The hosts have not beaten the Pars at home since 2009 but looked like changing that in the first half when Brian Gilmour, Conrad Balatoni and Allan Forrest all forced visiting goalkeeper Sean Murdoch into good saves.
Dunfermline threatened more after the break, particularly when substitute Farid El Alagui's scissor-kick tested Greg Fleming.
Gaps opened up towards the end as play moved from end to end but neither side could capitalise.
It means there was no home win against Dunfermline at the 10th attempt, in front of a 2883 crowd who had paid only five pounds to get in on the day former chairman Donald Cameron was remembered by a minute's silence.
But there had been plenty of chances for the Honest Men to take the lead in the opening 45 minutes.
Gilmour's volley from 25 yards brought out the best in Murdoch as the ex-Hibernian man tipped the effort over the bar, before clutching Balatoni's header from the ensuing corner kick.
The Pars' 'keeper earned his corn again as he kept out Forrest's header at the back post.
Dunfermline lost Nicky Clark and John Herron in the first half but El Alagui's introduction speared their attack in the second half and in addition to his acrobatic effort he almost assisted a Joe Cardle strike but it was ruled out because of a push by the French-born Moroccan.
It was interesting to watch the effective role Ayr United midfielder Jamie Adams played in the match.
The 29-year-old former Kilmarnock, Queen of the South and Dundee man has had an injury-blighted career, even spending some of last season at South of Scotland outfit Wigtown and Bladnoch to build fitness.
Several fans at Somerset Park label him 'the disrupter' due to his ability to "run about the pitch and break up play all over the place". That quality was certainly evident today and the Stranraer-born player nearly scored as well.
Ayr United manager Ian McCall: "It's our home game so you're never happy, but I thought it was a really good game for a 0-0.
"I thought we shaded it and worked their goalie more than ours was - but overall a fair result. We're getting performances and getting points."
Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston: "I thought both clubs gave all they had and I felt we shaded it with the chances and possession we had.
"We had good control of the game but we've got to turn that into goals. The most pleasing thing for me was the clean sheet.
"John Herron's ankle is quite swollen and Nicky Clark was feeling his groin since Thursday and it was just starting to get a bit tight."
Match ends, Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0.
Second Half ends, Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0.
Foul by Paul Cairney (Ayr United).
Michael Paton (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Paul Cairney (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Craig McGuffie (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution, Ayr United. Paul Cairney replaces Robbie Crawford.
Nicky Devlin (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joe Cardle (Dunfermline Athletic).
Substitution, Ayr United. Craig McGuffie replaces Jamie Adams.
Substitution, Dunfermline Athletic. Michael Moffat replaces Gavin Reilly.
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Conrad Balatoni.
Attempt missed. Farid El Alagui (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Farid El Alagui (Dunfermline Athletic) because of an injury.
Foul by Jamie Adams (Ayr United).
Rhys McCabe (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Ayr United. Kevin Nisbet replaces Alan Forrest.
Nicky Devlin (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Farid El Alagui (Dunfermline Athletic).
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Nicky Devlin.
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Ross Docherty.
Attempt saved. Gary Harkins (Ayr United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Brian Gilmour (Ayr United) right footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top right corner.
Corner,  Dunfermline Athletic. Conceded by Greg Fleming.
Attempt saved. Farid El Alagui (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Foul by Joe Cardle (Dunfermline Athletic).
Nicky Devlin (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Joe Cardle (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
Foul by Ryan Williamson (Dunfermline Athletic).
Robbie Crawford (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Farid El Alagui (Dunfermline Athletic).
Jamie Adams (Ayr United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ryan Williamson (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jamie Adams (Ayr United).
Foul by Jason Talbot (Dunfermline Athletic).
Gary Harkins (Ayr United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Second Half begins Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0.
First Half ends, Ayr United 0, Dunfermline Athletic 0.
Lee Ashcroft (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ayr United and Dunfermline Athletic had to settle for a point apiece in front of a healthy crowd at Somerset Park.