Dubai, one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is the largest and the most luxurious city perched on the Gulf Coastline. Sits in the middle of the Arabian Desert, the city is surrounded on one side by dry sand and the beautiful Persian Gulf on the other side. Known for its ultra-modern architecture, palm-shaped islands, incredible skylines, high-end shopping options, captivating tourist attractions, and colorful nightlife, it is one of the most visited cities in the world and among the most sought travel destinations for Indians. Besides, the Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai is also home to miles and miles of snowy-white, fine-sand beaches on the warm, aqua-blue Persian Gulf. Although many beaches in Dubai are private and associated with luxury residential communities or resort hotels, there are also a large number of public beaches that draws millions of tourists every year as part of Dubai Tour Packages.
Here are the 10 best public beaches in Dubai where you can soak up the sun and tuck into some great food while you’re at it.
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Jumeirah Public Beach
The Jumeirah Public Beach or simply Jumeirah Beach is one of the oldest and most popular beaches in Dubai. With the rays of the warming sun, golden sand, and glistening blue ocean, Jumeirah Beach is an ideal picnic spot for families with round-the-clock lifeguard service and sports facilities. With a 3 km long stretch, the beach is divided into two areas for swimming and one for water sports. It is also a great place for adventure seekers as it offers plenty of exciting water sports. Besides, the beach authorities introduced night swimming in 2017 where swimmers are allowed to venture 30 m deep into the water and across 125 m of land under supervision. Due to its clean water and well-maintained sands, the beach has been awarded the ‘Blue Flag Beach’ certification. Apart, one can also enjoy a spectacular view of the seven-star Burj-Al-Arab, among the top places to visit in Dubai.
Kite Beach
Kite Beach is another popular public beach located across the Al Manara Road Junction in Dubai. This wide, flat beach is a section of Umm Suqeim beach, also known as Sunset Beach, near the northern end. The sand here is a bit coarser than other public beaches and is filled with many shells. The beach has everything right from a jogging track to basic gym equipment, a skate park, as well as a variety of cafes and restaurants that attracts a lot of foodies. Besides, the beach is one of the best beaches for adventure enthusiasts and water sports lovers as the beach offers many activities right from yoga to volleyball, and plenty of kite surfing for its visitors.
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Umm Suqeim Beach / Sunset Beach
If you want those Instagram-worthy pics of the Burj Al Arab, Umm Suqeim Beach is the place to go in Dubai. Popularly known as Sunset Beach, this is another wide, flat beach along the coastline, right where the Burj Al Arab is located. The beach is relatively calm which makes it an ideal spot for sunbathing, surfing, and family picnics. This place is a favorite with surfers, thanks to its great waves in the morning. The beach is popular for morning jogging or taking a leisure stroll while watching the changing colors as the sun sinks into the Arabian Gulf. Also, it is one of the few beaches in Dubai that is lit at night and allows swimming at the night.
Mercato Beach
Situated near the famous Mercato Shopping Mall, Mercato Beach is less popular than other beaches located close to downtown, Dubai. It is one of the great places for people who are seeking some peace and solitude. The beach is home to a long jogging track that is great for an early morning walk, a library with benches and bean bags for people to sit around, and a shopping mall to go ahead and buy some snacks for your hunger. The beach is wide with a gentle curve and slopes into the water. Although there are lifeguards on duty, Mercato can see some waves and undertows, so swimmers should be extra careful here. The beach is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but swimming in the water after sunset is prohibited like all beaches in Dubai. One can also enjoy stunning views of the Burj Khalifa from the beach.
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La Mer Beach
Located between Dubai’s Pearl Jumeirah and Jumeirah Bay, La Mer Beach is one of the recently developed artificial beaches in Dubai for the amusement of the locals as well as tourists. The 1.24 million square meters coastline spreads over three areas namely La Mer South, La Mer North, and Laguna. Bordered by elegant and tall palm trees, the pristine stretch of sand here is dotted with brightly coloured beach huts, loungers, and even some in-water hammocks. Besides, La Mer has also some beach bars located on ends, featuring al fresco dining and drinks with magnificent views from outdoor terraces. La Mer has played host to the annual Dubai Canvas and over 15 art installations remain at the destination, making it a go-to place for art lovers. The beautiful beach is open for swimming from sunrise to sunset and is forbidden to take a dip in the dark.
Al Sofouh Beach / Black Palace Beach
Black Palace Beach, also called Al Sufouh Beach, is a wide, soft golden sand beach situated right between the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. This lesser-known beach is a bit difficult to discover, hence it is also called Secret Beach. Amidst the thick cover of 5-star hotels, Al Sufouh is more of a minimalistic beach that sticks to pure sand rather than offering restaurants, entertainment, and shopping. It is a quiet and perfect place for all those looking for pure relaxation by the beach as part of the Dubai tour. The beach can be found by taking the pathway between two palaces on the road and is loved by families because it has shallow waters for kids to splash around in.
Al Mamzar Beach
Al Mamzar Beach is another beach in Dubai that offers a more natural beach experience with fewer people. Situated near the Deira area, Al Mamzar Beach Park covers an area of 106 hectares, including vast expanses of grassed picnic areas, an amphitheater, swimming pools, kid’s play areas, barbecue & food spots, lagoons, and five outstretched beaches with lifeguards, watchtowers, changing rooms and shades for sunbathers. Uniquely, only women, girls, and boys under four years old are allowed here on Mondays and Wednesdays.