Getting the perfect photo is simple with these free photoshoot locations in Dubai!
Let’s face it: we live in an online world where taking good photos is as important as breathing. Who wants to post blurry photos with bad backgrounds anyway?
Good thing, there’s no shortage of free photoshoot locations in Dubai to choose from, whether you want to look like you’re in the past or the future! From stunning backdrops to interesting subjects, there’s no shortage of clickable locations here!
So, if you’re ready, bring your best camera or bust out that fancy iPhone and let’s get snapping around these best free photoshoot locations in Dubai!
Burj Khalifa
Website: https://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/
Address: 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard – Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 888 8888
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
Burj Khalifa is a no-brainer if you’re looking for free photoshoot locations in Dubai. After all, it’s not everyday that you can say that you took a photo with the world’s tallest building as your background.
This beautiful structure dominates the entire Dubai skyline and every angle is picture perfect here. Now, if you don’t want to spend anything, you can take a photo outside Burj Khalifa for free.
Of course, we also found some great spots around Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard where you can take beautiful photos with Burj Khalifa in the background.
There’s Palace Downtown Hotel’s beautiful courtyard that offers the perfect lighting and a combination of greenery and blue skies with the Burj Khalifa as your backdrop.
You can also pick a spot outside the Dubai Opera where you get both this beautiful dhow-shaped building and Burj Khalifa in one frame.
Pro tip:
The best time to take photos with the Burj Khalifa is right after sunrise or right before sunset when the sun hits the building perfectly offering the right amount of lighting for that beautiful shot.
It’s also best go to during the weekdays when there’s not a lot of tourists as compared on the weekends when most spots surrounding Burj Khalifa are packed.
Expo City Dubai
Website: https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/
Address: Al Wasl Avenue – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 555 2030
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
Expo City is one of those free photoshoot locations in Dubai that gives you an almost endless amount of options for taking that perfect shot.
This massive development inspired by the World Expo 2020 has pavilions showcasing different themes and exhibits that make for the perfect backdrop for photos.
For starters, there’s the sustainability pavilion with its massive lantern-shaped solar panels that resemble those in Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay.
Then, there’s Surreal, which is a beautiful water feature in Expo City. All it takes is to wait for the right wave to cascade behind you for that surreal shot.
Of course, you can’t forget to take a photo in Al Wasl Dome located at the heart of this mini city. The dome lights up in different colors at night, so you have a lot of opportunities to take photos with it as your backdrop.
Pro tip:
With so many beautiful spots around Expo City Dubai where you can take photos, it’s best to go with a plan in hand.
Make a list of the spots that you think would be the perfect backdrop for your photos, so you can maximize your time and not get overwhelmed with all your options.
Burj Park
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/burj-park
Address: Downtown Dubai – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Operating hours:
- Free
Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall may be the top attractions in Downtown Dubai, but there’s also Burj Park, a hidden gem that’s considered one of the best free photoshoot locations in Dubai.
This beautiful green oasis in the middle of the bustling metropolis is filled with beautiful sculptures and art installations including the famous “Wings of Mexico” by Mexican artist Jorge Marin.
This popular photoshoot spot perfectly frames Burj Khalifa in the background while standing in the middle of the sculpture looks like you’re wearing massive wings.
Of course, there are other spots around Burj Park that’s perfect for a photoshoot including the Dubai Fountain Lake and the beautiful jogging track.
Pro tip:
Burj Park can get busy, especially on the weekends. So, if you want to take the best photos without the photobombers, it’s best to go early in the morning when the park isn’t too busy yet.
It’s also best to go around the park first to see which spots would go well with the theme you’re going for your photoshoot.
Al Qudra Lakes
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/al-qudra-lakes
Address: Madinat Latifa – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 221 5555
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
If you’re willing to take a 40-minute drive from the city center, you can visit Al Qudra Lakes at the Al Marmoon Desert Reserve, one of the best free photoshoot locations in Dubai.
These man made lakes are nestled right within the massive desert, and each lake is designed following a theme where you can take the most stunning shots.
There’s Oryx Lake where you can pose among a flock of oryxes right when the sun rises. Al Qudra Lakes, on the other hand, becomes a beautiful paradise filled with birds during winter.
Just imagine taking photos while different kinds of birds are flying in the background and the desert glows around you.
Of course, you can’t forget to stop by Love Lake, which is designed in the shape of intertwined hearts to symbolize love.
Pro tip:
You need 4WD vehicles to access Al Qudra Lakes. So, if you don’t want any hassles during your photoshoot, it’s best to book your trip with an agency that offers desert safari packages at Al Marmoon.
Kite Beach
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/kite-beach
Address: Jumeirah – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 555 07 3060
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
Kite beach is one of the city’s most popular beaches and the best free photoshoot location in Dubai if you’re looking for perfect shots on the beach.
What makes Kite Beach special is the burst of colors that will really make your photos extra vibrant, thanks to the many kite surfers on the beach on any given day.
With the right angle, you also get to capture the stunning Burj Al Arab soaring above the Arabian Gulf. The blue water also offers the perfect contrast to the white sand adding more character to your photos.
And while you may find it hard to get the right shot because of the many people that flock to Kite Beach, try taking photos within the chaos and you’ll be surprised at how stunning the images with these people can be.
Pro tip:
If you want to take the best shot of Kite Beach with all its stunning colors, do your photoshoot right before sunset when the beach is not as busy during the day and you have just the right lighting for those golden hour shots.
City Walk
Website: https://www.citywalk.ae/en
Address: Al Safa Street – Al Wasl – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 4 590 5090
Operating hours:
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily
Price:
- Free
City Walk is a shopping and entertainment destination that’s also fast becoming one of the best free photoshoot locations in Dubai because of its colorful buildings and bustling scene.
In fact,if you’re looking for a spot in Dubai where you can do a street-style photoshoot, this would be the perfect location for that.
What we love about City Walk is the unique structures that surround this neighborhood. For starters, you have the stunning La Ville Hotel and Suites, a boutique hotel that features stunning interiors.
City Walk also has a treasure trove of beautiful restaurants, outdoor spaces and chic shops that make for the perfect backdrop for those street-style shots with a European twist.
In fact, you only need to walk around City Walk and you’ll surely find different spots to take your photos. And if you ever get hungry after your photoshoot, you can always dine at one of the many restaurants in the area.
Pro tip:
Are you travelling solo but still want the perfect photos? A trusty tripod and a timer are your best friends. Find the right angle among the many spots in City Walk, position your tripod, set the time and get posing.
And with the many people visiting City Walk, someone will surely offer to take your photos for you.
Dubai Creek Harbour
Website: https://properties.emaar.com/en/our-communities/dubai-creek-harbour/
Address: Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
This city doesn’t have a shortage of picturesque developments and that includes Dubai Creek Harbour, one of the top free photoshoot locations in Dubai.
The waterfront community is built right on the Dubai Creek to give you a feel of living in the French Riviera.
The different residential buildings surrounding Dubai Creek Harbour including the world’s tallest supported tower also offer the perfect backdrop for your photos, especially if you’re going for the city vibe.
In fact, with the right angles and a photographer with a good eye, Dubai Creek Harbour can be the perfect setting for a futuristic style photoshoot because of its modern facade.
Of course, you can’t miss taking some snapshots by the harbour, especially with the yachts. And if you have the budget, why not rent one and take the most stunning images on the water?
Pro tip:
When shooting near a body of water like Dubai Creek Harbour, professionals advice that it’s best to shoot early morning or in the evening because they offer the right mood for those stunning shots.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/al-fahidi-historical-neighbourhood
Address: Al Fahidi – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 33222
Operating hours:
- 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
Price:
- Free
If there’s one free photoshoot location in Dubai where you’ll really get the essence of the city’s culture, it has to be the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood.
Located in one of the oldest areas in Dubai, Al Fahidi takes you back in time when the city was just a humble fishing village without any skyscrapers.
The narrow alleyways will lead you to some stunning buildings made of coral, mud and palm wood. You’ll also see the wind towers that were used to cool down houses before air conditioning units existed.
Every corner of the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood is picturesque and the simplicity of the structures surrounding it give the place that beautiful charm that can be perfectly captured in photos.
In fact, this neighborhood is a popular spot for couples doing their prenup photoshoots since it offers a different side of Dubai, one that not a lot of people, especially tourists think of when they talk about Dubai.
Pro tip:
To get a variation of photos, you can take close up and wide angle shots that showcase both these beautiful structures and their minute details.
Dubai Frame
Website: https://www.dubaiframe.ae/en
Address: Zabeel Park Jogging Track – Za’abeel – Al Kifaf – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Contact details: +971 800 900
Operating hours:
- 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily
Price:
- Free
We can’t talk about free photoshoot locations in Dubai without including the largest frame in the world, the Dubai Frame.
This stunning landmark right in the middle of the Zabeel Park Jogging Track is a sight to behold, a 150-meter structure that frames Old Dubai on one side and New Dubai on the other.
The Dubai Frame is also made with glass, aluminum and steel where it reflects the light of the sun during the day making the entire structure glow.
The structure also offers a unique view in the night where it soars high above the city skyline.
And while there’s an entrance fee if you want to get inside the frame itself and go up to the observation tower, you can always take photos outside the frame for free.
Of course, you also need to check out the other spots around the park where you can also take some shots during your photoshoot.
Pro tip:
Ask the professionals and they’ll say that the best time to shoot at the Dubai Frame is right when the sun rises or before dusk.
During this time of the day, the warm light coming from the sun gives the frame just the right glow for you to take the most incredible shots.
You should also take shots from different angles of the frame, so you’ll have a variety of images to choose from.
Dubai Marina
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/explore-dubai/dubai-neighbourhoods/dubai-marina
Address: Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Operating hours:
- 24 hours daily
Price:
- Free
Are you looking for a free photoshoot location in Dubai that will give you photos that make you look like you’re in the French Riviera? Go to the Dubai Marina.
This chic neighborhood in Dubai sits right at the waterfront and it’s designed to resemble those harbourside communities in Monaco and the French Riviera.
Wherever you look, there’s a perfect spot to take the shot. Go to the harbour and take the most stunning photos with the yachts in your background.
You can also dine at one of the many waterfront restaurants in the marina and take some beautiful shots while you’re at it.
But if you really want the full experience – and you’re willing to shell out some cash for it – you can always rent a yacht to go around the marina during your photoshoot.
Oh, there’s nothing quite like taking photos on a yacht with the beautiful buildings of Dubai Marina in the background!
Pro tip:
Do you want to take photos on the water but don’t have the budget to rent a yacht? Go on a dhow cruise instead!
These traditional Arabian boats will take you around the marina where you get an opportunity to take some shots.
Oh, and dinner is included too so you’re guaranteed to not get hungry during this cruise.