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Dubai is a city known for its luxurious hotels and skyscrapers, but it also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. From pristine white-sand beaches to rugged mountain landscapes, there’s something for everyone in Dubai.
Whether you’re looking for a place to relax on the sand or enjoy some water sports, these are the 10 best Dubai beaches that you can’t miss!
10 Best Dubai Beaches
1. Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park is situated north of the city along the border of Dubai and Sharjah. It’s a great family beach with numerous activities you can do – ranging from jogging, jet skiing, grilling, wallowing in bungalows, swimming in the sea or the pool, or simply sunbathing and building sandcastles.
This beach park has more than 25 pits where you can grill on, complete with wooden chairs and tables perfect for large groups. Because this beach park is located near the edge of Dubai, life in Al Mamzar is slower, more peaceful, and has fewer tourists.
The total area of Al Mamzar Beach Park includes five sandy beaches, playgrounds for kids, a swimming pool, and 260 acres of gardens. You can also hire bicycles on the bike paths; kids will also love riding the train that tours them around the entire beach park.
When you plan to visit Al Mamzar, remember that Mondays and Wednesdays are days for women, and boys over 4 years old are not permitted to enter the beach park. You should also note that it gets the most crowded on Fridays.
Al Mamzar Beach Park has an entrance fee of about $1.50 per person, while it’s free for people with special needs and kids below two years old.
2. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach, better known as Umm Suqeim Beach, is a famous pristine white sand beach ideal for families. They offer the best sunset view, perfect for taking selfies. If your kids love surfing, this is the only beach they’ll be allowed to. It has small to large waves ideal for beginner surfers.
This place is a busy urban beach surrounded by wide, high-rise hotels. It also features a playground for your children and barbecue areas perfect for grilling with families.
When you visit Sunset Beach, you will have access to washrooms, changing cubicles, and Smart Palms offering free WiFi to everyone.
3. JBR Open Beach
JBR or Jumeirah Beach Residence is the biggest beach area in Dubai because it extends the entire JBR area. This beach features white and powdery soft sand and warm blue-green colored water. It is sandwiched between Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf.
The shallow area of the water is perfect for relaxing and wading. JBR Open Beach is open every day for 24 hours. However, note that swimming is permitted only until sunset. It’s safe to swim because there are lifeguards designated almost everywhere. Other activities you can do here include jogging, working out in the outdoor gym, simply sunbathing in a sun lounger or a cabana.
JBR Open Beach also has a vast selection of open-air markets, and there are free yoga sessions for four mornings every week.
4. Black Palace Beach
Black Palace Beach is one of Dubai’s hidden gems; it’s also known as the Secret Beach or Al Sufouh Beach. It sits between Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah; it’s a lowkey beach preferred by most locals and ex-pats. However, note that facilities are scarce in this beach area, and there are no changing rooms, kiosks, or sunbeds.
This is close to the palace of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and prime minister of UAE. The waters in Black Palace Beach are shallow, ideal for kids to wade and enjoy swimming.
You need to take Al Sufouh Street to get to Black Palace Beach. Continue driving, and you’ll reach a row of palm trees that will lead you to the free parking area.
5. Mercato Beach
Mercato Beach is popular among locals, with its boardwalk surrounded by low-rise apartment buildings and small houses. This beach features a Southern California vibe and lacks fancy restaurants and boutique shops. However, the Mercato Mall is across the street; it’s filled with food and shopping options and a supermarket.
However, this is an unprotected beach, so swimmers must be careful with its waves and undertows. You can also admire the stunning view of Burj Khalifa when you visit Mercato Beach. This beach is wide with a gentle slope and curves into the water; it’s open 24 hours every day. However, swimming is allowed only until sunset.
6. La Mer
La Mer is one of the newest beach developments in Dubai; it’s a safe beach jam-packed with water activities, beachfront shopping, and dining.
It features a white-sand beach and an open-air mall offering different shops and restaurants. There is also a water park inside La Mer where you can cool off from the heat and a cinema where you can watch a movie. La Mer also comes with apartments, luxurious mini beach houses for rent, and the newly opened Rove La Mer Beach Hotel.
There are also beach clubs inside, the Sea Level being the best one. It has showers and dining options to deliver your food straight to your sun lounge. La Mer Beach has no entrance fee but charges parking. However, you can get validation for free parking when you spend a minimum amount of money in one of La Mer’s shops, beach clubs, or restaurants.
If your kids love water sports activities, La Mer offers beachfront water sports with motorized or non-motorized boats for floating and sailing. Your kids can also enjoy flyboarding.
7. Kite Beach
Kite Beach is a five-minute drive to the north of Dubai; its name is derived from groups of kitesurfers. This is perfect for experiencing various water sports activities ranging from kayaking, wakeboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding. Enjoy the talc-soft sand while watching your kids play beach volleyball or tennis if you are not into water activities.
The sand in Kite Beach is coarser than other Dubai beaches and filled with many shells. If you are looking for off-the-beach fun, they also offer a skate park and ice-cream stalls. Don’t also forget to take a tour around Sole Mio, a beach club perfect for families located in the heart of Kite Beach.
A visit to Kite Beach lets you enjoy its changing facilities and washrooms, cafes, and food trucks serving different kinds of food such as burgers, fish and chips, and kebabs. You can also rent umbrellas, sunbeds, and towels when you plan to spend the entire day sitting on the sand and admiring the Burj Al Arab view.
8. The Palm Jumeirah
The Palm Jumeirah is most famous for its palm-shaped artificial archipelago development. All beaches are associated with luxury apartment buildings, residential neighborhoods, or luxurious hotels. With all the beaches on this artificial wonder, only White Beach, an upscale beach club of Atlantis Resort, is public.
There are many activities you can try when you visit The Palm Jumeirah. You can enjoy swimming with sharks, dolphins, or sea lions inside the water park. If your kids enjoy thrilling activities, they can go for a wild ride with Splash Tours. The ride is good for 90 minutes and starts from Dubai Marina and will cruise around The Palm Jumeirah while allowing you to take amazing photos of the Atlantis.
If you love a peaceful afternoon, visit Riva Beach Club, a chic retreat where you can enjoy a Mediterranean restaurant, a gazebo bar offering icy cocktails, and a swimming pool that’s heated during winter and chilled during summer.
9. Marina Beach
Marina Beach is another part of a luxury residential area; it’s the Walk’s last section of sandy beach. This luxurious place is a flat, wide, and beautiful white sand beach with warm water and complete lifeguards designated along the entire stretch of Dubai Marina.
Visiting Marina Beach gives you the chance to enjoy different restaurants, cafes, ice-cream shops, and boutique shops located along The Walk Beachfront. This beach facets Bluewaters, Dubai’s newest artificial island.
10. Jebel Ali Beach
Jebel Ali Beach is located 30 minutes south of Dubai Downtown. The area along the beach is the newest recreational development area in the city. It is home to several long and sandy public beaches where you can relax and take a quick break from the bustling noise of the city.
This is also a popular diving area. It is just in front of Palm Jebel Ali, one of Dubai’s palm-shaped artificial islands. Jebel Ali Beach is also ideal for kayaking, kitesurfing, or paddleboarding if your kids love water sports activities. However, note that there are no rental options, so you have to bring your equipment for water sports.
Dubai Beaches are Gems You Should Not Miss
Besides the luxurious hotels and tall buildings, Dubai is also known for its beautiful and lush beaches. These beaches allow you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and take a breather. The sand is white, the water is blue, and the sunsets are amazing. It is the perfect place for a woman over 50 like you to get away from it all and just enjoy life.
Even if you are not into water sports activities, It’s guaranteed that you will still enjoy the stunning views of what these Dubai beaches have to offer.
If you plan on heading to Dubai, spend a day or two in some of the best Dubai Beaches, and you’ll certainly enjoy soaking in the sun and taking a dip in cool blue waters. What are you waiting for? Visit Dubai’s beautiful gems, and you’ll certainly have an experience you’ll treasure forever!
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