Explore Dubai on a budget: 7 free events and things to do this May

If your wallet needs a break, but your social calendar doesn’t, Dubai has you covered. This May, the city is packed with free events, experiences and attractions that you can enjoy without spending a Dirham. From art exhibitions in refurbished warehouse districts to gardens with award-winning floral displays, it’s time to leave your wallet behind and explore some of the city’s most memorable experiences. Here’s our curated list of the top 7 things to do for free in Dubai this May: 1. Get inspired at Alserkal Art Month Alserkal Avenue, one of Dubai’s best neighbourhoods for art, is usually a good spot to find your muse. But from April 18 to May 18, it’s hosting Alserkal Art Month, where you’ll find a wondrous mix of gallery exhibitions, public art commissions, pop-ups, performances, and workshops. Aside from art, the 500,000 square feet of urban space at Alserkal Avenue also offers food, fashion, music and a host of community-led initiatives that will leave you feeling reinvigorated. Although the event is free to access, you will need to register for it before you visit, on Alserkal Avenue’s website. Location: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz industrial area 2. Slow down with nature at Dubai Miracle Garden As Dubai Miracle Garden approaches the end of another season, it’s offering families the opportunity to enjoy free entry between Mondays and Fridays, between 9am and 6pm – all throughout May. You will need to enter via Gate 3 to avail of this offer (the other gates still have paid entries). The free entry offer is not valid on weekends or public holidays. With more than 150 million flowers, vibrantly arranged across 72,000 square metres, you will find plenty of spots here to pose for the perfect shot, to enjoy serene walks, or to stop and (literally) smell the flowers. Location: Dubai Miracle Garden, Al Barsha South 3 3. Pick up your favourite green drink on Matcha Day Photo credit: Jason Leung/Unsplash There’s much ado about Matcha Day, which is happening on May 2. Many cafés, bakeries and bistros around the city are paying ode to this global celebration of matcha – a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves, originating from Japan – by serving up free matcha. While some places in Mirdif and Alserkal Avenue are offering buy one, get one free offers on matcha items, others around Dubai are offering free drinks, or complimentary matcha powder if you buy another product in-store. So, if you’re heading to your favourite eatery in Dubai on May 2, don’t forget to ask about Matcha Day! Location: All across Dubai 4. Celebrate 20 years with Art Dubai Art lovers get to enjoy another creative event this month – this year sees a special edition of Art Dubai, running from May 15 to 17 at Madinat Jumeirah, with a focus on the galleries, institutions and communities that have shaped the region’s art market and cultural landscape. The popular art fair marks its 20th anniversary this year, so there are many new and interesting exhibitions and collaborations lined up, as well as talks and educational programmes for those interested. Public hours are from 4pm to 9pm on May 15, from 2pm to 9pm on May 16, and from 12pm to 6pm on May 17. Although the event is free to access, you will need to register for it before you visit, on Art Dubai’s website. Location: Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh 1 5. Find your zen at a wellness session Photo credit: Brad Switzer/Unsplash If you’re feeling drained by the end of the week, it’s the perfect time to pause, breathe and reconnect. Until May 22, you can attend free wellness sessions every Friday, from 6.30pm onwards, at BurJuman Mall. Led by experts, the sessions are designed to support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. Bear in mind, it’s not a sit-in-silence kind of class. Each session offers practical tools, meaningful conversations, and restorative experiences, with the goal of bringing the community together and helping people deal better with their fast-paced lives. Location: B-Hub, Lobby E, Level 3, BurJuman Mall 6. Spend quality time with Dubai’s turtles Photo credit: Olga ga/Unsplash Ever since it launched in 2004, the Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project has rescued and returned more than 2,000 turtles to the Arabian Gulf. View these gentle creatures by visiting their sanctuary at Turtle Lagoon, accessible via Jumeirah Al Naseem. The enclosure is open to the public every day, and there are no entry fees or reservations required. If you are planning to visit, we recommend arriving in the morning. Daily turtle feeding sessions are scheduled for 11am, and you can watch it for free. Location: Turtle Lagoon, Jumeirah Al Naseem, Umm Suqeim 3 7. Be mesmerised at the IMAGINE show A feast for the senses, IMAGINE is an immersive laser, light, and water show that fuses science, technology, art and music. It earned two Guinness World Records in its first year of opening at Dubai Festival City Mall, and it continues to mesmerise guests of all ages after sunset, every night. The show is