Oh, the beach in Dubai! A real treat at the end of the day... Get your towels and swimming suits ready, and head towards the most coveted beaches in the world: those of Dubai! Miles of white sand, one of the warmest turquoise waters in the world and impressive skyscrapers in the background. In short: a unique experience you should live at least once in your life!
If you are going to visit Dubai soon but don't know yet on which beach to drop your towels, I advise you to read this little post.
I'll take you on a tour of the most beautiful beaches in Dubai: the free ones, the private ones, the most equipped ones but also the most secluded ones. This way, you will know where to go depending on the type of activities you are planning: sensational water sports, lazing around or swimming in the Gulf.
DUBAI'S MOST POPULAR BEACHES
If you just want to relax in the sun, here's a list of the best beaches on Dubai's coastline.
SUNSET BEACH: THE MOST POPULAR BEACH IN DUBAI
Address: 22, Al Sagi Street, Sunset Beach, Umm Suqeim - Dubai (right next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel)
In addition to the magnificent view upon the beautiful luxury hotel Burj al Arab (the beach is located in front of it), Sunset Beach, also known as Umm Suqeim Beach, is a true little piece of heaven for tourists.
It is also one of the locals’ most popular beaches in the city.
The place is perfect for family stays, but it is mainly surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts who come here most often. That is because this beach is gently swept by the winds.
Dubai residents appreciate Umm Suqeim Beach for its facilities.
Indeed, near the beach, the Jumeirah Beach Park can be found. It is a natural park close to the center of Dubai, with plenty of activities to spend the day (note that Mondays are reserved for women and children).
Facilities/amenities:
- The beach is equipped with showers and cabins for changing clothes, though there are no facilities for sitting.
- Large parking lot (convenient if you plan to rent a car in Dubai)
- Surf clubs to rent equipment and a surf school.
- A track for jogging, cycling or rollerblading.
- Many playgrounds for the little ones: trampoline, bouncy castle, slides...
- Plenty of cafes, juice bars and restaurants to eat.
The plus: I recommend staying on the beach until nightfall: the view of the sunset behind the silhouette of Burj al Arab is just sublime (photos are a must!). You can even still swim at this time, for the swimming is supervised 😊
KITE BEACH, THE BEACH OF KITE SURFERS
Address: Kite Beach, Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah 3, Dubai
Kite Beach is a beautiful white sand beach, and the most famous beach in Dubai.
This beach is located in the Umm Suqeim area, right next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (near Jumeirah Beach Road, facing Al Manara Street).
It is THE beach for sportsmen and women, especially for wave sports lovers. You can practice all kinds of water activities, but it is especially the meeting place of kitesurfers.
However, you can also try paddle, kayak, beach volleyball or beach soccer. Since it is also often a bit windy, you will also have the opportunity to see a lot of kites!
Facilities/amenities:
Kite Beach is the most equipped beach in Dubai.
If you are not a fan of waves, you can always do some exercise along the 8.7 mile long track (14 km). There, you will be able to jog, rollerblade, skate (there's a skate park), bike or even work out. And if you haven’t remembered to bring something you may need, you can always rent equipment from a store - there are a lot!
Of course, there are also showers and beach cabins.
Children also have their own corner: a play area specially dedicated to them.
Additionally, along the beach you'll find plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy all kinds of sandwiches and other specialties.
The plus: With its beautiful view of the Burj Al Arab, Kite Beach is the perfect place to spend a memorable day in Dubai.
JBR BEACH FOR ITS FACILITIES
Address: In front of the JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence), Dubai Marina – Dubai
JBR BEACH, also known as "The Beach", is probably Dubai's busiest, most popular and most family-friendly beach. It is located next to the Marina and stretches along the Jumeirah Beach Residence area.
To get there, take the red line of the Dubai Metro to the "Jumeirah Lake Towers" subway station.
This beach is ideal for relaxing under the Dubai sun, especially with the skyscrapers in the background. But it is mostly a very popular beach for the facilities it offers.
Facilities/amenities:
JBR BEACH's promenade "The Walk" is where you'll find the most activities to do: lots of restaurants, cafes and juice bars to eat and drink in. Not only will you be able to taste the wonderful Dubai cuisine, you will also find a variety of international flavors. There are food stands all over the promenade.
There are also plenty of trendy places to enjoy yourself, including a high-tech cinema (the "Reel Multiplex Cinema").
Additionally, you'll also find:
- a jogging track,
- beach volleyball and beach tennis courts,
- swimming pools,
- an inflatable water park for children,
- parasols and deckchairs for rent,
- showers and changing rooms.
In addition, the beach has no shortage of places to rent equipment for all kinds of water sports (jet ski, paddle, windsurfing, wakeboarding, kayaking ...). You can even take surfing lessons and try more exciting activities like parasailing.
I was able to jet ski in Dubai and I recommend JBR Beach should you want to jet ski yourself (if only for the view, which is sublime!)
The beach also has a shopping area full of chic boutiques: "The Market at the Beach". You can also pick up some local souvenirs at the local market.
The plus: JBR BEACH is a free access beach. It is the beach where both young and older people can find their happiness. You can even go for a camel ride, with the high buildings of the Marina district as a backdrop.
THE MER BEACH, THE BEST BEACH IN DUBAI?
Address: Jumeirah 1, close to the Dubai Marina Beach Resort
Also located in the residential area of Jumeirah, the Mer Beach is a 1.5 mile long beach (2.5 km), lined with beautiful palm trees. It is set in a real industrial avant-garde decor made of wood (walkways) and metal structures.
Facilities/amenities:
- Numerous restaurants and cafes with cuisine from all over the world,
- stores,
- a cinema,
- a jogging track,
- weight training equipment,
- water sports equipment rental,
- rental of parasols and deckchairs,
- showers, cabins,
- underground parking.
The plus: the Mer Beach is a family beach with incredible playgrounds for children. It is where the water park "Laguna Park" is located. On the program: slides, thrill rides and surf simulations. In short, it is one of the attractions of Dubai one should really discover! And don't forget the superb view of the Dubai skyline, including the Burj Khalifa and the Emirates Towers.
BURJ AL ARAB BEACH, THE BEST VIEW ON THE SYMBOL OF THE CITY
Address: Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah St, Umm Suqeim 3, Dubai
The Burj Al Arab Beach is located at the feet of the Burj Al Arab Hotel and the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. This is the best beach in Dubai if you want to enjoy a great view of the tower. It is the opportunity to take incredible pictures of it!
Here, everyone will be satisfied, as the beach is divided into two areas: one for surfers and another for swimmers.
Facilities/amenities:
- restaurant,
- public toilets,
- showers and changing rooms,
- solar charging station for smartphones.
The beach also has a promenade where you can exercise.
The plus: the Burj Al Arab Beach is a popular beach for vacationers because it offers a splendid view of the Burj Al Arab, one of the most luxurious and expensive hotels in the world, as well as the symbol of Dubai.
MARINA BEACH, THE NEWEST ADDITION
Address: Marina Beach, Dubai Marina, Dubai.
Marina Beach is the beach in the newest district of Dubai. Here, with the silhouettes of the skyscrapers, the atmosphere is quite different.
The place is mostly suitable for lounging by the beach and swimming in the turquoise water. But the stores and malls of the Marina will quickly catch your attention, as will the nearby Jumeirah Beach Park.
AL MAMZAR BEACH PARK, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN DUBAI
Address: Al Mamzar Beach Park, 106th St, Al Mamzar, Dubai
There are no less than 5 beaches located in the Al Mamzar Beach Park. This park offers 10,600 acres (106 hectares) of land with lots of vegetation, beaches and coves, to lie down and enjoy the sun. The Al Mamzar Beach is located in the northeast of Dubai, near the city of Sharjah.
Facilities/amenities:
- bicycle lanes,
- a skate park,
- a swimming pool,
- weight training facilities,
- equipment rental for water activities,
- rental of parasols, deckchairs and even bungalows,
- showers and cabins.
Of course, there are also restaurants and cafes, as well as a large lawn where one can picnic. There are also nice walks as well as shaded playgrounds for children. There is also an amphitheater for shows.
The plus: the Al Mamzar Beach Park is a nice place to take a little getaway just outside Dubai. You won't be overcrowded, and the beach is supervised.
A small train goes around the park and offers a nice view of the area.
Please note that the beach is reserved only for women and children on Mondays and Wednesdays. And the access is not free: 5 AED if you are on foot and 30 AED if you go by car (free for children under 2 years old).
If you want to know more about the currency of Dubai, I wrote a complete article about it.
DUBAI’S QUIETEST BEACHES
Dubai has beautiful hidden beaches, very popular with the locals. There, you won't come across many tourists.
BLACK PALACE BEACH, A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE
Address: Al Sufouh Beach, Al Sufouh Beach, Dubai
Black Palace Beach, also called "Al Sufouh Beach" or "Secret Beach", is one of the most difficult beaches to find in Dubai because it is located next to a royal residence, between Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab.
It is a wild beach, so it is one of the quietest beaches in Dubai. It is not equipped: no parasols to rent, no deckchairs or even toilets. However, swimming is supervised and parking is free.
The plus: the Black Palace Beach is a little frequented beach with superb sunsets and calm waters. More importantly, the unobstructed view on the Burj al Arab and Palm Jumeirah is what will amaze you the most.
NESSNASS BEACH, THE QUIETEST BEACH IN DUBAI
Address: Nessnass Beach, Jumeirah sur Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai.
Located near Kitesurf Beach which is far too crowded, Nessnass Beach is a much quieter natural beach where you can also enjoy water sports and other types of activities.
The area is mostly suitable for adults: there are no facilities for children.
Facilities/amenities:
- few restaurants,
- some picnic areas,
- equipment rental available: paddle, kayak, scuba diving,
- showers and toilets.
The plus: the superb view over Downtown Dubai and especially over the Burj Khalifa.
AL KHAN BEACH
Address: Al Khan – Sharjah.
This beach offers about 2.000 feet of white sand (600 meters) and a fully equipped area with showers, toilets and changing rooms.
DUBAI'S PRIVATE BEACHES
Private beaches are numerous in Dubai and they occupy a large part of the coastline. They belong to luxury hotels located on the seafront, such as the "Four Seasons", the "Ritz Carlton" or the "Sheraton". Some of them are artificial, like those of the "Atlantis The Palm".
But if you have come to Dubai to relax and perfect your tan, it is on these private beaches that you will find the calm you need.
Even if you don't choose to stay in these luxurious hotels, you can still access their beaches for a few dollars (from 100 AED/person, with access to pools, bars and restaurants).
If you have to choose only one of them, choose the largest private beach in Dubai: the one of the "Royal Mirage" hotel. There is even a beach reserved exclusively for women: the private beach club "Dubai Ladies' Club".
Or you can go to the Lou'Lou'a Beach Resort in Sharjah.
SOME TIPS BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Don't forget to pack a good sunscreen (and after-sun lotion too!) and a hat to protect yourself from the sun, which is very strong in Dubai.
Be careful when swimming: the turquoise waters of the Persian Gulf may look calm but their currents can be strong. This makes them an incredible area for water sports! But other than that, stick to areas where swimming is supervised.
Think about the local traditions and avoid offending the locals with a low cut bikini (toplessness is not allowed!). And if you want to walk in the streets of Dubai, don't forget to put your clothes back on as soon as you leave the beach!
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