Attractions
Dubai is considered an expensive city, but you can build a full trip here without giving up experiences. There are attractions at relatively low prices, some short and some half-day, and you can combine them to see a lot without burning through a budget.
On the page you can sort by price and see what fits your budget. The current price appears on every ticket, and the ticket details explain what is included.
A round-trip ticket on the Middle East's first monorail, from Gateway station to Atlantis Aquaventure, with open views of the sea and the island.
A seasonal evening park with pavilions from dozens of countries, food and shows. Open from October to May.
An open zoo with an African village, an Asian village and a safari tour by bus. The eighth season runs from 12 October 2026.
More than 70 wax figures of stars, athletes and leaders, on Bluewaters Island opposite JBR. An indoor, air-conditioned outing for the whole family.
A dhow boat on the old Creek or in the Marina, dinner on the water, or a private yacht.
The largest natural flower garden in the world: 150 million flowers in a season.
A giant picture frame with a glass floor: old Dubai on one side, the new city on the other.
An indoor rollercoaster that launches you vertically upwards, more than 50 metres into the building, and holds a Guinness record as the rollercoaster with the fastest vertical launch in the world. A short, powerful experience inside an air-conditioned mall.
8,000 to 10,000 butterflies in air-conditioned domes, next to Miracle Garden. Open all year.
A dolphin and seal show in an air-conditioned hall in the heart of Dubai, and an exotic bird show you can see back to back on the same visit.
Eight air-conditioned venues for a hot day or an evening with friends: a trampoline park, a roller-skating rink, 3D mini golf, a smash room, life-size Pac-Man, dinosaurs in virtual reality, a cricket batting cage and a museum of illusions.
An hour-long journey into the world of the dinosaurs, on level 2 of Dubai Festival City Mall: a fossil store, a free-roam walk in virtual reality, life-size animatronic dinosaurs and a craft corner for children.
The lanes of Al Fahidi with their wind towers, the Al Seef promenade, and a crossing of the Creek in a wooden abra.
A floating boardwalk 272 metres long on the lake at the foot of Burj Khalifa, about 9 metres from the fountain jets. Or a ride in a wooden abra on the lake during the show. Two ways to see the fountain show up close.
A lounge whose interior, seating and sculptures are made of ice, at a temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius. You receive thermal coats, gloves and fur caps at the entrance. From age 4.
Around 250 Nile crocodiles in an African-styled park, with an underwater aquarium and a museum that tells the story of 200 million years of crocodiles. Next to Mushrif Park.
Nine colourful rooms of light, sound and touch, designed to release a little dopamine: a pillow fight, a corridor of lights and walls you are allowed to scribble on. An indoor experience for all ages at Oasis Mall.
A fantasy park of giant photo-ready structures plus a life-size animatronic dinosaur park, on one entry ticket, next to the Dubai Frame.
The famous passenger liner QE2 is permanently moored in Dubai and now serves as a floating hotel. On the heritage tour you go aboard and see the captain's cabin, an original passenger cabin and a vintage Rolls-Royce in the ship's garage.
A small city where children play at being grown-ups: pilots, doctors, firefighters and chefs. Indoor and air-conditioned.
Paddle the calm water of The Palm, in a kayak or on a SUP board, with Atlantis in front of you.
The city built on the Expo 2020 site: the Terra sustainability pavilion, the Al Wasl dome with the largest circular projection screen in the world and the Surreal fountain. The public space is open to everyone, and entry to Terra is ticketed.
The legendary aquarium at Atlantis has reopened as Lost World: 14 chambers with projections, more than 65,000 marine animals and a mermaid show in an open lagoon.
Old and new Dubai in one tour: the Creek, Al Fahidi, Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Al Arab and the Dubai Frame.
Skating on real ice on an Olympic-size rink, on the ground floor of The Dubai Mall. A 90-minute session, skate hire included.
A tour of a building shaped like a dhow: the main auditorium, the royal boxes, the hospitality areas, and on some tours the backstage areas too. The way to see the opera house without a ticket to a performance.
The only way to see the palm shape of the Palm without taking a helicopter: an observation deck on level 52 of The Palm Tower.
Twelve worlds of light, sound and projection at Wafi City: a glowing forest, a giant ball pool, an inverted waterfall and a mirror room with moons.
An open speedboat leaves the marina, passes JBR and Atlantis, and on the longer tour reaches Burj Al Arab. With photo stops.
18 holes of minigolf under ultraviolet light, with 3D glasses, in three rooms painted from floor to ceiling: under the sea, in Arabian landscapes and in space. An indoor, air-conditioned outing on the JBR promenade.
More than 15 colourful candy-themed rooms: a lollipop forest, a gummy bear pool and candy floss clouds. With tastings along the way.
Two ways to drive a kart in Dubai: the professional tracks of Dubai Kartdrome in Motor City, indoors and outdoors, or Chaos Karts in Al Quoz, where the track is projected onto the floor and the race looks like a video game.
Two lounge options in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport: Plaza Premium Lounge in Concourse A for two hours, with no shower, or Ahlan Lounge above Gate C13 for 3 hours.
A tropical rainforest inside a glass dome in City Walk, with a giant tree, tropical plants and animals.
Twenty-five interactive worlds inside The Dubai Mall: mirror rooms, giant projections, shows that appear without warning and hidden rooms. A colourful, air-conditioned outing for friends, couples and families.
Entry to a day of pool, private beach and a sunbed on Palm Jumeirah: RIVA Beach Club, which suits families, Fluid Beach Club at the Th8 Palm hotel, and the pools and beach at Fairmont The Palm.
A day pass to the pools and the private beach of the Fairmont The Palm hotel: a sunbed with towels, changing rooms, a sauna and a steam room, or a cabana on the beach with a food and drink credit.
An hour of riding a quad bike over the red dunes, alone or in a pair, with a guide leading the way.
An open-top double-decker bus that runs between Dubai's main sites: the souks and the Creek, the Dubai Frame, Burj Khalifa, Burj Al Arab and Atlantis. Get on and off as often as you like while the ticket is valid.
A play museum for children where everything is meant to be touched: colourful climbing nets, a water gallery, glowing balls and interactive projections. One adult enters with each child at no extra cost.
An observation deck is a good way to get the big picture of the city. Dubai Frame is a giant picture frame with a glass floor, showing old Dubai on one side and the new on the other. The View at The Palm, on floor 52 of the Palm Tower, gives a view of the shape of the palm. A Dubai night tour, with a lit skyline and photo stops, is a convenient way to see the city in the evening.
The historic part of the city is interesting and suits a small budget. The alleys of Al Fahidi, the Al Seef promenade and crossing the Creek on a wooden abra boat come together in one visit with the Old Dubai and Abra Creek Cruise ticket. A Dubai city tour connects the Creek, Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Al Arab and Dubai Frame. On the Hop-On Hop-Off bus you get on and off between the main sites as long as the ticket is valid.
Among the attractions that suit a small budget: the Museum of Candy with tastings along the way, The Green Planet with its rainforest inside a glass dome, Madame Tussauds and the Dubai Crocodile Park. There are also indoor experiences such as House of Hype and AYA Universe, which suit a hot day.
A few simple rules help. Combine attractions in the same area so as not to waste time and travel. Leave the outdoor experiences for the comfortable hours, and fill the midday with indoor experiences. The fountain show in Downtown can be watched from the promenade without a ticket. The details of what is included and the cancellation terms appear on every ticket, and it is worth reading them before booking.
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