Free Things to Do in the UAE in December 2026

December is the month the UAE moves outdoors. The air cools down, the sea is still warm, and the calendar fills with National Day and the start of the winter season. You do not need to spend much to enjoy it, so this list is all about things you can do for free.

We picked places and events that are free to enter in December 2026, checked each one against official pages and recent local reports, and noted clearly what costs money, such as parking, rides or food. Where 2026 details were not announced yet, we say so.

1. Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day)

On 2 December the UAE marks the day the emirates came together in 1971, and 2026 is the 55th anniversary. Every year the country turns out in flags and red, green, white and black, with parades, family events and fireworks in public spaces. The 2026 firework venues and times had not been announced when we checked, so look at your emirate’s official channels in the last week of November.

• Where: Across the emirates; 2026 venues not announced yet
• When: 2 December 2026; the public holiday break is 2 to 3 December
• Price: Free to join public celebrations and watch from public spaces; some venues sell tickets for their own shows
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: UAE Government portal

2. The Dubai Fountain

Water jets rise up to 140 metres from Burj Lake to music, right below Burj Khalifa. December evenings are cool enough to stand by the lake and catch two or three shows in a row. Watching from the promenade costs nothing, so this is the easiest free evening in Dubai.

• Where: Burj Lake, Downtown Dubai
• Opening hours: Shows every 30 minutes from 6pm
• Price: Free from the promenade. The boardwalk (from AED 25) and lake rides (from AED 73) are paid. Mall parking may be charged
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Dubai, The Dubai Fountain

3. Kite Beach

A wide public beach in Jumeirah with running tracks along the sand and a clear view of the Burj Al Arab. In December the sun is gentle and the sea is pleasant for a swim, so it works for a whole morning with the kids. Bring a picnic and it stays free.

• Where: Kite Beach, Jumeirah / Umm Suqeim, Dubai
• Opening hours: Open daily
• Price: No entry fee. Watersports, cafes and food trucks are paid, and nearby parking is paid RTA parking
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Dubai, Kite Beach

4. Ripe Market at Academy Park

Dubai’s weekend farmers’ market is back for its 15th season in a big green park on Sheikh Zayed Road. You get local produce, stalls from UAE makers, live music and free wellness sessions such as yoga and Pilates. Wandering around costs nothing, but you will want a little cash for coffee and snacks.

• Where: Dubai Police Academy Park, Umm Suqeim
• When: Every Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 9pm (season runs 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027)
• Price: Entry was free last season and no entry fee is listed for this one. Food, shopping and any paid kids’ activities cost extra
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: The Ripe Market

5. Alserkal Avenue

Converted warehouses in Al Quoz full of contemporary galleries, design studios and small cafes. You can walk in and out of the galleries without a ticket, which makes it a good plan for a December afternoon. Each gallery keeps its own hours, so check the ones you want to see.

• Where: Al Quoz 1, Dubai (entrances on 17th Street, 6A Street and First Al Khail Street)
• Opening hours: The Avenue is open daily, 10am to 7pm; galleries set their own hours
• Price: Free to visit the galleries. Cafes and some events are paid, and parking is paid RTA parking (zone 364C)
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Alserkal Avenue

6. Al Qudra Lakes

Man-made lakes in the Al Marmoom desert where you can spot flamingos and other birds, and sometimes oryx and foxes. October to March is the season for it, and December sunsets over the dunes are the reason people drive out. Bring your own food, take your rubbish home and use a grill rather than lighting a fire on the sand.

• Where: Al Qudra Road (D63), about 30 to 45 minutes from central Dubai
• Opening hours: No set hours; the area and cycling track are open 24 hours
• Price: Free. Bike rental and food at Last Exit are paid. A 4×4 helps if you go deep; a normal car manages the entrance and cycling area
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Dubai, Al Qudra Lakes

7. Heart of Sharjah

Sharjah’s restored old quarter near the Corniche, with coral stone houses, narrow lanes and the covered Souq Al Shanasiyah. It is a calm place to walk on a cool December evening, and you can look around without spending a dirham. Al Hisn Fort is a short walk away.

• Where: Corniche Street, Al Mareija, Sharjah
• Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
• Price: Free to walk the lanes and the souq. The guided heritage tour needs booking, and museum entry is not covered here, so check prices before you go
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Heart of Sharjah

8. Abu Dhabi Corniche (Al Sahil free beach)

The long seafront promenade is free all the way, and Al Sahil at Gate 4 is the free section of this Blue Flag beach. A December sunset walk or bike ride here is hard to beat. From 9 December the MOTN festival sets up on the Corniche until 3 January, so expect busier evenings.

• Where: Corniche Beach, Gate 4 (Al Sahil), Abu Dhabi
• Opening hours: Open daily
• Price: Al Sahil and the promenade are free. Other beach sections cost AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children. MOTN festival ticket prices had not been announced
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Abu Dhabi, Corniche Beach

9. Al Ain Oasis

The UAE’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 2011, is a huge palm grove still watered by the old falaj channels. Shaded paths keep it pleasant even at midday, and the Eco-Centre explains how the oasis works with games kids enjoy. It is an easy free outing if you are in Al Ain.

• Where: Central Al Ain; main entrance at the West Gate
• Opening hours: Daily, 8am to 5pm
• Price: Free entry. Bike and pedal cart rentals at the West Gate are paid
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Oasis

10. Jebel Jais Viewing Deck Park

At about 1,250 metres up the UAE’s highest mountain, this park has seven viewing decks and 12 sets of binoculars looking over the Hajar valleys. December is one of the few times you will want a jacket in the UAE. The drive up and the decks are free; plan the trip in daylight.

• Where: Jebel Jais, Ras Al Khaimah
• Opening hours: Open daily
• Price: Free to drive up and use the viewing decks. The zipline, sledder and restaurants are paid
• Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.

Official site: Visit Jebel Jais

Most of these are outdoors, so go early or around sunset, carry water and a light layer for the evening, and check the official page the day before in case anything changes.