What you can do in your spare time in Dubai
I believe the UAE, and Dubai particularly, offers one of the best varieties of choices about how to spend your spare time. Considering that the city has plenty of expats from all over the world, it does not matter where you came from, you will be offered lots of things to do in Dubai in your free time. Whether you are looking for the fun pool party, crazy nightlife, skydiving, horse riding, shopping, an exclusive dining experience, extreme sports or concerts with super stars, there are plenty of things to do in Dubai. you will never be bored here, or forced to visit one place more than twice, and there’s something for everyone!
1. Nightlife
If you are a party person, like to socialize with people, enjoy cool tunes from the DJs and dance, among all the options of things to do in Dubai, you might want to stop right here. As we know, Dubai is a very vibrant and super dynamic city; there are so many bars and nightclubs located in the city. Nightclubs spread around different areas of Dubai, and anyone can find a suitable option for him or herself. The crowd varies, based on the level of the club. You may find some very high profile, the best clubs in the world where it’s possible to spot the celebrities sitting at the table next to you.
Other clubs are just for a casual night with your friends. But if you want to make your night iconic, Dubai is the right place to be. You need to bear in mind that bars/clubs here are open for a much shorter time, compared for example to Ukraine and Slavic countries. Don’t expect to stay and party in the club until 6 am or 7 am, at 3 am all the lights go on and you will be politely asked to leave the place. Like the most countries, entry is only allowed to people above 21 years old. Consequently, be sure always keep your ID with you to enter the club. Especially if you look little bit younger than your age :).
2. Beach clubs
That’s another popular way to spend spare time in Dubai. There are quite a few of them in Dubai and they are very popular (among expats and tourist), especially from October to April, when the weather is just amazing. Most of the Beach clubs charge an entry fee (as that’s what makes it different from the public beach) so you can use their great facilities, beautiful pools, private beachES, sunbeds, towels etc. Prices vary from AED100 to AED250, depending on the day and level of the Beach Club.
However, almost everywhere you will find Ladies Days (girls, take a note on this, this your first, among all the things to do in Dubai) when ladies can enter for free plus receive complimentary sunbeds, towels, sometimes drinks and food discounts. Some Beach Clubs ask for an entrance fee but give you a credit which can be used for food and drinks. You always have Barasti with free entry for everyone and very reasonable prices compared to the other Beach Clubs. Don’t try to bring your own food and drinks; security will check your bags carefully.
For me the Beach Clubs are a great way to relax by the pool and the sea, have fun with your friends, get a Dubai sun kiss and listen to great music from the DJ’s. All the extra comfort they offer, if you are ready to spend some money.
3. Public Beach
Among all the things to do in Dubai, this one is my favorite. There are plenty of public beaches in Dubai, but here are the 3 most popular public beaches in Dubai: JBR Beach, Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach Park. Each allows you to enter for free and you can enjoy clean seawater and environment. Be ready though, it might be overcrowded during the weekend (Friday and Saturday) but weekdays will be just perfect. If you are looking for options for a lunch or dinner after your sunbathing, go to JBR as this area is very well developed and A popular tourist spot, With cinemas and plenty of hotels, cafés and coffee shops around.
Kite beach is a great option as well. It has wifi and a couple of food trucks from time to time, Where you can have some snacks and bites. Jumeirah Beach Park is one of the biggest public beaches. It might be a great place not only for sunbathing but it’s also great for a picnic with family or friends, as they have mini parks with shade under the trees plus tables, chairs and beach seats.
If you are really into beaches and would like to explore more, you definitely should visit Mamzar Beach ParK (AED5 for entrance), Burj Beach (currently under construction, but hopefully will be soon), Umm Suqeim Park Beach (known as Sunset Beach), Mercato Beach, La Mer Beach, Secret Beach (though it’s not very secret any more). Plus if you like water activities, there are a large number of water sports available at the public beaches: Flyboarding, Fly Fishing, Kitesurfing etc. As you can see, Dubai offers a great variety of choices when it comes to the beaches.
4. Cafes and restaurants
To make a long story short, it’s enough to say there are around 10,000 establishments in Dubai. You can find almost every type of cuisine here, from the most luxurious and expensive to the very casual and affordable cafes, street food and food trucks. Do you love Italian pasta and pizza or maybe want to try spicy Indian food? If you are a sushi lover, you will never be disappointed in Dubai. Are you in the mood for sophisticated French culinary creations? Or probably well known Chinese dumplings?
Spanish, Thai, Mexican, Turkish, Greek, Lebanese, African, Swiss, the list goes on. In case you are a foodie and gourmet or just love trying new cuisine, do not miss the opportunity to try the variety of different food, Dubai offers. It’s a unique opportunity to touch almost every culture in the world by trying their national dishes. Most of the restaurants create a nice ambiance by playing national music and decorating the venue, which can transport you to this specific country. It’s might be worth mentioning that if you are a fan of the fast food chains, you will find plenty of them here as well, especially at the malls and tourist areas.
5. Malls
I’m sure this point is one the girl’s favourite things to do in Dubai. I believe you might have heard about the famous Dubai Mall – the biggest mall in the world. Mall of the Emirates with Ski Dubai and many others. The Malls here are massive and offer a huge variety of shops, entertainment, cinemas, restaurants, cafes. You can normally find areas, which separated by price level. With more expensive brands situated on the top levels.
Brands such as Chanel, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Hennessy, Cartier, Fendi, Rolex will stay apart from Zara, Aldo, Bershka, H&M, Mango, and Topshop. Some of the Malls host brand events. Where you can get a free makeup, skin consultation or watch a real fashion show. You easily can forget about the time, get lost in the Malls and spend an entire day in there. A little advice – once you see the nice item you are willing to buy, do it. Otherwise you might search for the certain shop a long time.
6. Tourist attractions
I bet for a few months after you move to Dubai, you will feel like a tourist. So if you wonder about how to spend your days off, you might want to visit a few tourist destinations. There are so many of them that after living here for a while you still might find places to visit. And things to do on your bucket list.
Starting from the famous Dubai fountains and Burj Khalifa to Miracle Garden and Burj Al Arab hotel. In your ‘absolutely must visit’ list should be Dubai Marina, Dubai Greek, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai Gold Souq, Dubai Desert Safari, Dubai Aquarium, Wild Wadi Water Park, Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Museum, Global Village. They are very different but all extremely attractive and impressive. And because of the huge number of attractions and a large number of tourists here, it’s very easy to feel like you are on vacation, on your day off.
7. Galleries, museums, exhibitions
Of course such a young country like UAE is not able to provide you with unique collections like The British Museum or The Louvre but you can visit The Louvre Abu Dhabi and embrace a great collection of art, visit The Dubai Museum and learn about the history of the country. When I first moved to Dubai I always felt a lack of art in the city. However, if you are really into art, you just need to search a little bit. Some great art exhibitions are showcased every season, they are temporary and will not last for more than a few weeks. The way they are presented might be different from what you normally can see in art galleries.
For example, at “Inside the Van Gogh Alive” exhibition, all the paintings were projected onto the walls, ceilings and floors. Accompanied by classical music and thoughts from Van Gogh’s personal diary. Plus all the visitors could rest on bean bags.
Also, the well known Alserkal Avenue as the region’s foremost arts hub, often offering great Middle Eastern art and plenty of other activities such as photography or painting courses.
8. Concerts, shows, opera, ballet
Dubai annually hosts concerts by the worlds stars. For example, last year Ed Sheeran and Jennifer Lopez performed, along with Cirque Du Soleil and other shows. La Perle by Dragon show had a massive success showcasing great live entertainment. It also introduced a new era of performance. Dubai Opera shows amazing ballet, theater, opera and musical shows. It hosts an amazing array of world-class talent. To be honest, tickets are quite expensive (around AED400 per person, depending on the show) but it’s worth a try.
9. Festivals (yoga festivals, food festivals)
You will find a lot of great festivals in Dubai. Most are packed into the high season, from November to March. The list can be quite extensive but I have to mention the Jazz festival for the music lovers. The Dubai Shopping Festival (one of the biggest events in Dubai) The Dubai Marathon for those who are into the sport, Art Dubai, The Dubai World Cup, Dubai Rugby Sevens, Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Tennis Championship and so on. It’s great chance to see new things, try new things and meet new people!
10. Sports activities
Skydiving, swimming, golf, climbing, kayaking, tennis, scuba diving, horse riding, paddle boarding, free diving, surfing, kite boarding, … The list can go on… Even considering that the weather and climate won’t be perfect for outdoor activities during the summer months. Dubai has many indoor facilities. Which can help you keep going with your favorite sport. The Government also encourages people to participate in Sport Activities.
Last year, for instance, it organized The Dubai Fitness Challenge. The idea of which was to encourage and challenge people to spend 30 minutes a day doing sporting activities, for 30 days. Many parks and gyms hosted free fitness events with multiple sports.
When I had just moved here, I mistakenly thought that there were not many options for things to do in Dubai. But I guess I just did not dig deep enough to discover all these fabulous options Dubai offers you. It’s more a matter of money. Some of the sporting activities and entertainment might be really expensive. It’s good to check Groupon and other websites which offer you discounts on some activities.