UAE Resident Offers: Free Tickets, Deals & Things To Do Across the UAE (Updated October 2026)

There's a lot happening in the world right now, and I know many of us are feeling it deeply. My heart goes out to everyone affected. I hope you and your loved ones are safe, and I'm sending all the love and light I can from here. I put this together as a small reminder that good things are still happening around us, and good people are still showing up for this community. None of it is going anywhere. Whenever you're ready, it'll be here.

This is a regularly updated guide to UAE resident offers, free entry, and discounts across the UAE, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah, covering attractions, dining, beach clubs, arts and culture, wellness, and more. Prices, dates, and availability change, so always confirm before heading out.

Last updated: October 2026.

A quick note: Always check directly with the venue, their website, or their socials before heading out, as offers and availability may change.

Tours & Experiences

Wander With Nada: Old Dubai Walking Tours

If there's one thing I'd ask you to do with your time off, it's this. Four immersive hours through the oldest, most storied parts of this city, and every single stop earns its place.

We begin at Al Shindagha, where I'll bring to life how Dubai was actually built: the ancient trade routes, the pearl diving economy, the way families lived in wind-tower houses, and the rich cultural codes that still quietly shape life here today. Then we glide across the magnificent Dubai Creek on traditional abra boats, with sweeping views of the old town skyline that most people never slow down enough to take in. On the other side, we're deep in the Spice Souk, sampling our way through centuries of flavour and learning which saffron is worth every fils and which is dyed fluff in a fancy bag. From there, the dazzling Gold Souk, where you'll walk away knowing exactly how gold is bought, sold, and valued in one of the world's great trading cities. We end at the Coffee Museum, where Emirati coffee culture comes alive over a cup, and then sit down together for a deeply traditional Emirati meal. Dishes steeped in history, eaten communally, and never rushed.

Max 12 people. No scripts, no flags, no one herding you past the good parts. Just the real, living story of this city, told by someone who has called it home for over 30 years.

Book your Old Dubai tour here

Wander With Nada: Dubai Parents’ Day Out Tour

For the resident whose parents just landed and whose calendar did not get the memo. You have done the tourist circuit. They have not. I take them for the day, 10am to 6pm: the Spice and Gold Souks, an abra across the Creek, a family-run perfume atelier, Jumeirah Mosque, a private cruise in Dubai Marina and Souk Madinat Jumeirah. You meet them at the last stop in time for dinner (that part is on you).

See the Parents’ Day Out Tour

Attractions & Outdoors

Museum of Candy Dubai: Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Weekdays

The Spooky Season special is on, and it is a weekday thing. Saturdays and Sundays are back to full price, so this is a school-night sugar rush. Three ways in, Monday to Friday:

• Buy 1 Get 1 Free: AED 119 for two people, any mix of adults and children.
• 20% off single tickets: AED 95.20 for adults (10+) and AED 79.20 for children (3 to 9), down from AED 119 and AED 99.
• Family Bundle: AED 90 per person for 4 or more tickets, maximum 2 adults. This one runs on weekends too.

Do the maths before you reach for the bundle. On a weekday, two Buy 1 Get 1 tickets get four of you in for AED 238. The Family Bundle for the same four is AED 360. No end date is published, but it is billed as a Spooky Season special, so I would not leave it to November. Under 3s go free, and People of Determination get free tickets on site. Book through themuseumofcandy.com.

Emaar: At the Top + Dubai Aquarium Package, from AED 329

Burj Khalifa's At the Top (levels 124 and 125) combined with the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, on the same day. From AED 329 for adults and AED 279 for children. Both at Dubai Mall, flexible duration. Emaar also has a number of other packages and offers on their website worth checking. Browse all offers here.

Kapitol, Rixos Premium Dubai JBR: 50% Off Games, 4pm to 7pm Daily

The new games venue on JBR has projection-mapped bowling across 10 lanes, Puttify mini golf, MLB-style batting cages, axe throwing, darts, shuffleboard, racing simulators and a karaoke room. Every day from 4pm to 7pm, the games are half price. Kapitol opens at 4pm and runs until 1am, with last game bookings at 11:30pm.

One thing that catches people out: it is strictly 21 and over. Book the friends, not the family. Details at rixos.com.

Sky Views Observatory + Free Glass Slide: AED 89

General admission is AED 89 for adults aged 8 and over, AED 69 for children aged 3 to 8, and the Glass Slide is now bundled in rather than charged on top. That covers the observatory, the 46-metre glass walk, and one ride down the slide that wraps around the outside of the tower between levels 53 and 52. One slide per ticket, so decide who in the group actually wants it. Book at skyviewsdubai.com.

House of Hype, Dubai Mall: Tickets from AED 149

Twenty-five immersive worlds, live shows, and non-stop surprises at Dubai Mall. Three ticket options: General Admission at AED 149 per person (one ticket, unlimited access), the Family Pass at AED 449 for four (works out to AED 112 per person, better value for groups), or the Discover Pass at AED 225, which bundles House of Hype with AYA Universe for two full experiences on one ticket. Until 1 November it is also wearing its Halloween costume: The Twilight Spectacle, with trick or treating, live shows and a dress-up prize, on the same AED 149 ticket. Book at house-of-hype.com.

Global Village Season 31: Now Open, from AED 25

Global Village opened its 31st season on 14 October and runs until May 2027, daily from 4pm to 1am. A weekday ticket is AED 25 (public holidays excluded), and an Any Day ticket is AED 30, VAT included. Under 3s, People of Determination and seniors aged 65 and over get in free. Go on a weekday, early, before the food queues reach their full ambition. Tickets at globalvillage.ae.

Dubai Miracle Garden Season 15: Resident Rates with Your Emirates ID

The garden reopened on 8 October and stays open until 31 May 2027, daily from 9am to 9pm and until 11pm at weekends. Residents pay AED 70 plus VAT, and resident children up to 12 pay AED 50 plus VAT, against AED 100 and AED 80 for everyone else. Bring your Emirates ID, and if your birthday falls during a visit, entry is free on the day. Details at dubaimiraclegarden.com.

Dubai Safari Park Season 8: Park Pass from AED 50 Online

Back for the cooler months, daily from 9am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm. The online saver Park Pass starts at AED 50, and the Safari Bundle is AED 117. Under 3s and People of Determination go free. Go in the morning, when the animals are still interested in being seen. Book at dubaisafari.ae.

Dubai Fitness Challenge: 31 October to 29 November, Free

The 10th edition starts on 31 October, and the big community events are free once you register: Dubai Ride on 1 November, stand-up paddle at Hatta Dam on 7 and 8 November, Dubai Run on 22 November and Dubai Yoga on 29 November. Sheikh Zayed Road closed to cars and full of people on foot is a sight worth getting up early for. Register at dubaifitnesschallenge.com.

Beach, Pool & Staycations

Yas Island: Kids Go Free (Stay, Play and Dine)

Book a family stay on Yas Island and the kids come along for free. One child aged 11 or under stays, plays, and dines free for every paying adult, so two grown-ups can bring two little ones. That is a free place in your room, free meals on the same hotel plan as you, and free theme park access (which parks depends on the hotel, so check before you book). Minimum one night. Good news for anyone who missed it over the summer: it has been extended, with bookings and stays now running until 20 December. Book at Yas Island.

Aura Skypool: Currently Closed for Renovation (Reopening November)

Aura Skypool is closed for the summer. It will reopen on 24 November, renewed and reimagined. Worth bookmarking for when it's back.

Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort: Pool and Beach Day Pass, Fully Redeemable on F&B

AED 250 per person for pool and beach access, and you get the full amount back in food and beverage vouchers. So yes, entry is essentially free if you're eating. AED 100 for kids aged 6 to 12, and under 6 go free. Call +971 4 399 5555 to reserve.

Kaimana Beach Dubai: Free Sunbeds All Day, Monday to Friday

The Sunbed Society at Kaimana Beach is offering free sunbeds all day, every weekday. Just show up and claim your spot by the sea.

Arte Museum Dubai: 50% Off All Tickets (5 New Worlds)

A multi-sensory immersive art experience in Dubai, where large-scale digital artworks inspired by nature fill the space with light, sound, and custom-crafted scents. Five new worlds have just opened, and to mark it Arte has put every ticket at 50% off, adult and child, while it lasts. No codes, no conditions beyond the usual exclusions.

• Adult: AED 74.50 (regular price AED 149)
• Child: AED 39.50 (regular price AED 79)

The discount applies automatically online and at the venue. Excludes Senior, Family Bundle, and Student Group rates; cannot be combined with other offers. Visit dubai.artemuseum.com to book.

Also worth knowing: a 20 AED upgrade gets you into the Arte Tea Bar after your visit, with a full-sized latte or ice cream and access to the Dubai-themed interactive digital art table.

Free DIY Workshops at the Coins Museum in Al Fahidi

Hands-on workshops at the Coins Museum in Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood: pouch-making on Saturdays, coin-making on Wednesdays, and coins adornment making on Thursdays. In about 20 to 30 minutes you put together your own jute pouch using leather, rope and stamps inspired by the traditional carvings around the neighbourhood. Simple enough for kids, satisfying enough for adults, and a good excuse to get everyone's hands off their screens for a bit.

• Where: Coins Museum, Al Fahidi
• When: Pouch-making Saturdays, coin-making Wednesdays, coins adornment making on Thursdays, 8am to 5pm
• How long: 20 to 30 minutes, capped at 15 people
• Cost: Free

Al Shindagha Museum: Hands-On Heritage Through October and November

Al Shindagha is where my Old Dubai tour begins, and its autumn programme is a good reason to go back on your own. The short version:

• Emirati coffee and fwalah: daily, 10am to 7pm at the Visitor Centre. The etiquette of serving gahwa, with a taste of betheetha (a date and flour sweet).
• Traditional dress-up: daily, 10am to 7pm, in the Beauty and Adornment pavilion.
• Dukhoon workshop: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2pm and 4pm. Blend your own incense, decorate a medkhan (burner), then on to the Perfume House. 60 minutes.
• Betheetha cooking class: Sundays at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm, six people per session, so book early.
• Palm karb decorating: Saturdays and Sundays, 4pm to 7pm. Turning the base of the palm frond into a serving plate.
• Family trails and guided tours: puzzle workbooks for kids daily, 11am to 6pm, and guided tours at 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.

The programme does not list prices, so check what is included with your museum ticket when you book. Full October and November programme (PDF).

Movie Under the Stars: Open-Air Film Nights Across Dubai (11 September to 6 December)

Dubai Holding Communities is running an open-air cinema series that travels around its neighbourhoods from mid-September through to the start of December. Each evening runs from 4pm to 8pm and pairs craft stations, live art and interactive corners with a film screened outdoors once the light goes, plus freshly popped popcorn and picnic-style snacks.

Rather than sitting in one venue it moves around, taking in Dubai Science Park, Villanova, Liwan, Bluewaters, Sur La Mer, Meydan, Port de La Mer, Mudon, Al Furjan, Discovery Gardens, JBR, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Village Triangle, Jumeirah Village Circle and more, with each community getting its own date and a park or lawn as the venue. Worth a look to see which night falls nearest you. Full schedule at dubaiholdingcommunities.ae.

Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Museums: Combo Passes

Saadiyat Island's cultural district just launched new Museums Passes (valid from March 1). Full breakdown of each museum, what to see, and how to plan your visit in the Saadiyat Cultural District guide.

• Louvre Abu Dhabi + Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi: AED 120 (valued at AED 140)
• Louvre Abu Dhabi + Zayed National Museum: AED 120 (valued at AED 140)
• All three museums: AED 170 (valued at AED 210)

Free entry for under 18s, senior residents (60+), and People of Determination + companion. Discounted tickets for UAE university students.

Zayed National Museum: Free Guided Tours (With Your Entry Ticket)

Zayed National Museum runs a full calendar of guided tours, and the tours themselves cost nothing extra. The small print matters, though: every tour still needs a museum entry ticket, so read "free" as "no added charge" rather than "walk in off the street". Pair it with one of the Saadiyat passes above, or bring the under-18s and 60+ residents who get in free anyway, and the maths gets very kind.

A few worth knowing about:

• A Walk Through Our History: the 90-minute overview, and it runs every day. Weekdays at 2pm in English and 5:30pm in Arabic. Weekends at 11:30am in English, 5:30pm in Arabic, and a French tour at 5:30pm. It covers 300,000 years, so walk briskly.
• UAE History Tour by a Senior Emirati Museum Experience Expert: in Arabic, on the second Wednesday of every month, 4:30pm to 5:30pm, through the By Our Coasts and To Our Roots galleries. The country's story told by an Emirati, in Arabic, lands very differently from a wall panel.
• Archaeology: Traces of the Past: Sundays at 4pm in English, Tuesdays in Arabic, running until 29 October. Some sessions are already sold out, so do not leave it to the last weekend.

There are plenty more on the calendar, from family workshops to a Quiet Morning, and every one is booked online. See the full list at zayednationalmuseum.ae.

Sharjah International Book Fair: 4 to 15 November

The 45th edition takes over Expo Centre Sharjah for 12 days, with free shuttle buses running to the fair. Publishers from around the world, author talks in Arabic and English, and the reliable risk of leaving with more books than you meant to buy. Check timings at sibf.com.

Save the Date: Frieze Abu Dhabi, 20 to 22 November

Abu Dhabi Art has become Frieze Abu Dhabi, at Manarat Al Saadiyat from 2pm to 9pm, with complimentary tours in English and Arabic. Ticket details are not out yet. Watch abudhabiart.ae.

The Courtyard Playhouse: Free Comedy Nights

The Courtyard Playhouse in Al Quoz is the UAE's original improv and comedy theatre, and entry is free. Spontaneous, unscripted, genuinely funny. Not your uncle's WhatsApp forwards. Grab snacks from their snack bar and enjoy the show. Check their schedule for what's on.

Food & Drink

La Perle by Dragone: Buy 2 Tickets, Get 2 Free (October Shows)

La Perle is the aqua-theatre show at Al Habtoor City, and for the rest of October, four of you can go for the price of two.

• Buy 2, Get 2 Free: for groups of 4, two paid tickets and two free. October shows only, subject to availability, and it cannot be combined with any other offer.
• Endless Wonders (Friends & Family): a discount for residents booking 2 or more tickets. Bring your Emirates ID to ticket collection. Worth knowing for November, once the buy 2, get 2 has gone.

Book at laperle.com.

Bakerist: 50% Off Dine-In and Delivery After 4pm

From 4pm onwards, everything is half price, whether you're eating in or ordering delivery. Bakery, bread, drinks, desserts. Available across all three branches: Dubai Hills, Bluewaters, and The Palm.

Keeta: Welcome Offers for New Users

Keeta, the food delivery app from Meituan, still greets new users with a welcome offer once you download the app and sign up. The exact deal changes, so check the discount cap in the app at checkout before you build a family-sized order around it. Delivery coverage varies by area, so make sure Keeta reaches your address first.

Eugene Eugene, Kempinski Mall of Emirates: Two or Three Courses from AED 105

The business lunch at Eugene Eugene now runs seven days a week. Two or three courses from AED 105, on a menu that changes monthly, available Monday to Sunday from 12pm to 4pm, either in the greenhouse or on the garden terrace. Seasonal, carefully sourced. Book directly with the restaurant.

SensAsia Spas: Book 3 Signature Massages, Get 1 Free

The annual massage sale has wrapped, but there is a standing deal worth knowing: book three 60 or 90-minute Signature Massages and the fourth is on the house. If lymphatic drainage is more your thing, the same idea runs as a 5+1. The small print matters here: the free fourth massage can only be used Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 1pm, and the offer runs at two branches, Emirates Golf Club and The Village in Jumeirah 1. Book via sensasiaspas.com.

For Your Furry Ones

Sprouties: 10% Off for First-Time Cat Grass Buyers

If you've been meaning to try cat grass for your cat, Sprouties is offering 10% off for first-time buyers. Visit sprouties.ae for more info.

Memberships & Passes

Fazaa: Free Discount Membership for Resident Families

In cooperation with the Ministry of Family and in line with the UAE Year of the Family 2026, Fazaa is granting free discount memberships to resident families across the UAE. The membership covers discounts across a wide range of categories including dining, education, healthcare, retail, entertainment, and more. Register and view the full list of discounts here.

Letswork: A Welcome Offer When You Download the App

For anyone whose home office has become the kitchen table. Letswork is a booking app for coworking desks, meeting rooms and private offices, with more than 500 locations across 15 countries, and new users get a welcome offer when they download the app. The details sit in the app, so check them there before you book. See letswork.io.

Ulta Beauty: A Free Beauty Service Every Week for Aura Members

Since 11 September, Aura members get one complimentary in-store beauty service every week at Ulta Beauty, chosen from more than 30 including facials, manicures, brow shaping and makeup.

• Where: Ulta Beauty at Dubai Mall, Dubai Hills Mall and Mall of the Emirates
• How to claim: Book through the Ulta Beauty app or website, activate the offer in your Aura app, then scan your membership at checkout
• Cost: Free. Aura membership is free too, and you can join in store or through the Ulta Beauty app

Aura is the loyalty programme behind Starbucks, H&M, Shake Shack, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works and around 30 other Alshaya brands. If you bought the Aura Pass during its June to July sale, it keeps working until 31 December 2026: 30% off full-price items at participating brands, in store everywhere and online except H&M, Next, MAC and Jo Malone, with double points at Primark instead. The Pass itself is no longer on sale.

A big thank you to everyone who's been sending in tips and offers. So many of these made it onto this list because of you. Keep them coming. If you know of any others worth sharing, drop me a DM on @wanderwithnada. I'll keep updating this post as more come in.

Stay kind to yourselves and others. We'll get through this the way we always do, together.

Nada