Most of Dubai’s parks are neat, manicured, and easy to read at a glance. Mushrif Park is not one of them. Spread across some 525 hectares of eastern Dubai, it feels more like a forest that happens to have a park inside it: tall ghaf trees, sandy trails, open lawns, and enough space that a family can spend a whole day here without ever feeling crowded. If you want a single answer to what Mushrif Park is, that is it — Dubai’s forest in the city, and one of the best-value days out in the emirate.
This guide covers everything you need for a first visit: Mushrif Park tickets, opening hours, the International Village, the forest trails, picnics and barbecues, and how to get there. Swimming pools get only a brief mention here — they have their own comparison guide coming — because the pool question deserves a proper answer of its own.
Mushrif Park at a Glance
Mushrif Park — also called Mushrif National Park — sits on Al Khawaneej Road in eastern Dubai, between Mirdif, Al Mizhar, Al Warqa, and Al Khawaneej. It is run by Dubai Municipality as a public park, and it is one of the largest green spaces in the city. Unlike the beach parks on the coast, there is no sea here. What you get instead is shade, birdsong, and room to breathe.
The park is big enough that you can drive inside it, which surprises first-time visitors. That is worth knowing before you arrive: if you are on foot, pick one area and explore it properly rather than trying to walk the whole park. If you are driving, the internal roads make it easy to move between the picnic areas, the International Village, and the trailheads. Lonely Planet calls it Dubai’s grandfather of outdoor spaces, and the description fits — this is the park for nature rather than manicured lawns.
Mushrif Park Tickets and Timings
Entry fees
Entry is cheap, which is part of the park’s appeal. The commonly published charges are AED 3 per person on foot and AED 10 per vehicle. Children under two and people of determination are generally admitted free. Entry is paid with an RTA Nol card, so bring a topped-up card with you — there is a counter at the main entrance where you can buy or top up a card, but queues build up on weekend mornings. A dedicated Mushrif Park visitor guide publishes the same entry figures and the Nol-card rule.
Because charges can change, it is worth a quick check before you travel, especially on public holidays. Adventure activities inside the park, including Aventura Parks, carry their own separate tickets.
Opening hours
The park is open daily from 8:00 AM. Closing time depends on the day of the week: Sunday to Wednesday the park generally closes at 10:00 PM, while Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays it stays open until 11:00 PM. Hours can differ during Ramadan and special events, so confirm the day’s hours before a late-evening visit.
Do Mushrif Park tickets include everything?
No — your entry ticket covers the park itself, its trails, picnic areas, playgrounds, and the International Village. Paid extras include the swimming pools, the train ride, horse and camel rides, and Aventura Parks. That split is actually good news for a family budget: a quiet day of walking, picnicking, and exploring the model houses costs little more than the entry fee.
Things to Do at Mushrif Park
Wander the International Village
The International Village is Mushrif Park’s signature attraction and the first place to head with children. It is a collection of 13 model houses built in traditional styles from around the world — Arabian and Nubian houses, an English Tudor-style house, a Dutch house with a windmill, Thai and Burmese-style houses, and more — set along walkways with ponds and planting between them. Wikipedia’s park overview confirms the 13-house count and the park’s 525-hectare size.
Children can walk inside the houses and compare how different climates shaped different homes. It is a smaller, quieter cousin of the Global Village idea, and it photographs beautifully in the late afternoon. Allow at least half an hour here; curious children will happily take longer.
Walk and cycle the ghaf forest
The ghaf tree is the national tree of the UAE, and Mushrif Park protects a large stretch of ghaf forest. A marked hiking trail of about 10 kilometres runs through the park’s sandy, gently sloping terrain, with restrooms, sculptures, and bridges along the way. It is free to use and open year-round, and it suits everyone from beginners to seasoned walkers — though the full loop is a proper walk, so take water, a hat, and sun protection.
Cyclists get dedicated tracks too, including a shorter trail aimed at younger riders. If you are not bringing your own bike, check what rental options are available at the gate on the day, as these can vary.
Picnics and barbecues done properly
Mushrif Park is, above all, a picnic park. Shaded lawns, picnic tables, and more than a hundred designated barbecue pits are spread across the grounds. Barbecues are only allowed in the designated areas, and you must use the pits provided — that rule keeps the forest safe and is enforced.
Come prepared: bring your own food and charcoal if you plan to grill, and pack drinking water. There are kiosks and small restaurants inside the park for snacks and drinks, but the best picnics here are the ones you plan yourself. If you need ideas for food that travels well, our beginner’s meal prep guide covers exactly the kind of make-ahead food that survives a day in a cool bag.
Ride the park train and let children play
A miniature train tours the park and is a favourite with younger children, for a small extra charge. Playgrounds with swings, slides, and climbing frames are dotted around the grounds, and there are sports courts for basketball, volleyball, football, and tennis if your group wants a game.
Try Aventura Parks for a thrill
Aventura Parks, set among the trees, is Dubai’s best-known high-ropes and zipline course, with rope courses, net drops, and climbing challenges at different difficulty levels. It needs its own ticket and has age and height rules for each circuit, so check those before promising it to children. It is the one part of Mushrif Park that feels like a paid attraction rather than a public park — and it is worth it if your group likes heights.
Horse and camel rides
An equestrian centre in the park offers horse riding, and camel rides are also available. Winter months are the most comfortable time for a ride, when the forest is cooler and the light is softer. Riding is a paid extra, and availability can vary, so treat it as a bonus rather than the centrepiece of your visit.
Birdwatching in the forest
Bring binoculars if you enjoy birds. The ghaf forest is home to a wide range of species, and guides regularly mention Arabian babblers, yellow-throated sparrows, and — after dark — the rare pallid scops owl. Early morning is the best time, before the picnic crowds arrive and while the forest is still quiet.
How to Get to Mushrif Park
By car
Driving is the easiest way to reach Mushrif Park. Head for Al Khawaneej Road (D89) in eastern Dubai; the park is signposted from the surrounding roads, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311). Parking is available inside the park, and, unusually for Dubai, you can drive within the grounds to reach different areas.
By metro and taxi
There is no metro station at the park gate. The practical route is to take the Red Line to Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) and continue by taxi, which takes roughly 20 minutes. Allow extra time on Friday and Saturday afternoons, when traffic around the park builds up.
By bus
Bus routes 11A and 11B serve stops near the park. Check the RTA journey planner on the day for the current stopping pattern, as routes are adjusted from time to time.
Mushrif Park or Al Mamzar Beach Park?
Visitors often ask which of Dubai’s big parks to choose. The honest answer is that they suit different days. Al Mamzar Beach Park is the beach day: five beaches, chalets, and swimming in the sea. Mushrif Park is the forest day: shade, trails, barbecues, and space. If you have only one free day and children who want to swim, pick Al Mamzar. If you want a walk, a barbecue, and a quieter crowd, pick Mushrif. If you have two days, do both — they show two very different sides of Dubai outdoors.
Tips for a Better Visit
Go early, especially on weekends
Mushrif Park is at its best in the first two hours after opening. The light is softer, the birds are active, and the barbecue areas are still free. By midday on Fridays and Saturdays, the popular picnic spots fill up fast.
Visit between November and March
Like all outdoor Dubai attractions, Mushrif Park is most comfortable in the cooler months. November to March brings the best walking and picnic weather. In summer, plan a morning visit and stick to the shaded forest trails.
Pack for a forest, not a beach
Closed shoes are better than sandals for the sandy trails, and a hat and sunscreen matter even under the trees. Bring a refillable water bottle, insect repellent for the evening, and a charged phone — the park is large, and a map app helps if you wander off the main paths.
Keep your Nol card topped up
Entry and several extras are paid by Nol card. Topping up before you arrive saves a queue at the gate and avoids a failed entry at the barrier.
Is Mushrif Park Worth Visiting?
Yes — and not just because it is cheap. Dubai has grander attractions, but few places give you this much space, shade, and quiet for the price of a coffee. Families get a full day of playgrounds, a train, model houses, and a barbecue. Walkers get a real forest trail inside the city. Birdwatchers get a genuine habitat rather than a landscaped garden.
Go with a plan for one area, bring your own picnic, and let the day stretch. Mushrif Park rewards visitors who slow down — which, in a city built on speed, is exactly the point.
How much is entry to Mushrif Park?
Commonly published charges are AED 3 per person on foot and AED 10 per vehicle, paid by Nol card; children under two and people of determination are generally free. Check before travelling, as charges can change.
What are Mushrif Park’s opening hours?
Daily from 8:00 AM; generally until 10:00 PM Sunday to Wednesday and 11:00 PM Thursday to Saturday and on public holidays. Hours can differ during Ramadan and special events.
What is the International Village at Mushrif Park?
A collection of 13 model houses in traditional styles from around the world, including Arabian, English Tudor, Dutch and Thai-style houses, which children can walk inside.
Can you barbecue at Mushrif Park?
Yes, but only in the designated barbecue areas using the pits provided; barbecues elsewhere in the park are not allowed.
How do you get to Mushrif Park without a car?
Take the Red Line metro to Centrepoint and continue by taxi (about 20 minutes), or use bus routes 11A/11B serving stops near the park; check the RTA planner on the day.
