10 Things to do in Dubai for free

10 things to do in Dubai for free

Even though Dubai is known as a very rich country and offers plenty of expensive activities, do not overlook all the free options that Dubai has to offer, especially if you are a backpacker, student travelers, or on a tight budget! There is plenty to experience and do in Dubai for completely free, and I have listed ten of the most popular and fun things to do without spending a dirham!

Go to the beach

Dubai is known for its beaches and year-round warm/hot weather so going to the beach in Dubai is a MUST. The city is right on the Arabian sea so you will find that many of Dubai’s beaches are surrounded by skyscrapers and offer amenities such as lifeguards, bathrooms, changing rooms, showers, restaurants, and convenience stores.

Beaches such as La Mer and JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) are very touristy and have a lot of hotels and residence buildings on them whereas public beaches such as Kite beach, Al Soufou beach and Jumeriah beach are more secluded because public transport does not go to them. If you want a free beach that is not as touristy and calmer but still with beautiful water and lots of space, head to Kite beach or Jumeriah beach.

Watch a camel race

Have you ever heard of watching a horse race before? Well, if you come to the UAE and Dubai, you can watch a camel race instead! This is a truly unique and local experience to try that is completely free of charge (if you do not go with tour guide and tourist company). The official camel racing season is from October to April and the races usually happen early in the morning at around 7am on Fridays and Saturdays.

There is an opportunity to experience this with a tourism company, in which they provide other services such as transport, a tour, a camel burger, camel ride as well as camel milk, and the chance to actually race your own camel (the camels are actually raced now with controller robots rather than physical humans riding on the camels’ backs).

Going with a tour guide is not the most budget friendly, but can be the most reliable and convenient way to experience this, although, if you can make it to a real local camel race, you will have a true and authentic experience.

Information about these specific races can be a little difficult to find so it is always best to ask a local for help if possible or your hotel/hostel. You can also check out the this website provided below as they provide a contact number and some information for the chance to watch one of these incredible races.

Have a picnic in Burj Park

Dubai is known for being the city made in the desert, which in result, makes its summer months of June-August almost unbearable for outdoor activities. But, when those cooler months finally come around, they are AMAZING and you should want to spend as much time as you can in the outdoors.

Having a picnic in Burj Park is the perfect free activity that you can do in the winter months when the weather is perfect temperatures. Burj Park is not just any park in Dubai, it is unique in the sense that is has a beautiful view of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai foundations as it is located just outside of the famous Dubai Mall.

You can grab some cheap food at one of the many food courts and restaurant outlets in the mall and have a lovely picnic on the green space just outside the mall. If you are looking for the ultimate chap option, you can shop inside one of the grocery stores into the mall or grab something on your way to keep things ultra-cost friendly.

Watch the tallest fountain shows in the world

Dubai is known for holding many world records for multiple things, having to do with tourism some sort of attraction. If you want to watch the magic of the world’s largest dancing fountain show, you can head over to the Palm Jumeriah and visit “The Pointe” to watch the eye-catching show for completely free. Dubai’s fountain show will make Vegas’ dancing fountains look like a joke!

There are many restaurants and retails facilities that surround the fountain on “The Pointe” so it is also a wonderful opportunity to have a nice dinner outside and watch the show while eating. Make sure you go after sunset, as the first show starts at 7pm after sundown and is on repeat every 30 minutes.

If you want to check out another brilliant and famous fountain show in Dubai, you can head to the Dubai Mall. The Dubai Mall’s fountain show also looks incredible as it is over the back drop of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa as well as being surrounded by multiple other sky scrapers.

The Dubai Mall’s fountain show also occurs every 30 minutes from the hours of 6pm-11pm. The synchronization of the water and song being played usually chances every show so you will never get bored if you watch it multiple times!

Shop at the malls 

Dubai is known as a “shopping city” and you can find any sort of famous and unique designer here as well as dozens of malls around the city. They have stores for every one’s taste and budgets so if you are planning to come to Dubai for shopping, make sure to bring or buy an extra suitcase!

There are dozens of malls in Dubai but the ones that should be visited by tourists include The Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, and Mall of the Emirates. Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the country and the 5th largest mall in the world. You can find any famous branded store inside that you can think of as well as dozens on restaurants and activities.

The Burj Khalifa is connected to the mall and you can go to the top observation deck through the mall as well as visiting the dancing fountains just outside, also using the mall as an entrance. You will EASILY get lost inside this mall so if you have a reservation of a specific time, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to find the spot once you get inside the mall.

If you are not big on shopping or are on a tight budget, the mall is honestly nice to just walk around, get some A.C., people watch, and explore. There is a beautiful water fountain inside, a small dinosaur exhibition, the Dubai fountain show, as well as one of the largest aquariums in the world that you can enjoy all for free.

Mall of the Emirates is unique because it has the famous Ski Dubai inside which can be observed from a view point inside the mall or from one of the many restaurants that are facing the ski slopes. Mall of the Emirates is a lot more manageable than Dubai in terms of walking and not getting too lost, but it still has over 600 retail outlets.

I would recommend visiting Ibn Battuta mall because of its unique architecture inside. It is modeled off the famous explorer Ibn Battuta, who traveled to multiple countries in the world. Because of Ibn’s explorer lifestyle, the mall is modeled as having different sections inside such as the Egyptian, Indian, and Chinese, just to name a few. These country specific courts are designed to replicate the country and it is fascinating and a sight in itself just to wander around. 

Party at Barasti Beach Club

Want to experience a fun beach club in Dubai but you do not want to blow your whole bank account? Head over to Barasti beach Club in JBR, which is one of or the only beach club in the city that has completely FREE entrance for both men and women every day of the week!

They are open 7 days a week from 9am to 2/3am. There is a restaurant/bar, a pool, and the beach that you can relax on with the sound of a live DJ playing some bumping music.

They have a lot of offers going on during the week or for special occasions, so make sure to check out their social media pages to stay up to date so that you do not miss a great deal! Ladies’ day is every Sunday and Monday and the ladies can get a special drink offer, however, guys are still eligible for free entrance on ladies’ day.

Barasti is also a very photogenic beach club so make sure to have your camera ready to get some good shots for your social media platforms! Beach clubs in Dubai are like no other so do not miss out of this fun experience that is completely for free!

Have a desert bonfire in Al Qudra

If you are going to visit a city that is surrounded by the famous Arabian desert, it only makes sense that you MUST make the time to visit the beautiful red and orange sanded deserts while you are in Dubai. Located only 30 or so minutes from the touristy Dubai Marina lies Al Qudra desert, which is a famous spot for off-roading/desert driving, bonfires, star gazing, and movies in the desert.

Al Qudra is exclusively secluded as you can still see the beautiful Dubai skyline from its outer skirts and it gets popular on the weekends. Either rent a car or find a friend in Dubai with a car to get to this desert. Al Qudra looks particularly beautiful during sunset time, so try and catch the changing colors over the desert sand before starting your bonfire and barbeque dinner.

Explore the souks

Because Dubai is such a new and modern city and does not have the history that other ancient Arab cities have such as Amman, Muscat, Cairo, and Marrakesh, the souks in Dubai can be quite different than from what you are expecting. There is the Gold and Spice souk, located in Old Dubai, which looks more traditional and similar to the souks in older Arabic cities.

However, there is also modern and expensive souks such as the Souk Al Bahar and the Souk Madinat Jumeirah which have more expensive and high end/quality products. The products in these souks usually have a set price and are not really meant to be bargained for like in the Gold and Spice Souk. Nethertheless, all three of these souks are very touristy and fun to wander around while you get a glimpse of some local products as well as your typical souvenirs.

Visit Atlantis

Atlantis is a beautiful and famous hotel that is a replica of the original one located in the Bahamas. They have multiple restaurants and facilities open to the public as well as a waterpark and aquarium.

It is completely free to walk around the hotel, see the big aquarium tank, and admire the structure of the hotel, even if you are not a guest. It is located on the very end of the Palm Jumeriah and is worth a visit, even if you do not want to eat at one of the restaurants, which are more overpriced than in other parts of the city.

Go inside Jumeriah Mosque

The Jumeriah Mosque is one of the only mosques open to non Muslims and tourists. I believe it is important and respectful to visit a famous religious sight in a country and can be very eye opening and interesting to see if you are from a Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Jewish country.

The mosque visiting hours are every day at 10am and at 2pm, except Fridays and ladies are required to bring their own headscarf and to dress modestly (cover your shoulders and legs/knees). There are free tours that do not require prior booking and refreshments will be provided after the tour.

So now that you know that you do NOT have to be a million to travel and enjoy Dubai, I hope you are more motivated and excited to visit a fantastic and vibrant city, even if you have a tight budget!

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