Dubai’s best outdoor parks for picnics, play, runs and more

Dubai Hills Park

Say hello to Dubai Hills Park, the latest addition to Dubai’s long line-up of family-friendly attractions. In addition to its many exciting amenities, the Dubai Hills Park also boasts some serious greenery with 1,800 trees and palms lining the length of the park.

The park’s most notable highlights include Splash Park, a shaded mini water park designed to keep your kiddos cool and entertained; a beginner-friendly skate park where your future Tony Hawk can perfect their Ollie; and an ice rink overlooking the Dubai Hills neighbourhood.

And that’s not all – additional amenities include basketball, volleyball, and paddle tennis courts; shaded play areas; outdoor gyms; table tennis facilities; running tracks; a dog park; and amphitheater.

Entry Fee: The Day Pass* is 55AED for residents; and 85AED for non-residents.

Opening Hours: The park is open 24 hours. For activity-specific timings, we’d recommend calling Dubai Hills Park.

Umm Suqeim Park

Umm Suqeim Park is the ideal location for anyone looking for a quiet park to relax, leaf through a novel, and take in the scenery. Located in Umm Suqeim 1, the small green park overlooks Sunset (Umm Suqeim) Beach with stunning views of the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Amenities include a sizeable children’s play area, a paved jogging track, and plenty of green, open spaces perfect for picnics.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening Hours: Daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

Mushrif National Park

If you’re in search of a day of activities, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Mushrif National Park. The park covers an area of 1300 acres and is home to an impressive range of attractions and facilities for the whole family to enjoy.

Get the pulse racing at Aventura Park, an outdoor obstacle course with 80 different challenges for athletes of all ages and abilities. If you’re keen on cycling, take a ride through the newly unveiled 50km mountain bike track around the park. If those aren’t quite your style, you can pay a visit to the park’s Equestrian Centre, one of Dubai’s best-known riding clubs, for a unique horse-riding experience.

Looking for something slightly slower-paced? Channel your inner Attenborough with a trek through the park’s botanical gardens, which are inhabited by a variety of indigenous wildlife and greenery.

For activities that are exciting and educational in equal measure, we’d recommend a visit to the Al Thuraya Astronomy Centre. With an observatory, planetarium, cinema, and innovation lab, the institute is guaranteed to provide an experience that’s truly out of this world.

Entry Fee: 3AED per person; 10AED per car. Entry is free for children under the age of two and people of determination.

Opening Hours: Sun–Weds: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Zabeel Park

Last and most definitely not least is Zabeel Park. Situated between Al Jaddaf and Karama, Zabeel Park is one of Dubai’s largest, spanning an impressive 52 hectares, and most frequented public parks.

Positively brimming with amenities and quirky parks within Zabeel Park itself, the location is a hit among couples, families, and groups looking for a day of fun. Standouts include Children’s City, an ‘edutainment centre’; Dinosaur Park; Dubai Garden Glow; and the Dubai Frame to name just a few.

Additional amenities include a tourist train, bike rentals, cricket pitches, designated BBQ areas, jogging tracks, mini-golf, and a boating lake with boat and pedalo rentals.

Entry Fee: 3AED. Entry is free for all children under the age of two.

Opening Hours: Sun–Weds: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sat: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Insider Tip: During the cooler months, Zabeel Park plays host to Dubai’s largest flea market. The event is held on the first Saturday of the month from October to May.

Nad Al Sheba Park

Located in the neighbourhood of Nad al Sheba, this former camel racing track turned cycling park is a go-to for local cyclists of all ages. With its lush green surroundings and scenic views of Downtown Dubai, a visit to this park is a must.

Nad al Sheba Park’s main attraction is its cycling course, which is split into three tracks of varying lengths and intensities. The locale also offers an impressive selection of amenities including air-conditioned changing rooms, lockers, a football field, and bike rentals for cycling enthusiasts lacking the appropriate gear. The park also hosts regular cycling competitions and group rides perfect for newbies looking to join in on the fun.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening hours: Daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Al Barsha Pond Park

With 52 acres of well-manicured greenery, this park is a great option for fitness enthusiasts and families looking for outdoor activities to keep the little ones (and not-so-little ones) entertained.

The park is home to both open-air and shaded playgrounds perfect for younger kiddos, as well as, a variety of fitness amenities suitable to school-age kids and adults including, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts; a mini-football pitch; biking trail; and a 1.5km running track that wraps around the man-made Barsha Pond.

Visitors can also make use of the park’s pedal and solar-powered rental boats– a great option for the cooler months.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening Hours: Sun–Thurs: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Fri & Sat: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Insider Tip: Bike and boat rentals start at 40AED.

Al Safa Park

First opened in 1975, Al Safa Park is one of Dubai’s oldest parks. What was once a small area on the outskirts of Dubai has grown into one of the city’s best-known parks in the heart of Al Safa with a plethora of activities guaranteed to keep the whole family busy.

If you’re looking to break a sweat, we’d recommend making use of the park’s various fitness amenities, including (but not limited to): a 2.5km padded running track, Careem cycle rental stations, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a football pitch.

If you’re there with the whole family, why not hop aboard the Al Safa Train for a little tour of the park with the kids? Maybe plan a visit to the fairground for a ride on the bumper cars, Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round. Or if you’d prefer to keep it more low-key, let the kiddos play on the playgrounds while you cook up a storm on the designated BBQ stations.

Maybe you’re looking for a novel date idea– why not set up a picnic under the shade of the palm trees or rent a pedalo and explore the boating lake?

Entry Fee: 3AED. Entry is free for children under the age of two.

Opening Hours: Mon–Weds: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Thurs–Sun: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Insider Tip: Al Safa Park is also one of Dubai’s more accessible parks and is easier to navigate for people of determination.

Al Ittihad Park

Nestled between residential buildings on The Palm, Al Ittihad Park acts as a mini oasis amid the hustle and bustle of the city. The park, which stretches out over an area of 25 acres, flanks the perimeter of the Palm Monorail with over 600 palm trees and 60 varieties of plants and trees native to the region. Much of the diverse greenery has been labeled, making it perfect for a bit of educational fun for any kids with a burgeoning interest in botany. Kiddos can also look forward to exploring the park’s numerous shaded play areas.

The park has also proved to be a hit among fitness enthusiasts with its padded 3.2km jogging track and outdoor sports equipment.

And if that’s not enough to catch your interest, Al Ittihad Park also houses a variety of food and beverage outlets, if you’re on the lookout for a less ‘outdoorsy’ experience.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Insider Tip: The park is one of Dubai’s few dog-friendly public parks.

Burj Park

This park is a man-made island located in the middle of the Burj Khalifa lake and consists of a very well-manicured lawn and promenade overlooking Downtown. Burj Park is relatively quiet during the warmer months and only truly comes alive in the winter and fall, hosting several markets, festivals, and concerts.

While there are no playgrounds or dedicated facilities, the park does offer unmatched views of the Dubai Opera and Burj Khalifa and is the perfect spot to watch the Dubai Fountain shows.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening Hours: The park is open 24 hours.

Insider Tip: If you’re exploring Downtown with visitors, we’d recommend renting a bike at the conveniently located Careem cycle rental stations for an alternative (and active) way to take in some more of the sights.

Al Khazzan Park

Al Khazzan Park may be one of Dubai’s smaller and lesser-known public parks but don’t write it off just yet. While it may not have all of the bells and whistles you can see at other Dubai parks, Al Khazzan has everything you need for a simple afternoon out with the family.

The pocket-sized park covers an area of 3.5 acres punctuated by its landmark white and blue water tank, which towers above the park at 40m. Visitors can look forward to landscaped greenery, shaded play areas with seating for parents, and a specialty coffee cafe thanks to the iconic Berlin-based The Barn coffee. Healthy food gem (with delicious homemade gelato) HAPI is also here.

Entry Fee: None.

Opening Hours: Sat–Weds: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Thurs & Sun: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Fun Fact: While the park was originally opened in the late ‘80s, it underwent renovation in the early aughts and was re-opened as Dubai’s first fully sustainable, zero-energy park. Everything from the electricity to the irrigation and lighting is fully powered by solar energy generated on-site by PV panels.

Creek Park

Creek Park is the ultimate choice for families with kids in search of a park that has something for the whole family.

Creek Park, which maintains the spot of Dubai’s second-largest park, sprawls over 237 acres of landscaped gardens and lawns. Visitors are invited to explore the area of the park that houses several open play areas with swings, slides, and climbing equipment; a mini train that runs the length of the park; designated BBQ spots; a mini 18-hole golf course; three helipads; and a vast promenade overlooking the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club.

For a fun and informative experience catered to your rugrats, we’d recommend a visit to the Dubai Dolphinarium or the Children’s City, an educational center for kids with a variety of interactive exhibits including a planetarium.

Rides on the Creek cable car are not to be missed out on– the 30-minute ride covers 2.3 km of the park and offers picturesque views of the Dubai Skyline.

Entry Fee: 5AED per person. Entry is free for children under the age of two and people of determination.

Opening Hours: Mon–Thurs: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Fri–Sun: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Insider Tip: Exploring on a budget? We’d highly recommend making the most of the 1AED dhow rides across the Creek.