Dubai recreation guide: How to book beach camping, chalets, fishing permits and sports fields

Interested in camping on the beach, reserving a football field, or renting a chalet in Al Mamzar Park? Head to Dubai Municipality, which offers these recreational services and plenty more.

Since it was established in 1954, the Dubai Municipality has been overseeing daily operations in the city that directly influence the quality of life of all residents, visitors and business owners in the emirate. By 2030, it expects to become “a globally pioneering municipality that provides the best quality of life for Dubai citizens, residents, and visitors”, according to its website.

We’ve curated three different catalogues of services you can access, as a resident:

• Veterinary services
• Water, waste and pest control
• Hospitality and recreation

Learn more about each one by clicking on the links above. Below, you will find our complete guide to hospitality and recreational services offered by the Dubai Municipality.

Permit for recreational line and hook fishing

Obtain a recreational fishing permit for line and hook fishing, in coastal areas of Dubai that are specified in the permit, in accordance with the laws and legislations governing the protection and development of living water resources in the UAE.

The permit is valid for one year, and renewable under the same conditions. The permit allows you to fish in these areas:

• Khor Al Mamzar
• Al Maktoum Bridge (Bur Dubai area, near the court)
• Creek Park (inside the garden)
• Al Garhoud Bridge (Deira area near Festival City)
• Jumeirah (breakwater)
• Umm Suqeim (breakwater)
• Al Sufouh beaches (breakwater)

Service completion: Three working days.

Eligibility criteria:

• Only individuals living in Dubai can obtain a recreational fishing permit, provided that they submit a proof of residency.
• Dubai residents, non-residents of Dubai, and tourists can fish in Happiness Square (Jumeirah 3 area behind Sunset Mall) without needing a fishing licence.

Note that children under 18 years old can fish without a permit on the condition that they are in the company of an adult during the fishing activity, according to Federal Law No. (23) of 1999, Concerning the Exploitation, Protection, and Development of the Living Aquatic Resources in the Waters of the United Arab Emirates and Ministerial Decree No. (163) of 2021 Regulating Fishing and Diving for Amateurs.

Documents required: At least one of the following documents is required as proof of residency in the emirate of Dubai:

• Tenancy contract.
• Residential property ownership.
• Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) bill.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app. Follow these steps to apply via the Municipality’s website:

• Visit hub.dm.gov.ae and log in using your UAE PASS.
• Go to ‘Services’, ‘Individual Services’ and ‘Marine and Coastal Environment’.
• Select ‘Permit for Recreational Line and Hook Fishing’ and click ‘Apply Now’.
• Fill in your personal details, and upload documents, including your proof of residence.
• Submit the application. Once approved, your licence will be emailed to you.

No Objection Certificate (NOC) for activities in natural reserves

Obtain an NOC to visit natural reserves in Dubai and undertake projects, activities, wildlife translocation, filming, and scientific research. With this certificate, you can gain access to eight natural reserves:

• Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
• Jebel Ali Wildlife Sanctuary
• Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve
• Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
• Hatta Mountain Reserve
• Al Wohoosh Desert Conservation Reserve
• Jebel Nazwa Conservation Reserve
• Ghaf Nazwa Conservation Reserve

The NOCs for reserve visits are issued exclusively by the Dubai Municipality’s Natural Reserves Section.

Service completion:

Tourist groups and educational institutions: Three working days

Other categories: Five working days

Documents required: For tourism companies, schools, and universities, no documents are required. Other categories have different document requirements:

Organisations: Official letter, requesting the service.

For filming:

• Official letter requesting the service.
• Filming permit from Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC).
• Authorisation letter from the relevant entity, if any.
• Filming script.
• Drone permit in case of aerial filming.

Activities:

• Official letter requesting the service.
• NOCs from other relevant entities.

Projects:

• Authorisation letter from the project owner, if any.
• Detailed work methodology.
• Official letter requesting the service.
• NOCs from other relevant authorities.

Research:

• Official letter requesting the service or a document outlining the work methodology.

Wildlife translocation:

• Official Letter requesting the service.
• NOCs from other relevant authorities.
• Authorisation letter from the project owner, if any.
• Detailed work methodology and equipment list.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app.

Request for Children’s City or mega parks membership card

Photo credit: Government of Dubai Media Office

Get a yearly membership card to access Children’s City and/or mega parks in Dubai. Here are the details for each kind of membership:

• Children’s City membership card: The membership card is valid for one year, is non-transferable and renewable. The card is only valid for Dubai Creek Park and Children’s City, and allows you to use all of the venue’s public facilities (except those for rent), with unlimited entries throughout the year.
• Dubai mega parks membership card: This membership card, valid for one year, is non-transferable and renewable. It gives you access to all of the city’s mega parks, including Al Mamzar, Zabeel, Dubai Creek, Al Safa and Mushrif Parks. Members are allowed to benefit from all services available within the parks, except for paid tourist and recreational facilities, such as rented chalets, investment sites, swimming pools, and arcade games.

Service completion:

Mega parks: Instant.

Children’s City: Two working days.

Documents required: You do not require any documents to apply for the mega parks membership. However, for the Children’s City membership, the applicant’s personal photograph is required, along with the photographs of his/her companions (if any).

Cost: There are different tiers of memberships available, with costs varying based on what you choose. Here are the details:

Dubai mega parks membership cost:

• Individual membership for ages 18 and older: Dh320 per year
• Family membership including husband, wife, and children under six years: Dh640 per year
• Addition of children between 6 and 16 years old: Dh60 per child per year
• Addition of children between 16 and 26 years old: Dh80 per child per year
• Addition of companions from unlisted categories: Dh100 per companion per year
• Replacement of a lost or damaged membership card: Dh50

A knowledge and innovation fee of Dh20 applies to all of the above.

Children's City membership cost:

• Family membership (two adults and two children): Dh500 per year
• Addition of children: Dh60 per child
• Individual membership (one person): Dh200 per year

A knowledge and innovation fee of Dh20 applies to all of the above.

How to apply: You can visit any Dubai mega park, or Children’s City in-person and request a membership card. Alternatively, here are the steps to apply for memberships online:

• Visit almamzar.dm.gov.ae/web/#/app/subscription/addSubscrib.
• Here, fill in the details under ‘Individual information’. You will need to include your full name, Emirates ID number, email address, mobile number and gender.
• Check the box that confirms you have read and agreed with the terms and conditions.
• Select ‘Confirm’. You will be taken to a payment portal, where you can complete payment, and wait to receive your card.

Rent a chalet in Al Mamzar Park

A popular recreational option, chalets at Al Mamzar Park are located on its fourth beach. Visitors can spend the day by the water and relax, using facilities available for picnics or barbecues, and enjoy their time with outdoor activities or by the pool. Here are some details to note about chalet rentals:

• Small chalets can accommodate up to eight people, while large chalets can host up to 12.
• The chalet rent fee is non-refundable and does not include park entrance fees.
• The reservation date cannot be modified, once entered.
• You can rent a chalet for an entire day during weekdays, from 9am to 9pm.
• However, Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for women and children, except during Ramadan, and public holidays. Boys up to the age of six are permitted on days reserved for women.
• Each renter is entitled to only one parking space in the chalet parking area, and the vehicle entry fee must be paid at the time of reservation.

Service completion: Instant.

Cost:

Large chalet for 12 people

Reservation: Dh200 per day

Knowledge and innovation fee: Dh20

VAT: 5%

Small chalet for eight people

Reservation: Dh150 per day

Knowledge and Innovation: Dh20

VAT: 5%

How to apply: Follow these steps to rent a chalet at Al Mamzar Park:

• Visit the Dubai Public Parks website at dubaipublicparks.ae, or its app (Destinations and more), available via Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
• Navigate to ‘Al Mamzar Park’. Then head to ‘Facilities’. Here, you can click on ‘Get Tickets’ under ‘Chalets’ and select which one you’d prefer. Click ‘Reserve’.
• Then, ‘Add’ the chalet to your cart. Return to Al Mamzar Park’s booking page, and select ‘Car Entry’ if you’d like to pay for vehicle parking and park admission fees.
• Pay the fees. You will receive an email confirmation with all your ticket. Once you arrive at the Park on the day of your reservation, you can pick up your chalet keys after presenting your ticket, at the Chalet Management Building in Al Mamzar Park.

Permit for temporary winter camp

UAE citizens can obtain a permit for a temporary winter camp for personal use only, valid from November 1 until the end of April, in accordance with the official announcement for the approved temporary camping season.

Criteria: There are certain specifications outlined by the Dubai Municipality that must be followed when setting up a temporary winter camp:

• The winter camp is for family use only and may not be rented out or used by hotels, private companies, or third parties.
• The main entrance of the camp must face the street.
• A sewage tank must be installed within the camp boundaries.
• Users must adhere to public morals and refrain from any actions that violate public decency, traditions, or customs in the Emirate of Dubai.
• The digital camp signboard must be placed in a visible location at the main entrance.
• The site must be kept clean at all times, with waste collected and transported by the permit holder to designated disposal areas.
• The desert environment must be protected. Direct fires on sand are prohibited; a kewar (fire pit) must be used for barbecuing. Barbecue and coal waste must be properly disposed of and not left on site.
• Compliance with Civil Defence fire prevention and safety requirements is mandatory, including providing a fire extinguisher inside the camp.
• Do not use spotlights or loudspeakers, and respect others' privacy and avoid disturbing others.
• The use of floodlights, loudspeakers, or fireworks is strictly prohibited. Respect the privacy of others and avoid causing disturbance.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring the safety of children within the camping area.
• Traffic and safety regulations must be observed at all times.
• The maximum vehicle speed within the camping area is 20 km/h. Riding dune bikes inside the camping area is strictly prohibited.
• Submitting more than one application per person is prohibited and may result in the rejection of all applications.
• The camp may not be rented, sub-leased, or used by anyone other than the permit holder, and it may not be used for unauthorised activities.
• The digital camp signboard must be returned after the permit expires.
• The camp must be fully removed, pits filled, and the land restored to its original state within one week of the permit expiry date.
• The deposit will be forfeited if any permit condition is violated or if no refund request is submitted within two years from the permit issuance date.
• The applicant is entitled to a deposit refund, which will be transferred to their bank account (via IBAN), after the camp is removed and compliance with all conditions is verified.
• The permit will be cancelled in case of violation, and applicable penalties under current laws will apply.
• Camps must be booked for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months, covering the approved winter camping season.
• Fences and tents are allowed, provided they are made of temporary materials.
• Dubai Municipality reserves the right to remove any camp in case of non-compliance with the specified conditions or when deemed necessary.
• Altering boundary markers or expanding the camp area beyond the approved permit size is strictly prohibited.
• Failure to vacate and remove the camp after the permit expiry may result in disqualification from future winter camp permits.

Documents required:

• Copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Copy of the applicant’s family book.
• Bank account details, including the International Bank Account Number (IBAN), the bank name, and the account holder's name for deposit refund.

Service completion: Two working days.

Cost:

• Temporary winter camp permit: 44 Fils per square metre per week with a maximum area of 400 square metres for each camp.
• Deposit: Dh2,000 for each camp (refundable).
• Knowledge and innovation fee: Dh20 (for every payment voucher issued for the service).
• Additional Fees: Dh125

How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app to apply for the service.

NOC for caravan camping on Jebel Ali Public Beach

You can obtain a NOC for caravan camping along public beaches in Jebel Ali area, for a maximum of 30 days. Another NOC can only be issued for the caravan or trailer 15 days after the expiry date of the first NOC.

Service completion: Instant.

Documents required:

• Copy of the valid caravan/trailer ownership.
• Photograph of the caravan/trailer.

Cost: Free

How to apply: You can use the Dubai Municipality website/app, or the DubaiNow app to apply for the service.

Book sports fields

If you’d like to play team sports and book an entire sports field at a public park, you can do so with this service.

Service completion: Instant.

Criteria: There are certain conditions set out by the Dubai Municipality, which must be adhered to by people renting out the sports field:

• You can reserve the sports field for one hour only.
• You must comply with the sports field instructions.
• You must wear appropriate sportswear while on the sports field. Eating is prohibited on the field.
• You can't reserve the sports field for the same person more than once a week, unless there are no other reservations for the field.
• If you're more than 15 minutes late, the park management reserves the right to allocate the field to other users.
• You must keep the site clean and assume responsibility for any damages.
• The administration isn't responsible for any theft, loss of belongings, or personal accidents.
• The playground is for neighborhood residents only. Proof of residence is required when booking or using the playground.

Cost: Free

How to apply: Visit the Dubai Public Parks website at dubaipublicparks.ae, or its app (Destinations and more), available via Apple App Store or Google Play Store to apply.