Dubai has miles of beaches stretched along the Gulf coast, and although some have been gobbled up by luxe resorts and beach clubs, there’s still plenty of shoreline where you can take a dip for free.
Here are the best beaches in Dubai.
Kite Beach
Best beach for kitesurfing and outdoor activities
Kite Beach, a long and pristine stretch of white sand, is super clean and has lots of activities, such as kitesurfing, beach tennis, beach volleyball and kayaking. The beach has plenty of facilities, including showers, wi-fi, toilets and changing areas.
On Fridays and Saturdays, a seaside market of food trucks, cafes and pop-up shops is set up, luring in the crowds. If you fancy a nighttime swim, you can take a post-sunset dip along the southwestern stretch of Kite Beach, which is illuminated by 40ft-tall wind- and solar-powered floodlights and staffed with lifeguards.
Sunset Beach
Best beach for surfing and views of the Burj Al Arab
The wide, sandy public beach north of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is perfect for snapping that envy-inducing selfie with the Burjul Arab as a backdrop. Sunset Beach is also Dubai’s only decent surfing beach, with small to medium waves that are perfect for beginners.
Sunset Beach has great infrastructure, including toilets, showers, changing cubicles and wi-fi via Smart Palms. There’s also a short floodlit section for nighttime swimming.
JBR Beach
Best beach for staying out all day
JBR Beach is a clean, wonderful beach area with plenty of facilities, including showers, toilets and changing rooms housed in distinctive paneled pods. Kids can keep cool in a splash zone, and there’s even an outdoor gym for pumping iron.
Since it’s right next to the urban plazas of The Beach at JBR and The Walk \, there’s no shortage of restaurants and cafes. There are glorious views of the new Ain Dubai observatory wheel, which is slated to open toward the end of 2021.
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Best beach for families
The landscaped Al Mamzar Beach Park consists of a long string of five lovely sandy sweeps and comes with plenty of family-friendly infrastructure, including a swimming pool, playgrounds, picnic areas with barbecues, water sports and bicycle rentals, snack bars, lawns, Smart Palms for wi-fi access and air-conditioned cabanas. Food outlets are minimal, so you might want to bring a picnic.
La Mer
Best beach for seeing what’s new in Dubai
With shops, restaurants, a waterpark, a beachfront with hammocks and a huge play park, La Mer is one of Dubai’s newest beachfront destinations, opened in 2018. It’s free to sunbathe or roam the complex, and kids will love the inflatable playground. You’re spoiled for choice when it comes spots for eating, with plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby.
