Al Qudra on a budget: free things to do and low-cost treats

Al Qudra is one of the easiest days out in Dubai to do cheaply. The desert, the lakes and the sunrise are free, and with a little planning the food does not need to cost much either. This page lists the free activities first, then the low-cost items at Zad, with prices taken from our menu and other pages.

Prices are indicative and may vary, so check the menu or message us to confirm. Day visits, picnics, cycling, photography and sunset are described as fine, with free entry, in our camping rules guide. Rules change, so follow posted signs.

1. Free things to do

• Sunrise and sunset: the best light costs nothing. See the sunrise and sunset guide.
• Photography: reflections, dunes and golden hour. See the photography guide.
• Birdwatching: dawn is the best chance at wildlife. See the birdwatching guide.
• Walking and running: on hard tracks, with advice in our running guide.
• Cycling: bring your own bike and ride the loops. See the cycling guide.
• Stargazing: a clear, dark night and a flask. See the stargazing guide.
• Picnic by the lakes: see the lakes family guide.

Our things to do in Al Qudra hub has the full list, and the events calendar shows what is on through the season.

2. Low-cost drinks at Zad

Zad is open 24/7, and a few cheap items cover most of a day.

• Water: AED 2 for 500 ml and AED 3 for 1.5 L.
• Karak chai: AED 7, hot and sweet, and the cheapest hot drink on the menu.
• Hot chocolate: AED 17.
• Pocari Sweat: AED 8 for 330 ml.
• London Dairy ice cream: AED 12.
• Bag of ice: AED 15, for the cool box.

3. Low-cost food at Zad

• Croissant: AED 14 plain, AED 15 chocolate or cheese.
• Ola Nata (Portuguese tart): AED 20.
• Bacon and Egg Wrap: AED 26.
• Ranch Chicken Wrap: AED 29, a top seller.
• Al Rifai nuts and dried fruit: AED 15 to 47.
• Protein bars: AED 15 to 18.

Sharing between four? The Lake Picnic Box is AED 199 for four, with 4 chicken wraps, 2 x 1.5 L water, 4 London Dairy ice creams, a bag of ice and a beach mat, as listed on the outings page. Every kit item is also sold separately, so you can build a smaller order.

4. Bring from home

The cheapest picnic is the one you pack. Bring sandwiches, fruit, a flask and a bin bag, and see our desert picnic ideas and shopping list for what travels well. Add a hat, sunscreen and a jumper for after sunset, as in our what to wear guide.

For shade and seating, beach mats and umbrellas are AED 20 to 52 at Zad, and picnic chairs are from AED 52.50. A mat you already own costs nothing.

5. If you want a fire, keep it small

Fires are where costs and risks add up. Only use a fire pit or stand, never the sand. A portable fire pit is AED 63, medium firewood AED 40 and large AED 70. Fines for open burning are covered in our rules guide, so follow posted signs. The cheaper option is a hot flask of karak.

6. Ways to keep the day cheap

• Go on a weekday: quieter, as noted in the best time to visit guide.
• Fill the tank in the city: Zad does not sell fuel.
• Take everything home: littering fines start at AED 500.
• Stay on hard ground: getting stuck is expensive. See the driving tips.
• Buy ice and water at Zad on the way in, because there are no shops at the lakes.

7. A sample low-cost day

Here is how a budget day can run, using only the prices above. Stop at Zad on the way in for a karak chai (AED 7), a croissant (AED 14) and a bag of ice (AED 15) for your own flask and cool box. Fill your bottles or buy water at AED 2 for 500 ml, then spend the cool hours on the free list: sunrise, a walk, photos and birds.

Midday, eat what you packed, or add a Bacon and Egg Wrap (AED 26) from Zad. Rest in whatever shade you brought, and return to the water for the last light and sunset. Pack up straight after, take every scrap home and leave before it is fully dark. It is a full day out for the price of a few drinks and a snack.

Going in the hot months? Keep it to dawn only and leave by mid-morning, as in our best time to visit guide, and the budget gets even simpler: a hot karak, a cold bottle of water and the sunrise. Wherever you go, check the posted signs, because rules at the lakes can change and a fine is the least budget-friendly outcome of all.

Frequently asked questions

Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai, the last stop before the desert since 2013.