标签： Asia

Dubai, often synonymous with luxury, offers a plethora of free activities that cater to diverse interests, proving that enjoying the city doesn’t always require a hefty budget. From Halloween celebrations to fitness challenges and cultural experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy without spending a dirham.

**Halloween Festivities**
This Halloween, Dubai is hosting a range of free events. On October 31, Al Habtoor Polo Resort is organizing a **Halloween Family Movie Night** at The Clubhouse, featuring an outdoor screening of *Hotel Transylvania*, pumpkin carving, a bouncy castle, and complimentary goodies from Flying Tiger Copenhagen. Entry is free for all ages. Meanwhile, Festival Plaza in Jebel Ali Village is hosting a Halloween celebration on November 1, complete with costume competitions, face-painting for kids, and prize giveaways of up to Dh1,000. Participants can sign up at the mall’s customer service desk.

**Dubai Fitness Challenge**
November marks the annual **Dubai Fitness Challenge**, an initiative by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan that encourages residents and visitors to engage in 30 minutes of activity for 30 days. Starting November 1, the city transforms into an open-air gym with free classes, Fitness Villages, Community Hubs, and flagship events like **Dubai Ride**, **Dubai Run**, **Dubai Stand-Up Paddle**, and **Dubai Yoga**. Even if you don’t own a bike, you can participate in Dubai Ride on November 2 by renting Careem bikes for free. Check the full schedule and registration details to join the movement.

**Dubai Fountain Shows**
After months of renovation, the **Dubai Fountain** reopened on October 1, offering visitors a mesmerizing display of water, music, and light. Located at Dubai Mall with the Burj Khalifa as its backdrop, the fountain is a must-see attraction. Shows occur every 30 minutes from 6pm to 11pm daily, with additional afternoon shows on weekends.

**Night Beaches**
For a serene evening, head to one of Dubai’s night beaches—Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3, or Umm Suqeim 1. These spots offer stunning views of the illuminated Burj Al Arab, making for a perfect nighttime escape.

**Birthday Freebies**
Dubai is known for its birthday perks. From free rides at Aquaventure Waterpark to complimentary tours of the Miracle Garden, the city goes the extra mile to make your special day memorable. Restaurants like Claw BBQ and Paul Arabia offer free treats, while Cinemacity provides free movie tickets for birthday celebrations.

**Art and Culture**
Art enthusiasts can explore **Alserkal Avenue** in Al Quoz, home to over 70 galleries, studios, and cultural spaces. Highlights include Carbon 12, Green Art Gallery, and Leila Heller, as well as Gulf Photo Plus and thejamjar. Catch independent films at Cinema Akil or live performances at The Junction.

Dubai’s free offerings showcase the city’s vibrant culture and community spirit, making it accessible to all, regardless of budget.

Dubai’s leading public parking provider, Parkin, has unveiled two new paid parking zones in Dubai Studio City and Outsource City, marking a significant expansion of its services. The announcement, made on Friday, October 31, 2025, introduces structured parking tariffs and subscription rates for these areas, effective immediately. Clear signage has been installed to demarcate the zones, ensuring compliance with Code T regulations. The new tariffs, applicable from 8 AM to 10 PM, range from Dh2 for half an hour to Dh36 for a full 24-hour period. Subscription options include monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual plans, priced at Dh315, Dh840, Dh1680, and Dh2940, respectively. This move follows Parkin’s earlier initiatives, such as the introduction of free parking on Sundays and public holidays in Mirdif and the addition of paid zones in Al Jaddaf and Al Khail Gate earlier this year. The expansion aims to streamline parking management and enhance convenience for residents and visitors in these bustling commercial hubs.

The 13th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards 2025, hosted by QnA International, concluded with a grand celebration at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi. This prestigious event, recognized as the GCC’s leading platform for governance and human resources excellence, gathered over 300 distinguished leaders, policymakers, and HR professionals from across the region. Under the theme ‘Elevating HR, empowering youth, enabling nations,’ the awards highlighted the region’s commitment to fostering inclusive, technology-driven, and future-ready workplaces. The ceremony featured a wide range of categories, including leadership and governance, diversity and inclusion, digital transformation, employee wellbeing, sustainability, nationalisation, youth empowerment, and HR innovation. Among the notable honorees, Major General Dr. Saleh Abdullah Murad, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Administrative Affairs at Dubai Police HQ, was named GOV HR Leader of the Year, and Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Bin Sultan Bin Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Director of the Excellence Awards Branch at Ajman Police, received the Youth Icon of the Year award. Sidh N C, director of QnA International, emphasized the event’s role in celebrating innovation, leadership, and progress in governance and human capital, stating that it reinforces the belief that people are central to national transformation. The 13th edition of the awards continues to serve as the region’s foremost platform for recognizing the individuals, policies, and initiatives driving a more empowered and future-ready GCC.

Indian expatriates in the UAE are set to experience a significant upgrade in passport services with the introduction of e-passports. The Indian mission in the UAE has launched the Passport Seva Programme (GPSP 2.0), effective from October 28, 2025, marking a new era in passport issuance and renewal processes. The e-passport, embedded with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip, combines traditional paper elements with advanced electronic features, enhancing security and convenience for travelers.

Applicants must now utilize the upgraded online portal, https://mportal.passportindia.gov.in/gpsp/AuthNavigation/Login, to submit their applications. The platform offers an auto-fill option for renewals, streamlining the process by retrieving existing details from previous passports. A notable change is the requirement for ICAO-approved photographs, ensuring high-resolution images with specific criteria such as a plain white background and neutral expressions.

Once the online application is completed, applicants must visit BLS International, the designated service provider in the UAE, with necessary original documents. The new system eliminates charges for minor edits, a welcome change from previous practices. While biometrics are not currently required for UAE applicants, the Indian government plans to implement this feature overseas in the future.

The new e-passports feature a revamped design, including a unique serial number format and a golden RFID symbol. Existing passport holders need not rush to renew their documents, as they remain valid until expiration. However, all new applications will result in e-passport issuance.

Officials have urged patience during the initial rollout, anticipating some delays as the system stabilizes. The e-passports are expected to expedite immigration processes globally, reducing wait times and enhancing travel efficiency for Indian nationals.

In preparation for the highly anticipated Dubai Ride 2025, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced temporary road closures across key routes in Dubai. Scheduled for Sunday, November 2, the event will see three major roads shut down from 3:30 AM to 10:30 AM to accommodate thousands of cyclists participating in the sixth edition of this city-wide fitness initiative. The affected roads include Sheikh Zayed Road between Trade Centre roundabout and Al Hadiqa Road Bridge, Lower Financial Centre Road between Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road, and one-way traffic on Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. Motorists are advised to plan their journeys in advance and utilize alternative routes such as Upper Financial Centre Road, Zabeel Palace Road, Al Wasl Road, Al Khail Road, and Al Asayel Street. Dubai Ride 2025 is part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which runs from November 1 to November 30, offering a diverse range of free fitness activities for all ages and skill levels. Participants can choose between a family-friendly 4-km route through Downtown Dubai or a more challenging 12-km course featuring iconic landmarks like the Museum of the Future and Burj Khalifa. Advanced cyclists can also take part in the Dubai Ride Speed Laps from 5 AM to 6 AM, requiring a minimum average speed of 30 kmph. To support the event, Careem Bike is offering free single-trip rentals from 3 AM to 8 AM, with pop-up stations located at the Museum of the Future and Lower Financial Centre Street. The initiative underscores Dubai’s commitment to promoting an active and healthy lifestyle among its residents and visitors.