When people ask me where to go in Dubai at the weekend without a mall or a ticket costing hundreds of dirhams, my answer is almost always the same: a park. The city has more than 220 public parks, and in the good season residents spend whole days in them, barbecuing, cycling, playing with the kids and watching the sunset.
Dubai’s parks are very different from one another. One is made for a picnic with a skyline view, another for the beach, a third for cycling under trees. Below are ten parks worth knowing, and what each one is good for.
In short
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many parks | More than 220, five of them large paid parks |
| Entry | 3–5 AED in the big parks; neighbourhood parks are free (prices as of October 2026) |
| Tickets | At the gate with a Nol card, or online at dubaipublicparks.ae |
| Hours | Usually 8:00–22:00 on weekdays, until 23:00 at weekends |
| Barbecue | Only in designated areas; 500 AED fine |
| Best season | October to April |
| What to bring | Water, a blanket, a hat, food and charcoal for the barbecue, mosquito spray for the evening |
The parks compared
| Park | Best for | Entry | Kids | BBQ | Cycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zabeel | Central picnic, Dubai Frame | 5 AED | Yes | Yes | Running tracks |
| Safa | Lawns, lakes, Downtown view | Usually 3 AED | Yes | Yes | Running tracks |
| Creek Park | Creekside gardens, mini golf, go-karts | 5 AED | Yes, lots to do | Yes | Some areas |
| Al Mamzar | Beaches and pools | 5 AED, car 30 AED | Yes | Yes, 30+ spots | Running tracks |
| Mushrif | Woodland, bike trails, hiking trail | 3 AED, car 10 AED | Yes, kids track | Yes | 50 km of trails |
| Quranic Park | Garden of plants from the Quran | Free, pavilions 5 AED | Yes | No | No |
| Al Barsha Pond | A run around the pond | Free | Playgrounds | No | Separate track |
| Al Ittihad | A run on the Palm | Free | Yes | No | No |
| Dubai Hills Park | Playgrounds and sport | Free, some zones paid | Yes | No | Running tracks |
| Kite Beach | Beach and promenade | Free | Yes | No | Promenade |
The big Municipality parks
These are the city’s five main parks: Zabeel, Mushrif, Safa, Al Mamzar and Creek Park. Together they welcomed 3.7 million visitors in the first half of 2025. Entry is paid but nominal, and inside there is everything for a full day: lawns, shade, toilets, cafes, playgrounds and barbecue areas.
Zabeel Park
Zabeel Park is one of the largest parks in Dubai, close to the centre and to stations on the Red Line of the metro. It is home to the Dubai Frame, so a walk in the park combines easily with a trip up to the viewing deck. There are playgrounds, cricket pitches, a skate area, running tracks under the palms and barbecue zones.
It suits you if you’re staying in the centre and want a picnic without a long drive.
Safa Park
Safa Park is an old park between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Wasl, with the Dubai Water Canal running through it. It has wide lawns, lakes, tennis and basketball courts and running tracks. Fixed barbecue grills sit along the edges of the park, and the Downtown skyline is right there in view.
Entry is usually 3 AED, but some sources give 5, so check the parks site before you go.
Safa Park from above: big lawns and lakes almost in the middle of the city. Photo: giggel, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Creek Park
Creek Park stretches along Dubai Creek in Umm Hurair. It’s one of the best parks for children: botanical gardens, mini golf, go-karts, playgrounds and free barbecue grills. The children’s museum Children’s City is also inside the park. The nearest metro station is Dubai Healthcare City on the Green Line.
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park is a park and a beach in one, in the north of Dubai by the Sharjah border. Inside there are several beaches with calm water, swimming pools, running tracks, playgrounds and more than 30 barbecue spots. You can rent beach chalets; ask the park for prices. Entry is 5 AED per person, or 30 AED per car.
It’s a good choice if you want a beach without the noise of the tourist areas.
A beach in Al Mamzar Park: calm water and shade under the palms. Photo: Fabio Achilli, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Mushrif National Park
Mushrif National Park is Dubai’s most wooded park, in the east of the city: ghaf trees, 50 km of bike trails at Mushrif Hub, a kids’ bike track, a 9.7 km hiking trail and barbecue areas. Entry is 3 AED per person or 10 AED per car. I cover the trails, the barbecue spots and a plan for the day in my guide to Mushrif Park.
Free parks
Quranic Park
Quranic Park in Al Khawaneej is a garden of plants mentioned in the Quran. The park itself is free, while the Cave of Miracles and the Glass House cost 5 AED each. It pairs well with dinner at the food trucks nearby: here is my evening plan for Al Khawaneej.
Al Barsha Pond Park
Al Barsha Pond Park is a neighbourhood park around a pond in Al Barsha 2. A soft, marked running track of about 1.5 km circles the water, with a separate cycling track next to it, playgrounds and shaded benches. Entry is free. It’s a good spot for a morning run if you’re staying near Mall of the Emirates.
Al Ittihad Park on the Palm
Al Ittihad Park runs along the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, under the monorail line. It’s mainly a running track of about 3.2 km among native plants and palms. Entry is free. The park works for a run or an evening walk if you’re staying on the Palm.
Dubai Hills Park
Dubai Hills Park is in the Dubai Hills district. The park itself is free: lawns, playgrounds, running tracks and a dog park. The skate park, the splash pad and a few other zones are paid, so check prices before you go.
Kite Beach
Kite Beach isn’t a park but a public beach with a promenade in Umm Suqeim. Entry is free, with cafes and a running track along the beach. You can’t grill here: barbecues are banned on public beaches unless there is a specially marked area.
Tickets and entry
- Where to buy. Tickets for the big parks can be bought in advance on the Dubai public parks site, dubaipublicparks.ae, or at the gate.
- How to pay on the spot. At the gate you usually pay with a Nol card. If you don’t have one, you can buy it there.
- Who enters free. Children under two and people of determination. Some sources suggest the free age can differ between parks, so check at the gate.
- By car. At Mushrif and Al Mamzar you can pay per car instead of per person.
Barbecue in the parks: the rules
- Grill only in the designated areas. Zabeel, Safa, Creek Park, Mushrif and Al Mamzar have them. A grill outside those areas means a 500 AED fine.
- No barbecues on public beaches unless there is a specially marked area.
- Put the coals out with water and throw them away only once fully cold, in a separate bag.
- Take your rubbish with you or use the bins. Littering in parks is fined, and in Dubai the fine can reach 1,000 AED.
- Arrive early. At weekends the good spots by the barbecue areas are taken in the morning.
When to go
- October to April is the best season. Warm in the day, cool in the evening, and from December to February you may want a sweater after dark.
- May to September is too hot in the daytime even in the shade. In summer people go at sunrise or after sunset.
- Weekday mornings are almost empty. Weekends are for family picnics: car parks and barbecue areas fill up by noon.
- Ramadan and holidays. The Municipality changes park hours, and sometimes parks stay open later than usual. Check the schedule before you go.
Which park to choose
- A picnic with a skyline view: Safa or Zabeel.
- A full day with small children: Creek Park or Zabeel. More ideas in my guide to Dubai with kids.
- Beach and barbecue in one place: Al Mamzar.
- Cycling in the shade: Mushrif.
- A run: Al Barsha Pond or Al Ittihad on the Palm.
- Nature outside the city: then it’s not a park any more but the Al Qudra Lakes in the desert.
Common mistakes
- Going to a park at midday in summer. Even the shade is hot, and playgrounds in the sun get very hot.
- Grilling on any patch of grass. Only in the barbecue zones, or you’ll be fined.
- Not checking holiday hours. Eid, Ramadan and New Year have different schedules.
- Arriving at a big park at lunchtime on a weekend. The car park may be full and the barbecue spots taken.
- Confusing a park with a beach. On Kite Beach and other public beaches, barbecues aren’t allowed.
More weekend ideas: Mushrif Park · Best walks in Dubai · Cycling in Dubai · Splash parks for kids · Beach clubs · Padel in Dubai · Tennis courts · Al Qudra Lakes.
Parks are the side of Dubai that visitors often skip. If you’d like to see both the city and the way the people who live here spend their time off, message me on WhatsApp and I’ll put together a route for your dates and interests.
Practical answers
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter parks in Dubai?
The big Municipality parks cost 3–5 AED per person: Safa and Mushrif 3 AED, Zabeel, Creek Park and Al Mamzar 5 AED. Neighbourhood parks, the Quranic Park, Al Barsha Pond Park and Al Ittihad Park on the Palm are free. Children under two and people of determination enter the paid parks free.
Where can you barbecue in a Dubai park?
Only in the designated areas of the big parks: Zabeel, Creek Park, Safa, Mushrif and Al Mamzar all have barbecue spots. A grill outside those areas can cost you a 500 AED fine. Public beaches are off limits for barbecues unless there is a specially marked area.
Which Dubai park is best for kids?
For a full day with children, Creek Park and Zabeel are the easiest: lots of playgrounds, and Creek Park adds mini golf and go-karts. If your child rides a bike, go to Mushrif for the Young Rangers kids track. For a beach day with kids, Al Mamzar is a good choice.
How do I buy a ticket for a Dubai park?
Online in advance on the Dubai public parks site, dubaipublicparks.ae, or at the gate. At the gate you usually pay with a Nol card, which you can also buy there.
What time do Dubai parks open?
The big parks usually open 8:00–22:00 on weekdays and until 23:00 at weekends. The Municipality changes the hours for Ramadan, Eid and New Year, so check before you go.
When is the best time to visit parks in Dubai?
October to April, in the morning or a couple of hours before sunset. From May to September it is too hot in the daytime even in the shade, so in summer people come early in the morning or late in the evening.
