Places to Visit in Dubai for Free

One of the top free things to do in Dubai is the Dubai Fountain. It is the world's largest choreographed water fountain in the beautiful Burj Complex. This dancing fountain surges as high as 150 meters in complete synchronisation to classical, Arabic and other popular world musical numbers. The show begins in the evening every day, and you can watch the fountain show from the Dubai Mall complex, or sit in one of the restaurants with a fountain view.

Dubai offers a selection of free public beaches along its stunning coastline, providing travelers with access to the city's pristine shoreline without any entrance fees. From the popular Jumeirah Beach to the scenic Umm Suqeim Beach, these open-to-all waterfront destinations offer opportunities for relaxation, water sports, and breathtaking views of the city's iconic landmarks.

Located primarily in the historic districts of Deira and Bur Dubai, souks are renowned for their diverse goods, from glittering gold and precious gemstones in the Gold Souk to exotic spices, aromatic herbs, and fragrant incense in the Spice Souk. The Textile Souk dazzles with colorful fabrics, intricate embroideries, and traditional garments, while the Perfume Souk entices with various captivating scents and handcrafted perfumes. These souks are free to explore are a great cultural experience.

Nestled in the region popularly known as 'New Dubai', Dubai Marina is a conceptualized man-made canal city. It offers luxurious lifestyles through its exquisite waterfront development along the Persian Gulf shoreline. There are classy hotels and upscale shopping and other leisure options here. It also contains the Dubai Marina Mall Complex, a shopping and entertainment destination.

Exploring the malls in Dubai is a fantastic free activity. The Dubai Mall, one of the largest malls in the world, boasts an impressive indoor waterfall, the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, and the sprawling Dubai Fountain show, all accessible for free. Mall of the Emirates is home to the unique Ski Dubai. Ibn Battuta Mall, themed around the travels of the famous explorer, provides a cultural journey through its stunningly decorated courts representing different regions of the world.

Dubai Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the world and is housed in the largest mall, which is the Dubai Mall. It has a vast array of marine life and what’s more exciting than getting to view it just from the outside without paying for any combo ticket whatsoever. The aquarium timings are 10 AM - 12 AM. While making plans to visit the aquarium, one can also add a trip to downtown Dubai to their list. It is nearby and here stands the tallest building in the world Burj Khalifa.

One of the most instagram famous spots in Dubai is the The Wings of Mexico Statue located against the backdrop of the Burj Khalifa. A stunning photo-op, it is free to click a picture here. The Wings of Mexico Statue is located in The Burj Plaza.

The Walk at JBR near Dubai Marina is a beautiful avenue lined with swaying palms on either side, offering many shops and restaurants. It is nearly a mile long and has plazas and arcaded doorways. The Walk is host to multiple events and festival venues and is a must-visit after sunset.

Imagine is a laser, fountain and surround sound show held every evening at the Dubai Festival City Mall, which is free for all. It is one of the largest water projection screen and combines entertainment and dramatic effects. It is a Guinness World Record holding production for the largest permanent projection mapping in the world.

The historical neighborhood of Dubai, Al Fahidi is home to the 18th century Al Fahidi fort, coffee museum, House of Shiekh Saeed Al Maktoum, and Pearl Diving Exhibits of Dubai Museum. Regarded as a must-visit place in Dubai, this heritage site has preserved Old Dubai's culture in forts, mud houses, pictures, and experiences.

‘Love Lake’ is one of the most popular lakes in Dubai. It is a human-made lake in the form of two hearts interlinked together. It was made next to the cluster of lagoons in Al Qudra, around 50 kilometres away from Burj Khalifa. It gained tourist attention after an Instagram post by the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed. A popular spot for camping, birdwatching and fish spotting, it is free to visit.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library represents a fusion of cultures, civilizations, and education, serving as a unique cultural icon that reflects Dubai's rich heritage. Situated along the historic Dubai Creek and crafted as a traditional Islamic lectern, the library has nine levels spanning over 54000 sqm. One of the free places to visit in Dubai, it has dedicated sections for Maps and atlases, media and arts, special collections, business and periodicals, and a young adult.

Dubai’s Coffee Museum is a coffee lover’s paradise in the Al Fahidi Heritage Hub neighborhood in Bur Dubai. The eccentric museum brings coffee lovers and the coffee culture together under one roof for the love of the cup of brewed Joe (Coffee). The robust home of the Coffee Museum showcases the coffee bean journey from around the world and how it was discovered back in time. It is free to visit for all.

Nestled in the region popularly known as 'New Dubai', Dubai Marina is a conceptualized man-made canal city. It offers luxurious lifestyles through its exquisite waterfront development along the Persian Gulf shoreline. There are classy hotels and upscale shopping and other leisure options here. It also contains the Dubai Marina Mall Complex, a shopping and entertainment destination.

Alserkal Avenue is an arts and culture district in Al Quoz, Dubai. The Alserkal District accommodates several houses for local and global artists, art galleries, museums, performing platforms, design studios and exhibition halls. You can visit these for free, including modern art at Custot Gallery and North African works at Elmarsa Gallery.

With over 500 flamingos and several species of birds and fishes, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve. Perfect for tourists, environmentalists, photographers and botanists, it is a protected area and has a large number of migratory birds, fishes, crustaceans and mammals. It is free to visit and is a popular spot for birdwatching.

Ladies can now forget their wallets when they leave their place looking for a good time. Dubai’s night scene brings them exclusive offers to enjoy free food and beverages at any bar, restaurant or club. Earlier, Tuesday was the traditional day for the ladies night-out; however, now, different venues host it on different nights as well as during the day. The fun doesn’t end here; one can indulge themselves in a bit of grooming with offers on mini spa treatments, swimming pools and beaches all to themselves and their girl pals.

Jebel Maleihah in Sharjah is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Dubai. Popularly known as Fossil Rock due to the marine fossil deposits found in its slopes, one can enjoy dune bashing in the slippery sands of the desert, or one can take up their spades and go fossil hunting. Other activities that one can enjoy here are ATV riding, hiking, and camping, or one can just enjoy the picturesque rocky outcrops of the desert. Don’t forget to carry the picnic baskets.

What adds a cherry to the top of one’s Dubai vacation - watching a movie under the stars on a rooftop and that too for free. The Pyramids Rooftop Complex in the Wafi Mall in Old Dubai has got one covered. It’s a weekly event and takes place every Sunday. So sprawl out and relax on the beanbags that they lay out for every Sunday movie night. One can also carry their own pillows and blankets to cosy up their outdoor cinema experience.

South Asian wrestling, known as Pehlwani or Kushti, is a favorite sport among Indian ex-pats in Dubai. For the pehlwans or wrestlers, it is a way of life. Those who want to experience the excitement of a wrestling ring free of cost can head over to the Deira Fish market, where the competition takes place on a sandy patch just before sunset every Friday. The crowd sits in circular rows as the pehlwans strip down to the bare minimum in their colorful loincloths, and the goal is to tackle and pin one’s opponent to the ground on their back.