Our overview of the best beaches in Dubai will give visitors everything they need to create their ideal itinerary. With warm weather all year round, Dubai has some truly gorgeous beaches, all of which are at least partially man-made sand areas that are regularly cleaned. All public beaches are open 24/7 and many can be visited for free. There are also a few private beaches and beach clubs, usually attached to specific resorts or hotels. These can usually be visited for free by people staying at the resorts, while other visitors can sometimes purchase day passes. Read on for more information on the best beaches in Dubai.
Best beaches in Dubai: things to know before visiting
- Most beaches in Dubai are man-made so you’ll find lots of perfect, flat white sand.
- While the water may appear calm, the area is renowned for its strong currents so take care when swimming.
- It is very hot so stock up on suncream and water before you arrive.
- It’s best to leave the bikini at home and opt for a one-piece swimming costume.
- There is no swimming allowed past sunset in Dubai on beaches that do not have lighting.
- No kissing in public places.
- Avoid swearing in public places.
1. La Mer
La Mer is one of Dubai’s newer beaches. Manmade with flat, tan sand and palm trees lining the shore, it was designed to be a safe area for families with gentle currents as the beach is along a bay which is protected by developments. Along the beachfront, you’ll also find shops, restaurants, beach clubs, and a cinema. There are also lots of water sports available, with paddle boards, jet skis, kayaks, and more for hire. Flyboarding is on offer, which shoots guests 70ft into air on a jet of water if that’s something that takes your fancy.
The water sports areas are always supervised, so kids can try new activities safely. The beach itself is free to enter – you can easily spend a whole day here enjoying the water activities and food and drink from the restaurants and food carts. There is also a water park nearby if you want more adventure.
Best for: Water sports.
How to get there: You can reach La Mer via public transport, by taking either the 9 or the 88 RTA bus. If you prefer to drive, the North Beach entrance is just by the Jumeirah Centre, on Jumeirah Beach Road. While you need to pay for parking, you can usually get a ticket to cover it when you spend enough at any of the beachfront shops. The Financial Centre Metro is also just five minutes away by foot.
2. JBR Open Beach
JBR Open Beach is the largest beach in Dubai – it’s as long as the bordering Jumeirah Beach Residence. If you aren’t staying at one of the Jumeirah Beach Residence hotels, then some parts of the beach will be closed off to you, but there are plenty of spots open to the public for free. You’ll find facilities and places to buy food nearby no matter where you are on the beach, and the lifeguards supervise swimming areas, which are clearly marked with buoys. Note that although the beach is open all day and night, swimming is not allowed after sunset – you can still enjoy the sand with beach toys, bikes and scooters available to hire.
Best for: A full day of action as there are lots of things to do and restaurants along the beach.
How to get there: You can reach JBR Open Beach via the Dubai Metro on the RED LINE train – alight at either Stop 23 or Stop 24. You can also take the Dubai Tram and get off at Station 1 or 2. If you want to drive to the beach, you’ll most likely want to take Sheikh Zayed Road up to Jebel Ali, then take Garn Al Sabkha followed by King Salman St before arriving at Al Sayorah Street. Like La Mer, parking is paid (around AED 100/£22) – if you spend money at any of the shops, you can often get a voucher for free parking.
3. Al Mamzar Beach Park
Recently awarded blue flag beach status, the Al Mamzar park is a great spot for swimming. It has four beach spots, which are particularly popular with families. Note that on Mondays and Wednesdays only women, girls, and boys under four are allowed.
There is an entry fee of roughly AED 5 (£1.12) per person (free for kids under two years old) for the park. You will find air-conditioned beach tents and BBQs available to hire, a playground, and a picnic area, so you can easily spend a whole day here quite comfortably.
Al Mamzar Open beach is a separate area which offers a more natural experience with fewer crowds and entry fee.
Best for: Swimming.
How to get there: Al Mamzar Beach can be reached quite easily with public transport on the C28 bus, which stops just outside the park. If you prefer to drive, parking inside the park is paid, but you can park in the car park outside for free.
4. Umm Suqeim/Sunset Beach
Umm Suqeim is a wide, flat, sandy beach located right next to the Burj Al Arab so you’ll definitely be able to get a great shot of the iconic skyscraper. It is also known as Sunset Beach because it’s a beautiful place to sit and watch the sunset. This beach doesn’t have as many amenities as some of the other beaches in Dubai in terms of shops and food offerings (though there are picnic areas and lifeguards), but it does have toilets and showers. But guests do love the beach library, which lets you borrow a book and relax on a bean bag in a small reading area. Umm Suqeim is also one of the only beaches that provide lighting at night, which means you can swim there until midnight instead of only until sunset. It’s also one of the only beaches in Dubai that has surf breaks. The waves aren’t huge but there is enough to keep leisure surfers happy.
Best for: Night swimming.
How to get there: Umm Suqeim has limited parking space and it isn’t free, so it’s usually better to reach the beach by taxi or public transport, depending on where you’re staying. You can take the metro to the Mall of the Emirates and then get a bus or a cab to reach the beach. Another handy way to reach the beach is via the Big Bus hop-on tour. This bus travels to many of Dubai’s top attractions, including Umm Suqeim, and you can get 1-, 2- or 5-day tickets. These allow you to get on and off as you please.
5. Kite Beach
At the northern section of Umm Suqeim beach, you’ll find Kite Beach – an aptly-named and dedicated section which has become known for its kite-surfing. The beach is exposed and can get windy so you’ll find many tourists and locals alike kitesurfing on the waves. Visitors can hire kayaks and paddle boards for some fun water activities.
The sand is more coarse and there are lots shells which children may enjoy collecting. The popularity of this section of the beach also means you’ll find a number of food trucks gathered here, particularly in the evenings. There are also often ice cream stalls set up nearby, as well as a skate park just off the beach.
Best for: Kite-surfing
How to get there: Get a taxi or bus from the Mall of Emirates metro station.
6. The Palm
The Palm is one of Dubai’s icons, a man-made artificial archipelago in the shape of a palm tree that extends out into the Persian Gulf. Unfortunately, none of these beaches are open to the public for free, but a few sell daily passes. One of these is the Riva Beach Club; it has day passes for about AED 110 (£25), which provide access to the beach as well as a few different swimming pools and a restaurant.
Best for: Those looking for a uber-glamorous option.
How to get there: You can reach The Palm from the city by public transport, but it can be a complicated trip and usually takes a lot longer than driving. As parking is usually free and a trip by taxi is only slightly more expensive, it’s usually easier to drive. Take Sheikh Zayed Road close to the coastline and take Exit 34. From here, you’ll turn left, and you should see clear signs for how to reach The Palm. Most areas have free parking for visitors, though some might carry a small charge.
7. Al Sufouh Black Palace Beach
Al Sufouh Black Palace Beach is also known by the more mysterious name ‘Secret Beach’ because you need to walk down a small path between two grand palaces to reach it. Despite the feeling of sneaking in, the beach is public and you can visit the golden sands at no cost. There aren’t any facilities here, it’s literally just a beach, so go to the toilet beforehand and pack some light meals and snacks (and plenty of water) if you plan to stay a while. It’s worth a visit though as the beach has a gentle slope so you can switch off and admire the beautiful aqua-marine waters.
Best for: Those looking for a quieter beach.
How to get there: You can reach the beach by driving down Al Sufouh Street and then turning onto Madinat Jumeirah. A few moments later, you’ll see a row of palm trees that lead to the car park (with free parking). From there, follow the palm trees down the path to the beach on foot. The nearest metro is Sharaf DG on the Red Line.
8. White Beach
Located at the iconic Atlantis Hotel on the Palm, but deserving of its own mention is White Beach; a section of pure white sand and Dubai’s hottest beach club. There are a whopping five different pools including an infinity pool. You’ll find great music and delicious fine-dining food and drink options. Children are welcome too before 8pm. Day passes are roughly AED 295 (£65), but you can usually redeem up to 50% of this cost as a discount on your food and drink bill.
Best for: Party vibes.
How to get there: You can get there via the Palm Monorail or take the exit from the Sheikh Zayed Road.
9. Mercato Beach
If you want to escape the crowds, then Mercato Beach might be the best choice for you. Located in a residential area, opposite the Mercato Mall, it is a small soft, golden sand beach, with a much more chilled vibe that makes it popular with locals and young families. You won’t find much in the way of facilities but there is an on-beach library where you can rent books for free.
If you fancy getting some exercise there is a nice promenade and cycling track along the beach. You can grab some lunch at the Jumeirah Fishing Harbour nearby, where you will find a good selection of cafes and restaurants.
There is some building work ongoing so it’s expected this beach will get more popular as the facilities improve.
Best for: It’s beach library.
How to get there: The beach is hidden down a side-street off the Jumeirah Beach Road so there are no car-parking spaces nearby. It’s best to take the metro to Hassa Bint Al Murr Masjid – 01 stop.
10. Marina Beach
Located at the luxury residential area of the Dubai Marina, you’ll find Marina Beach; a section of beautiful white sand. The beach is a free public beach with good facilities and is a good place for swimming. It’s a great option for those with kids as you can enjoy a camel ride and also lots of water sports such as wake boarding and water skiing.
Situated at the end of The Walk promenade at the JBH, you’ll find lots of shops, cafes and ice-cream stalls.
Best for: Activities.
How to get there: Get the metro to DMCC station and then switch to the Dubai Tram to the Jumeirah Beach Residence station. From there it is a five minute walk.
11. Jebel Ali Beach
Often underrated, this is a peaceful, pristine sandy beach is located 30minutes south of downtown Dubai. The wide and flat area is rarely busy so you can find yourself on your own if you fancy some quiet time. There are plenty of facilities – including three hotels and lots of restaurants – around the busy man-made harbour but it still maintains a calm vibe. It’s a great place to try water sports too due to the lack of visitors but bring your own equipment if possible as there aren’t make rental options.
Best for: Water sports like kitesurfing, kayaking and paddle boarding.
How to get there: It is a three minute walk away from two metro stations – Jebel Ali Gardens and Ibn Battuta. If you’re coming by car you can park directly at the beach for free.
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