The city of Dubai is known for its opulence and for being a paradise for shoppers with deep pockets and unmaxable credit cards. It’s a place where one night in a hotel can set you back more than a month’s rent and where something as simple as a scoop of ice cream can leave you having to re-mortgage the house when you return from your travels.
However, not everything costs an arm and a leg in this burgeoning cruise port. There are plenty of things to do that won’t break the bank and even, as you will see below, some ways to pass the time without parting with a single dirham. So, if you find yourself stopping in Dubai on a Gulf cruise (which is very possible with it being a growing region for cruise lines to not only visit but base their ships semi-permanently), here are some excellent free things to do.
Scan For Gold
A massive percentage of the world’s gold passes through Dubai and so, even if you are not in the market for some new jewellery, there’s no harm in doing a bit of window shopping. The Gold Souk is located in the centre of the Deira district and is the perfect place to witness the true opulence of a city that has risen out of the desert sands at an alarming rate.
Another great way to learn about the local culture is to take a visit to the spice souk. You will experience a feast for the senses as the smell of saffron, turmeric, cloves and dried fruit is shoved under your nose by merchants who are eager for you to buy. It may be a little overwhelming but it’s such a vibrant and lively place to explore.
Discern Some Dromedaries
Whilst the Dubai Museum costs around 50p to visit (which is well worth doing), there are some other places in the Al Fahidi Historical District that are completely free. One of these is the interesting Camel Museum, educating visitors about the role these animals played in getting Dubai to where it is now and how certain camel by-products can even have medicinal value.
Other museums in this part of the city include the coin museum, which is home to many rare pieces of currency, and the horse museum, which offers information about horses in general as well as those specific to Arabia. Please note that opening hours for all of these are from 8am until 2pm.
Make Everyone Back Home Jealous
Normally when you travel you have to wait until you get back to your hotel room or find an independent coffee house in order to upload your holiday snaps, but in Dubai you can share your selfies whilst bathing in the glorious sun. A range of innovative Smart Palms have been installed around the city, offering free Wi-Fi, phone charging, weather reports and general information to anyone passing by.
The futuristic devices are solar-powered and also feature various lounging areas around their base. At the moment there are only a few installed in places like Zabeel Park and Kite Beach, but the company responsible for the idea hopes to have more than 100 up and running in time for the World Expo in 2020.
Bonus: Have An Aquaventure (on your birthday)
Dubai is well known for having some of the most thrilling attractions in the world (think Burj Khalifa and 4x4 sand dune safaris). And whilst a day out at the Aquadventure waterpark will usually set you back around £50, you can plunge down as many slides as you like in the week of your birthday for free. All you need to do is click here, fill in your details and then print off your voucher at home. The offer runs until February 2017 and also includes discounted admission to nearby Dolphin Bay or Sea Lion Point.
If you would like to visit the fantastic city of Dubai during your holiday, we have a great range of Middle East cruises available. Browse the itineraries on our website or call our helpful team today.
