Entry to Dubai's municipal parks is AED 5 at Zabeel and Creek, AED 3 at Safa and Mushrif, and free at Al Barsha Pond Park and the Quranic Park gardens, according to Gulf News in October 2026. Most large parks open at 8 AM and close at 10 PM, later at weekends. This guide says what each park has, which Metro station is nearest, and which park suits a Dubai Frame visit, a dolphin show, a barbecue or a free afternoon with children.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
How much is entry to Dubai's public parks?
According to Gulf News in October 2026: Zabeel Park and Creek Park AED 5 per person, Safa Park AED 3, Mushrif National Park AED 3 plus AED 10 per car, and Al Barsha Pond Park and the Quranic Park gardens free. Attractions inside the parks are ticketed separately.
This guide also answers:
- What are the opening hours of Dubai's public parks?
- Is Zabeel Park free?
- Which Dubai park is best for children?
Four parks that suit a visitor's day
#1
Zabeel Park
Entry is AED 5 per person, and the park opens daily from 8 AM with wide lawns and playgrounds. The nearest Metro station is Max on the Red Line. The Dubai Frame and the Garden Glow dinosaur park are inside the park grounds but need their own tickets, so treat the park entry as only the first fee.
#2
Safa Park
Entry is AED 3 per person and parking is free. It has playgrounds, open lawns, a train ride and a fenced ladies' area with its own entrances. The nearest Metro station is Business Bay on the Red Line. It is the cheapest of the central parks and the easiest to reach from the canal side.
#3
Creek Park
Entry is AED 5 per person for green space, play areas and water views. Children's City and Dubai Dolphinarium are inside the park but ticketed separately. The nearest Metro station is Dubai Healthcare City on the Green Line. We could not confirm that the cable car runs, so do not plan around it.
#4
Mushrif National Park
Entry is AED 3 per person and AED 10 per car. The park has trees, sandy picnic areas, barbecue spots, playgrounds and a train ride at AED 2. Aventura Parks, an adventure and zipline park, is inside on separate tickets. Check the route from the nearest Metro station on a map before you go.
Dubai's public parks: the short answer
Entry is AED 5 at Zabeel Park and Creek Park, AED 3 at Safa Park and Mushrif National Park, and free at Al Barsha Pond Park and the Quranic Park gardens. Mushrif adds AED 10 per car. These figures are from a Gulf News guide to Dubai's parks updated on 6 October 2026. The same report says most large Dubai Municipality parks open at 8 AM and close at 10 PM, later at weekends, and that very young children and People of Determination usually enter free.
None of the parks is a must-see on a short trip. They are the cheapest places in the city to sit on grass, let children run and see everyday Dubai. Al Mamzar Park, the beach park in the photo above, is also on the booking site, but we found no current price, so it is not in the table; our best beaches guide covers the beach options. The table gives the facts, and the sections below say which park to pick.
Six parks at a glance
Entry prices, areas and features are from Gulf News (October 2026); nearest Metro stations are from the same outlet's earlier park guide. Check each park before you go, because prices and rules can change.
| Park | Entry | Area and nearest Metro | What it has |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zabeel Park | AED 5 | Zabeel; Max (Red Line) | Wide lawns, playgrounds; Dubai Frame and Garden Glow inside the grounds |
| Safa Park | AED 3; free parking | Al Wasl; Business Bay (Red Line) | Playgrounds, lawns, a train ride, a fenced ladies' area, next to the Dubai Water Canal |
| Creek Park | AED 5 | Umm Hurair 2; Dubai Healthcare City (Green Line) | Green space, play areas, water views; Children's City and Dubai Dolphinarium inside |
| Mushrif National Park | AED 3; AED 10 per car | Al Khawaneej Street, Mirdif; Centrepoint (Red Line), as reported earlier | Trees, picnic and barbecue areas, playgrounds, a train ride at AED 2, Aventura Parks |
| Al Barsha Pond Park | Free | Al Barsha 2 | About 20 hectares, a large pond, three shaded playground zones, cycling paths, sports courts, an outdoor gym; no barbecues |
| Quranic Park | Free for gardens, lake and play area | Al Khawaneej | The Cave of Miracles and the Glass House charge a small separate fee |
Source: Gulf News, October 2026, and its earlier guide to booking park tickets online.
Our guides cover the attractions inside two of them: Dubai Garden Glow in Zabeel Park, and the Dolphinarium and Creek Park guide.
Zabeel Park: lawns, the Frame and Garden Glow
Zabeel Park is the one most visitors know, because the gold Dubai Frame stands in it. Entry is AED 5 per person, and Gulf News describes wide lawns and playgrounds. The Frame needs a separate ticket, about AED 50 for adults: our Dubai Frame guide covers it, with the glass floor and the best time of day. Dubai Garden Glow, a dinosaur and fantasy park, is also inside, at Gate 3.
Zabeel is the practical choice if you want a green hour before or after the Frame. The nearest Metro station is Max on the Red Line, so you can reach it without a taxi. The grass is the cheap part of the visit; the paid attractions inside are the expensive part, so decide what you want before you buy.
Safa Park and Creek Park: two central choices
Safa Park is the family choice in the middle of the city. It costs AED 3 per person, parking is free, and it sits next to the Dubai Water Canal, with playgrounds, open lawns and a train ride. It also has a fenced ladies' area with separate entrances, which some women and families prefer. Our Business Bay and Dubai Canal guide covers the canal promenade nearby.
Creek Park is the choice if the Dolphinarium is on your list. Entry is AED 5 per person, and the Dolphinarium and Children's City are ticketed separately inside. Show times, prices and the cable car question are in our Dolphinarium and Creek Park guide. The park is on the creek, so it pairs with the old city rather than with the beach.
Mushrif National Park and the Crocodile Park district
Mushrif is the green, wooded one: trees, sandy picnic areas and barbecue spots, playgrounds and a train ride at AED 2. Entry is AED 3 per person, and AED 10 per car if you drive in. Aventura Parks, an adventure park with ziplines, is inside the park on separate tickets, and Gulf News says the gate takes payment by Nol card, although an earlier report said park gates had stopped taking Nol cards, so carry cash and a bank card as well.
The Mushrif district also has Dubai Crocodile Park, on Tripoli Street. Our Dubai Crocodile Park guide has its tickets and feeding times. Check a map for the distance between the two before you plan to walk.
The two free parks: Al Barsha Pond Park and Quranic Park
Al Barsha Pond Park costs nothing and is built for everyday use. Gulf News describes about 20 hectares in Al Barsha 2 with a large pond, three shaded playground zones, cycling paths, sports courts and an outdoor gym. Barbecues are not allowed. It is a neighbourhood park, so it is useful if you are staying in Al Barsha, and it is not worth a long trip from elsewhere.
The Quranic Park in Al Khawaneej is free to enter for its gardens, lake and play area, and its two special buildings, the Cave of Miracles and the Glass House, charge a small separate fee that Gulf News does not quantify. Ask at the gate for the current price. For other no-cost ideas, see best free things to do in Dubai.
Hours, payment, heat and which park to pick
Hours vary at holidays and in Ramadan, so check the Dubai Municipality app. Gulf News's earlier report gave 8 AM to 10 PM from Monday to Thursday and to 11 PM from Friday to Sunday for Creek, Zabeel, Safa and Mushrif, with online booking on the Dubai Public Parks website. Payment methods have changed between reports, so carry some cash, a bank card or a phone wallet. Reports also differ on the free age for toddlers (under 2, or aged 2 and under), so carry proof of age for a two-year-old.
The parks are outdoors, so the cool months, from November to March, are the comfortable season, and in summer the evening is the only sensible time. To choose: Zabeel for the Frame or Garden Glow, Safa for lawns and playgrounds, Creek for the Dolphinarium, Mushrif for a picnic or barbecue, and the two free parks for a no-cost afternoon. For a plan by age, best things to do in Dubai with kids has more.
If you would rather spend an afternoon on a guided walk than on a lawn, our Old Dubai walking tour is 3 to 4 hours from $35 per person, with the abra, coffee and dates included. For the Metro fares to reach Zabeel, Safa or Creek, see the Dubai Metro guide.
FAQ
How much is entry to Dubai's public parks?
According to Gulf News in October 2026: Zabeel Park and Creek Park AED 5 per person, Safa Park AED 3, Mushrif National Park AED 3 plus AED 10 per car, and Al Barsha Pond Park and the Quranic Park gardens free. Attractions inside the parks are ticketed separately.
What are the opening hours of Dubai's public parks?
Most large municipal parks open at 8 AM and close at 10 PM, later at weekends. An earlier Gulf News report gave 8 AM to 10 PM Monday to Thursday and 8 AM to 11 PM Friday to Sunday. Check the Dubai Municipality app for holiday changes.
Is Zabeel Park free?
No. Entry is AED 5 per person. The Dubai Frame, at about AED 50 for adults, and Dubai Garden Glow, at AED 73.5, are separate tickets inside the grounds.
Which Dubai park is best for children?
Safa Park, Zabeel Park and Al Barsha Pond Park all have playgrounds, and Al Barsha Pond Park has three shaded playground zones and is free. Mushrif National Park has a train ride at AED 2. Creek Park has the Dolphinarium and Children's City, both ticketed separately.
Can you have a barbecue in Dubai's parks?
Mushrif National Park has barbecue spots, according to Gulf News. Barbecues are not allowed at Al Barsha Pond Park. Rules differ by park, so ask at the gate before you bring a grill.
Which Dubai parks are free?
Al Barsha Pond Park is free, and the Quranic Park gardens, lake and play area are free. The Cave of Miracles and the Glass House at the Quranic Park have a small separate fee, which Gulf News does not give.
How do I pay to enter a Dubai park?
You can pay at the gate or book on the Dubai Public Parks website. Reports differ on whether Nol cards work at park gates, so carry cash and a bank card or phone wallet.
Is there a cable car in Creek Park?
We could not confirm that there is one in service. Gulf News's October 2026 guide to Creek Park does not mention it. See our Dolphinarium and Creek Park guide for what we found.
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Photos: White-sand beach with two coconut palms and a calm turquoise lagoon at Al Mamzar Beach Park — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).