Love a bargain? Us too. Luckily, there are some truly incredible things to do in Abu Dhabi and you might be surprised that you don’t have to break the bank to do them.
In fact, there are a ton of unexpectedly affordable things to do in the capital that costs Dhs100 or less.
Looking for the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi? Whether you’re looking to fly solo, rally the troops or head out with the fam, get more bang for your buck here with these brilliant cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi.
From fun sporting challenges to do with your friends (try to beat us at a game of pool, we dare you) to top artistic hotspots, you don’t actually need to drop serious dirhams to have a memorable experience in the city.
Ready for a banging good time in the city? Grab a Dhs100 bill and head out.
Beach day at Soul Beach
Powdery white sands and Saadiyat blues, it’s pretty hard to believe that you can have a luxury beach day for under Dhs100. Entry is Dhs50 for adults and Dhs25 for kids on weekdays and Dhs70 for adults and Dhs40 for kids on weekends. Wondering where to eat after your beach day? There are loads of awesome restaurants at Mamsha.
Click here for the best beaches in Abu Dhabi.
Dhs50 (Mon-Fri) Dhs70 (Sat-Sun). Open daily, 6am-7pm. Mamsha Al Saadiyat (050 929 0936).
Bowling with friends
Maybe it’s our love of The Flintstones or the film Kingpin that gives us a soft spot for bowling, or maybe it’s wearing a borrowed pair of shoes and showing off? Either way, ten pin bowling is fun and it’s one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi. Head to Zayed Sports City and you can play games of ten pin bowling for just Dhs20 a go. Yabba dabba doo.
For sporting events to sign up for in the UAE this year, click here.
Dhs20 per person per game. Daily 7am-10pm. Zayed Sports City (02 403 4648).
Check out the wildlife at Al Ain Zoo
Considering how massive this zoo is, it’s pretty insane that entry is only Dhs32. If you’re looking for cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi, why not take a trip to Al Ain? The zoo has a huge animal collection of over 4,300 animals including leopards, wolves, monkeys, lions, tigers, hippos, crocodiles, rhinos, gorillas and giraffes. Watch a penguin parade, feed the giraffes, see the cheetahs go for a run or get up close with lemurs. Absolutely wild.
For everything you need to know about Al Ain Zoo, click here.
Dhs32 (adults), Dhs11 (kids three-12).Open daily, 3pm-10pm. Shiab Al Ashkhar, alainzoo.ae (800 966).
Cycle the Al Wathba Cycle Track
If you love to cycle, Al Wathba cycling track is one of the top places to go. You can choose from 8km up to 30km loops, and with it being open 24 hours a day you can arrive whenever you like and hit the track. Helmets are included and there are washrooms, changing facilities and lockers are the base. Just remember to take plenty of water, sunscreen and if you’re planning on doing the full 30km maybe some seat padding wouldn’t be a bad idea.
For the best spin classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Bike hire from Dhs30. Al Wathba Cycle Track open 24 hours, www.flsbikes.com.
Explore Reem Central Park
Looking for cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi with the kids? Reem Central Park is a pretty space that is worth visiting whether you’re a resident of Reem or not. There’s plenty of space for walking around and for kids to play, plus food trucks and places to eat aplenty. There are also kids’ play areas, a skate park and water sports facilities available. It’s loads of fun.
For the best things to do on Reem Island, click here.
Free, open daily, 6am-11pm. rwww.reemcentralpark.com.
Flex at YogaOne
If all this CrossFit and functional training business sounds a bit much, you can always head for the more serene environment of yoga studio YogaOne. But while it might be calmer, it doesn’t mean that the workouts are easy. The hot flow classes take place in rooms heated to between 35 and 37 degrees, and the extra sweating will really make you feel the effects. This is one of the best zen cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi.
For the best yoga classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
From Dhs80 per class. Mangrove One Compound, Khalifa Park area (02 562 1217).
Get your skates on at Zayed Sports City
Looking for chilly and cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi? Whether you’re inspired after seeing Blades of Glory or just fancy taking to the ice you can do that right here in the capital. Yes, we live in a desert, but at Zayed Sports City the ice skating rink is a great place to embrace your inner Michelle Kwan for just Dhs55.
For the best dance classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Dhs55. Saif Ghubash Street. Times vary, zsc.ae.
Have a ride on an e-scooter
E-scooters are everywhere, and they are a lot of fun to ride. With scooter located across the city including Reem Island, Yas Island, the Corniche and Al Zahiyah, if you see one, why not try it out. Multiple companies run the scooters, including Fenix and Lime, just download the corresponding app and you’ll be on your way soon. Get ready to zoom across the city with one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi.
Click here to learn about the e-scooters on the Corniche.
From Dhs1 per minute. Various locations across Abu Dhabi, www.fenix.life.
Hire a bike and cycle the Corniche
Fancy a bike ride? You can saddle up for a cycle along the Corniche by hiring a bike from Cyacle. On your way across the cycle lane that line’s the ocean front location you can take in the scenic view of the skyline and the sea on your way. Sounds like one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi if you’re looking for a view.
Click here for where to go cycling in Abu Dhabi.
From Dhs30 per day. Locations vary. 24 hours, bikeshare.ae.
Jump around at BOUNCE
Trampolines are just fun. Then you throw giant slides, zip-lines and dodge ball into the mix and we’re all in. Available to children and to adults, BOUNCE Abu Dhabi is one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi. It’s the place to be to, well, bounce, try obstacle courses and all the rest. It’s a lot of fun.
Click here for the best indoor sports in Abu Dhabi.
From Dhs85. Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi and Remal Mall, Al Ain, bounce.ae.
Pool day at Yas Links Abu Dhabi
Looking for splashing pool day deals near the green? Yas Links Abu Dhabi has an affordable pool deal that gets you all day access for Dhs75 on weekdays and Dhs100 on weekends, both fully redeemable on food and drinks. The pool is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8am to 4pm and Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 7pm. Grab your water wings.
For the best pool days in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Dhs75 (Mon-Fri) Dhs100 (Sat-Sun). Mon, Tue, Thu, 8am-4pm; Wed, Fri-Sun 8am-7pm. Yas Island (02 404 3000).
Rack ‘em up and shoot some pool
Pool is a pastime we love. We might not be brilliant at it but on occasion we’ve managed to win a few games and avoid potting the black too early. Fancy a game? Head along to Zayed Sports City and you can play at the city’s biggest billiards room and hire a table by the hour for Dhs50. That’s a price worth paying to beat your friends at one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi.
For the best play areas for kids, click here.
From Dhs50 per hour. Daily 7am-10pm. Zayed Sports City (02 403 4648).
Strike a post at Bodytree Studio
Yoga has us in positions we never thought we’d ever be, quite literally. Offering a wide range of classes covering yoga, pilates, dance and more, you can choose a class that suits you and enjoy a relaxing and rewarding session at Bodytree Studio’s inviting venue. Never tried yoga before? There are beginners classes too so you don’t have to be an expert to try it out.
For the best yoga classes in Abu Dhabi, click here.
From Dhs80 per class. Hazza Bin Zayed the First Street, www.bodytreestudio.com (02 443 4448).
Visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi
Since opening, Louvre Abu Dhabi has become one of the most popular tourist spots not only on Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi, but in the entire region, too. Head inside and you’ll get to see works by famous names throughout art history as well as modern greats. All for under Dhs100, making it one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi. There’s a rotating exhibition space and kids’ museum too.
For the full guide to The Louvre Abu Dhabi, click here.
Museum entry Dhs63, free for under 18s and over 60s. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, www.louvreabudhabi.ae (600 565 566).
Watch a football game
Here in Abu Dhabi there a number of clubs that you can lend your support to, including Al Jazira Club, Al Dhafra FC and Baniyas Club. Plus, just down the road in the Garden City, there’s Al Ain FC, one of the country’s most successful sides in recent years. Never been to a game? Many match tickets start from Dhs10, making it one of the best cheap things to do in Abu Dhabi, so why not check it out yourself?
Click here for where to hire a football pitch in Abu Dhabi.
From Dhs10. Dates, times and locations vary www.abu-dhabi.platinumlist.net.
Whack a ball on a driving range
Depending on your skill level, hitting 70 golf balls can feel like a teasing hors d’oeuvre or a frustrating impossibility. In any case, that’s the very reasonable number of balls available for Dhs60 at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club and its excellent driving range.
For where to learn golf in Abu Dhabi, click here.
Dhs60. Open daily 5.30am-midnight. Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Mushrif (02 445 9600).
