Tired of hearing the constant chirp of ‘I’m bored’? Here’s some good news.

You don’t have to resort to screen time to keep the young ones engaged. Neither do you have to spend tones of money.

The weather is sticking on cool and that means there are options for you to nip outdoors and picnic and play.

We’ve rounded up fantastic free things to do with the kids in Dubai. You just need to remember the comfy shoes and a giant tube of sun cream.

You might like: 7 free things to do with kids in Dubai

Get back to nature at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary

Introduce the kids to a new hobby, birdwatching, with a visit to the sanctuary. The area has salt flats, mangroves and lagoons that more than 60 species of birds call home. And right in the centre you’ll find flamingos, the pink birds that draw attention by simply being. Other birds to keep an eye on here are the migratory broad-billed sandpipers, eagles and kingfishers.

Free. Sun-Thu, 7.30am-5.30pm; Fri-Sat closed. Ras Al Khor Road, www.dm.gov.ae.

Go turtle spotting in Turtle Lagoon

Visit Jumeirah Al Naseem to see the turtles that are being rehabilitated. You can watch them swim around in a lagoon and once a week, there’s a feeding session that you can join in.

Free. Open daily. Jumeirah Al Naseem, Umm Suqeim. jumeirah.com.

Have a picnic at Al Barsha Pond Park

Nothing tastes as good as sarnies in the sunshine, so gather the gang, load up your picnic basket and head along to Al Barsha Pond Park to lay out your blanket. This is a popular spot with families and come winter you’ll find plenty of groups sharing snacks on the grass, kicking around a ball and generally having a wholesome time outdoors. There’s a huge lawn overlooking the pond – which is more lake-sized than pond-sized, really – so the set-up is gorgeous and it makes for a perfect spot for a picnic.
Al Barsha (800 900).

Head to The Block at Dubai Design District

For an outdoorsy day, head to the d3 Waterfront where you’ll find The Block, home to a skate park, basketball and volleyball court and climbing walls. There’s also outdoor seating so you can keep an eye on the kids as they play, explore and discover a cool new spot. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants around too, so once playtime is over, you can enjoy a nice meal here.

Free. Daily, 9am-10pm, dubaidesigndistrict.com.

Let off steam at an outdoor playground

There are heaps of playgrounds to have some free fun at in Dubai. From swings to slides, climbing frames and more, something so simple makes for hours of smiles for all the family. For somewhere less well-known but brilliant visit Town Square Park. There’s a decent-sized playground, a splash zone, a kids fountain and loads more to while away a few hours, so it’s an ideal free thing to do with kids in Dubai.
Al Qudra Road, nshama.ae/town-square-park.

Marvel at The Dubai Fountain

The world’s largest choreographed fountain is an impressive sight for eyes of any age, but little peepers will be totally wowed by the stunning dancing water show in Downtown Dubai.

The world-famous Dubai Fountain goes off every 30 minutes between 6pm and 11pm each day, so there’s plenty of chance to catch the incredible show, depending on bedtimes of your small people. Plus, it’s totally free to watch, too, just grab a spot outside The Dubai Mall and prepare to be wowed.
Show daily every 30 minutes from 6pm-11pm. Downtown Dubai, thedubaimall.com (04 567 2030).

Pitch camp in the Dubai desert

It’s time to go wild and head into the desert for a free camping trip. If you have a 4×4 you can go further out and explore the dunes, but if you want to keep things closer to home then make a trip to Al Qudra. Not only is the area beautiful and feels remote, you can visit the Love Lakes and take some family snaps while you’re there. It’s clean and well-maintained, and it’s not too far from the city.

Bring plenty of marshmallows for toasting, blankets for cosying up and campfire tales to keep everyone entertained. A real escape from daily life (just leave the screen time for when you get back).
Al Qudra.

Run around at Al Sufouh Park

This might be smaller than some of the other parks in Dubai, but it has two big selling points – it’s super family-friendly and it has free entry (unlike the Dhs3, Dhs5 fees of others). On a weekend morning join other happy families running around on the well-manicured lawns, flying kites and more. There’s also a jogging track, a full-sized basketball court and a playground.
Al Sufouh, near Hessa St.

Spend a day on the sand at The Beach

Pack up the bucket and spade and get ready for a day on the beach. There are few things more fun than splashing around in the sea and building sandcastles with your family. And happily there are loads of free beaches in Dubai at which to lay down your towel and unpack your cool bag. From Al Sufouh to Kite Beach and The Beach at JBR there are plenty of places to go for a dip for free. For everything you need to know about beaches in Dubai click here.
The Beach JBR, thebeach.ae; Kite Beach, Umm Suqeim, kitebeach.ae.

Stroll around Ripe Market

Ripe Market is back at Dubai Police HQ in Al Sufouh, so it’s time to make a family outing to this charming free outdoor market. Kids and over-60s enter for free, so it’s great for when the grandparents are in town, and it’s just Dhs5 for adults.

Wander through the park to find fresh organic produce, merchandise by talented local artisans, and a warm community spirit – all the hallmarks of a great farmer’s market. Granted if you end up buying something, as you inevitably will it’s not quite so free, but to get in and have a wander around costs you nothing.
Free for kids and over-60s. Dhs5 for adults. Open Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-7pm. Dubai Police HQ, Al Sufouh, ripeme.com/ripemarket (055 543 1282).

Visit a water park

That will cost a fortune! We hear you cry. Not if you visit on your birthday. Aquaventure offers free entry for the birthday boy or girl and there are loads of exhilarating rides to try and masses of fun to be had. It’s time to slide into another year for less. Happy birthday, indeed.
Aquaventure, Atlantis The Palm, Palm Jumeirah, aquaventurebirthday.ae (04 426 2000).

Zip down a slide at Burj Plaza by Emaar

This open terrace area has food outlets, cafés, grand views of Burj Khalifa and the ‘Downtown Slide’, a 19-metre tube you (or rather, the kids) can literally slide down. You can also book a lake ride (which costs Dhs68.25) to see the views of Dubai Fountain here. Burj Plaza, Downtown Dubai.

Looking for more things to do? Check out these

55 absolutely brilliant outdoor activities to try in Dubai
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13 brilliant things to do in Dubai after sunset
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