Amazing things to do in Dubai for FREE!
Explore the streets of Al-Seef
A perfect mix of old and new Dubai, Al Seef Dubai is one of the best free places to visit in Dubai. It is situated along the Dubai Creek area, which was revamped and brought to life by Meraas. At this trendy destination, you can enjoy views of the creek’s waters. Moreover, Al Seef is famous for hosting various festivals which feature some of the best free activities in Dubai, so keep an eye out for those if you plan to visit. Want to know more about this spot in the city?
You can easily travel to Al Seef by car or public transportation. For those travelling with their own vehicle, there is car parking available. For those relying on public transport, the closest metro station to Al Seef is Burjuman; from there it’s a 10-minute walk to the area.
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Location: Al Seef District at the Dubai Creek
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Al Seef Timing: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Sat-Wed); 10:00 am – 12:00 am (Thu-Fri)
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Contact: +971-800-637227
Visit The Flamingo's At Ras Al Khor
Next on our list of places to visit in Dubai for free is the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Home to a large number of bird species like flamingos, the sanctuary is an ideal way to witness flocks in their natural habitat without spending a dime.
Periodic feeding sessions allow visitors to see the birds up close. Also, you won’t have to worry about getting scorched by the sun, because the viewing areas are shaded and airconditioned, making it one of the best free indoor spots in Dubai.
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Location: Ras Al Khor Flamingo Hide Viewing Area
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Flamingo Hide Viewing Area Timings: 07:30 am – 05:30 pm (Sat-Thu); 02:00 pm – 05:30 pm (Fri)
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Contact: +971-4-606-6831
Have a BBQ at Al-Qudra lake
One of the most popular BBQ places in Dubai, Al Qudra Lake offers its visitors some of the best free things to do in the city.
This is also one of the most popular free things to do in Dubai during the Eid holidays and long breaks! If barbequing and camping is not something you enjoy, there are a lot more things to check out at Al Qudra.
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Location: Al Qudra
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Al Qudra Lake timings: Open 24 hours
Visit La Mer
Another great free pace to visit in Dubai is La Mer. Complete with quirky installations and colourful street art, La Mer is definitely one of the top selfie spots in Dubai. There is also the La Mer Beach which offers visitors a range of fun watersports activities for the whole family! And if the urge to splurge hits, you can always shop at the stores in La Mer.
Check out our review of La Mer to get to know all the details about the location and its attractions.
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La Mer Timings: Retail – 10:00 am – 10:00 pm (Sun-Wed) and 10:00 am – 11:00 pm (Thu-Sat)
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Contact: +971-800-637227
Catch a glimpse of Ain Dubai At Bluewater Island
Blue Water Island is another one of the popular places to visit in Dubai for free. It’s a recent addition to the list of Meraas destinations. The area is also home to The Caesars Palace which hosts one of the best celebrity chef-restaurants in Dubai and also Ain Dubai – the largest observation wheel in the UAE. Although Ain Dubai is not open yet, you can still see the marvellous structure towering over the island. If you are curious about this highly anticipated Ferris wheel in Dubai, check out the facts about Ain Dubai.
The best way to get to the island is by car as there is no direct metro or bus route that goes there. If public transportation is your only option, the closest metro station to Bluewaters Island is DMCC but you will need to hail a cab to get to the island.
Check out our review of Bluwaters Island for more insights on the luxury destination.
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Location: Bluewaters Island Dubai, just off the coast of JBR
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Bluewaters Island Timing: Open 24 hours
Watch the dancing Fountain
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This is probably the most popular of all the free things to do in Dubai. Just head on to The Dubai Mall and enjoy the spectacular show of the world’s largest choreographed fountain system the Dubai Fountain, that dance to the popular tunes of Whitney Houston and Celine Dion and many more. Additionally, there are also loads of things to do in Dubai Mall apart from shopping.
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Location: The Dubai Mall
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Dubai Mall fountain timings: Every half hour in the evenings, from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm.
Laser Water show At Dubai Festival City
If you’ve enjoyed the dancing fountains at The Dubai Mall, the IMAGINE show is another similar experience you can consider. The IMAGINE attraction at the Dubai Festival City Mall comes alive when the sun goes down, which makes the mall one of the best places to visit in Dubai at night for free.
One of the more popular attractions in Dubai Festival City Mall, the water and laser spectacle is a draw for visitors. It also has one of the largest water screen projections in the world, coupled with pyrotechnics, lasers, lights and dramatic effects.
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Location: The Dubai Mall
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DFC fountain timings: Every one hour in the evenings, from 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Waterfall At Dubai Water Canal
The Dubai Water Canal is amongst the best free places to visit in Dubai and a natural pick for free things to do in Dubai. The 6.4km artificial canal also features a 3km running track and a 12km cycling path, making it the perfect spot for fitness enthusiasts looking for free places to exercise in the emirate. Nevertheless, if working out is not your cup of tea, there are plenty of open spaces and benches along the waterfront of the Canal where you can kick back and relax. There is also a mechanical waterfall, that changes colours and acts as a curtain when boats pass through it.
You can get to the Dubai Canal either by car or by the metro. If you are travelling by car you can park at the ‘Dubai Water Canal Walkway Parking’ and walk to the canal. For those using public transportation, the closest metro station to the Dubai Canal Waterfall is the Business Bay Sea Side Metro stop; from there the Dubai Waterfall is a 5-minute walk away.
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Dubai Canal Waterfall Location: Sheikh Zayed Road
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Dubai Canal Timing: Open 24 hours