jumierah Mosque
Entrance fee: 7 USD
Location: Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1
Visiting time: All day
If you were the type of person who is passionate about spirituality and getting to know others, and if you like to delve deeper into the Muslim faith of the original inhabitants, then Jamia Masjid Dubai may be your next priority attraction. The mosque, which dates back to the 1970s, was built in the traditional Fatimid style, which provides an overview of historical Muslim architectural styles and decorative elements. However, what really stands out about the mosque is that it is one of only two mosques in the UAE that do not welcome Muslims inside, the other being the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
GuruNanak Darbar Temple
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Jabal Ali Gardens
Visiting Time: 04:30 AM to 08:00 PM
Although it is a holy temple of the Sikh faith, the Guru Nanak Darbar Mandir welcomes everyone, even non-believers. According to the official website, the temple is reached by taxi from Ibn Battuta metro station. The temple also runs a free shuttle bus from Energy Metro Station to the temple on Fridays. So visiting a temple on Friday is one of the best free things to do in Dubai.
Needless to mention, the temple is considered the top attraction for the learners living in Dubai, almost all of whom are Indians.
Kite Beach
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Opposite Atlantis The Palm Hotel, Jumeirah Beach
Viewing time: All day!
Although it is located on Jumeirah Beach, and although it is right in front of Atlantis The Palm Hotel, Kite Beach Dubai is a free beach that welcomes everyone on weekdays and weekends. Kite Beach can be your perfect attraction for swimming in the blue bay water, and due to the nature of the climate in the UAE, you can go to the beach all year round without fear of catching a cold!
All that being said, we can recommend Kite Beach as one of the best free things to do in Dubai!
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JBR Walk
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Bihar 7 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Viewing time: All day and night time!
JBR Walk is a bayside walk with a wide variety of cafes and restaurants. The best time to visit JBR is when you can enjoy a refreshing walk along the Gulf beaches and this makes night time one of the best things to do in Dubai. The gross floor area at JBR Dubai Marina extends over two square kilometers on the waterfront community. The walk was opened in 2008.
MOE
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Mall of Emirates Metro Station
Visiting Time: 1100 AM to 1200 AM
Mall of the Emirates is another major shopping mall in Dubai that houses many luxury brands in various categories as well as fine restaurants and fast food vendors. Shopping is always expensive but it might be a good idea to spend the night in Dubai walking around the Mall of Emirates and checking out the skiing activities in Dubai. A snack and cold drink will add extra fun to your soiree for less money.
Dubai Marina
Admission Fee: Free!
Location: Dubai Marina Beach
Viewing time: All day and night time!
Dubai Marina is always a great choice for your overnight stay. The marina is easily accessible by public transport and a walk along the beach will cost nothing but you will enjoy the fresh air to fill your lungs and have a ridiculously good time especially if in company. The beautiful view of Dubai Marina is especially breathtaking at night when the skyscrapers on both sides of the water canal sparkle under the dark sky where dhow cruises offer dinner and musical shows.
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Bistakiya Quarter Free
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Al Humayriyah, Bur Dubai
Visiting Time: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM
The Old Dubai district is another free place to see and do in Dubai. This district preserves and showcases the old original spirit of Dubai where travelers can also visit the Fahdi Fort, one of the oldest forts in the emirate, and the Blue Mosque of Imam Hussain. All of these are of course free. Even the Dubai Museum near Dubai is accessible for a cheap ticket of less than a dollar.
Dubai Camel Racing Club
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Al Marmoom, Al Ain Road Exit 37, Dubai
Visit Time: Seasonal
If you’d like to develop deeper into Dubai’s local culture, we recommend spending a day at the Dubai Camel Racing Club to take part in one of the camel races you have not find anywhere else.
Camels held a special place in Arabian culture and in particular the Emirates Racing Club held a number of speed and endurance races each year. Some of these races are attended by members of the royal family and televised.
Free tickets are used for spectators making this one of the best free things to do in Dubai.
Dubai Dhow Yard
Entry Fee: Free!
Location: Al Jawf, Bur Dubai
Visiting Time: 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM
Al Jaduf dhow build yard is where local dhow cruises are built in Dubai. From small abras (wharfs) to large and large ocean liners are built in one place. Passing through the build yard is also free!
