Free & Pocket-Friendly things to do in Dubai

dubai-marina
When one thinks of Dubai, the first few things that come to our mind are glitter, glamour, and opulence. Dubai is dotted with super luxurious hotels, malls, and futuristic entertainment zones & museums. It’s difficult to fathom ‘free’ things to do in Dubai. But believe it or not, there are plenty of options to explore if you want to have a great time without burning a hole in your pocket during your trip to Dubai.

These range from the various interesting museums to ancient heritage villages, beaches, traditional boat rides, and grand mosques, amongst many. Here are some of the handpicked experiences that you can indulge in while in Dubai without shelling a lot of money:

Pocket-Friendly Things to do in Dubai

  1. See the splendour of The Dubai Fountain

    Things to in Dubai - Dubai Fountain
    Things to in Dubai – Dubai Fountain

Seeing 900 ft high-choreographed water fountains is a spectacular sight, especially when they dance to the tune of music. Visit the fountains at night to see the waters come alive with millions of colourful lights and the high-energyArabic and Western music.

The Dubai Fountain is located at the Dubai Mall.

  1. Visit the one-of-a-kind Coffee Museum

    dubai-coffee-museum
    Dubai Coffee Museum

This is the only museum dedicated to coffee in the entire Middle East. Enter the museum and you are surrounded by the intoxicating fragrance of coffee. Here you can not only see hundreds of coffees from around the world but also see the ancient brewing equipment’s like roasters and grinders, and coffee cutlery. Visit the museum library or the souvenir shop to pick up coffee jewellery! Have a great cup of Arabic coffee at the coffee shop located inside the museum.

The museum is located at the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, Bastakiya.

  1. Take a glittering heritage walk

    Dubai heritage walk
    Dubai heritage walk

The Middle East is known for its rich traditional artefacts and artworks. Visit the Antique Museum, which is more of a bazaar to see the beautiful Arab dresses, headgear, jewellery, utensils, attars, oils, etc. The narrow maze of alleys connecting the hundreds of shops lends this place a quaint and charming vibe. It is a great place to interact with the shop owners who are always more than happy sharing stories with tourists. The place also sells authentic Middle-Eastern snacks and drinks, which are a must-try.

The Antique Museum is located at Al Quoz Industrial Area.

  1. Visit the Dubai Spice Market

    Dubai Spice Market

Dubai is famous for its huge variety of fragrant spices and herbs. Head over to the Spice Market, or the Souk as it is popularly called, to see thousands of varieties of these spices and products made from them like soaps, natural perfumes, oils, etc. You are sure to love the heady fragrance of saffron, dried rose petals, vanilla pods, cinnamon sticks, dried lemons, etc. Here, you will also find hundreds of varieties of teas like hibiscus, rose, lavender, etc. The chocolate-covered dates and nuts should not be missed.

The market is located at Al Ras Deira.

  1. Take an Abra ride

    Abra ride
    Abra ride

Taking a leisurely cruise on the Dubai Creek in an old-fashioned Abra is a great way to soak in the Dubai environment, meet the locals, and admire the skyline and attractions.This is definitely one of the most interesting activities in Dubai.

The Abra rides cost only AED 1 and start from the creekside at Bur Dubai.

  1. Visit the world-famous Dubai coastline

    Kite Beach in Dubai
    Kite Beach in Dubai

Dubai is famous for its pristine beaches, which offer spectacular views of the Burj Al Arab, public areas, and beachside sports. Some of the beaches have cycling tracks and even free Wifi for the visitors. Take a pick from Kite Beach, Black Palace Beach, Umm Suqeim Beach or the JBR Open Beach.

  1. Visit the Hatta Heritage Village to take a step back in time

    Hatta Heritage Village
    Hatta Heritage Village

Located around 100 kilometres from the city, the Hatta Heritage Village is an original 16th-century Middle-eastern village restored to its old-world glory to let the visitors get a glimpse into the traditional and authentic Middle-Eastern way of living. See the small museum that displays Hatta tribes’ ammunitions, jewellery, utensils, etc.

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  1. Admire the famous Dubai opulence at JBR The Walk

    JBR The Walk
    JBR The Walk

This is one of the classiest and the awe-inspiring places in Dubai where you get a glimpse into the super-luxurious side of the place be it the top international brands, Michelin-starred restaurants, cafes, or the quaint designer shops. Take a walk along this kilometre-long pavilion located near Jumeirah Beach.

  1. Get to know the Arabic culture better

    Grand-Mosque-Dubai
    Grand Mosque in Dubai

Grand Mosque in Dubai is the most beautiful symbol and the epitome of the rich Middle-eastern cultural, religious, and architectural heritage. The mosque’s pristine white building gets lit up with the warm golden hues of the prayer space inside to lend it a tranquil and peaceful serenity. The mosque houses the tallest Minaret in the city.

The mosque is located at the Ali Bin Taleb Street near the Rules Court Office.

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  1. Marvel at the iconic Dubai skyline

    Dubai skyline
    Dubai skyline

Dubai is famous around the world for its majestic architectural landmarks and Dubai Canal Broadwalk gives a beautiful panoramic view of the entire Dubai skyline especially at the night when it is resplendent with lights. Take a stroll on this 3.2-kilometre-long broadwalk to see the sky-highiconic buildings like Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa, the beaches, The Dubai Fountains, malls, and the resplendent streets.
This broadwalk connect Jumeirah to Sheikh Zayed Road.

Dubai is much more than just glitz and dazzle. It has a rich and magnificent culture and heritage, which needs to be understood to enjoy. Visiting some of these places will do just that on your next Dubai travel. Without you having to spend to many of those Dirhams!

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Manuj has been associated with Dpauls for a very long time. He is a frequent traveller who loves to share his travel experiences and travel tips in order to make your trips memorable.

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