Free things to do · Dubai · United Arab Emirates
8 free things to do in Dubai
Dubai without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Phil6007, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Dubai without paying an entry fee: Dubai Fountain, Burj Al Arab, Dubai Mall and Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood are all free. Hotel bills add a nightly Tourism Dirham fee plus municipality and service charges; compare final totals when booking.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 8
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- June–August
Free sights and experiences
Landmark · Downtown Dubai
1.Dubai Fountain
Watch from the Souk Al Bahar bridge, or take a short boat ride on the lake for a closer view.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Kids
- Couples
Landmark · Umm Suqeim
2.Burj Al Arab
Photograph it at sunset from Sunset Beach, or from the canals of Madinat Jumeirah.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Experience · Downtown Dubai
3.Dubai Mall
Go on a weekday morning, and use the air-conditioned walkway from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Free
- Food
Historic site · Bur Dubai
4.Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood
Book a cultural meal or heritage walk with the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding to ask questions about Emirati life.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Market · Deira
5.Gold Souk and Spice Souk
Bargaining is expected in the spice and textile souks; at the Gold Souk you can negotiate the making charge, not the daily gold price.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Free
- History
- Food
Waterfront · Dubai Marina
6.Dubai Marina and JBR Walk
Walk the marina at dusk, then take a dhow dinner cruise or eat at one of the JBR beachfront restaurants.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Al Quoz
7.Alserkal Avenue
Visit on a weekday afternoon when most galleries are open, and have lunch at one of the avenue's cafés.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Beach · Umm Suqeim
8.Kite Beach
Swim only between the flags, and come early in the morning in the warmer months, before the sand heats up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | Dubai Fountain and Dubai Mall | 30 minutes + 2–4 hours |
| Umm Suqeim | Burj Al Arab and Kite Beach | 1 hour + Half a day |
| Bur Dubai | Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood | 1.5–2 hours |
| Deira | Gold Souk and Spice Souk | 1.5–2 hours |
| Dubai Marina | Dubai Marina and JBR Walk | 2–3 hours |
| Al Quoz | Alserkal Avenue | 2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Experience · Dubai Creek
Abra ride across Dubai Creek
Cross from the Bur Dubai abra station near the Textile Souk to Deira, then walk into the Spice and Gold souks.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Kids
Viewpoint · Zabeel Park
Dubai Frame
Go in the late afternoon to see both old and new Dubai in daylight and then lit up.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
Museum · Jumeirah
Etihad Museum
Save it for the heat of the afternoon, when indoor sights make most sense.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Garden · Al Barsha South
Dubai Miracle Garden
Visit in the late afternoon in November or December, when it is cooler and the displays are freshest.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
- Nature
Theme park · Dubailand
Global Village
Go on a weekday evening, eat your way around the pavilions and check the fireworks schedule.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- After dark
- Food
- Shopping
Museum · Bur Dubai
Al Shindagha Museum
Combine it with a walk along the Al Seef waterfront and an abra ride across the creek.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
More ways to save
- Hotel bills add a nightly Tourism Dirham fee plus municipality and service charges; compare final totals when booking.
- Use the Metro and tram rather than taxis for long trips along the coast.
- Free sights include the Dubai Fountain, the public beaches, the souks, Al Fahidi and the Alserkal Avenue galleries.
- Eat at cafeterias in Deira, Karama and Bur Dubai, where meals cost a fraction of hotel restaurant prices.
- Visit in late spring or early autumn for lower hotel rates without the worst of the summer heat.
- Book the Burj Khalifa for a non-sunset slot, which costs less.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Dubai expensive to visit?
Dubai is expensive for most visitors, but 8 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Dubai?
Dubai Fountain: Watch from the Souk Al Bahar bridge, or take a short boat ride on the lake for a closer view.