The Best Beaches in Dubai

Dubai has kilometres of soft sand and warm, usually calm water, and most of its best beaches are free. Choosing one depends on what you want: skyline views and cafés, space for children, water sports, a lively promenade or a swim after dark. Here’s how the main options compare.

Dubai’s beaches at a glance

The best public beaches

Kite Beach

Long, wide and spotless, Kite Beach in Umm Suqeim is Dubai’s favourite all-rounder. There are showers, changing rooms, a running track, food trucks and cafés, plus beach volleyball, paddleboarding and other water sports. The Burj Al Arab rises to the south. It’s busy at weekends, so arrive early.

Sunset Beach

A little further south, near the Burj Al Arab, this stretch of Umm Suqeim beach is famous for its close-up views of the hotel and for sunsets over the sea. It’s quieter than Kite Beach, and a popular spot with surfers on the rare days with waves.

JBR Beach

In front of the Jumeirah Beach Residence towers, this beach is backed by The Walk and The Beach, with dozens of restaurants, shops and a lively evening atmosphere. The Marina skyline and Ain Dubai make it the most urban of the city’s beaches. Loungers and umbrellas can be rented.

La Mer

This beachfront development in Jumeirah 1 combines sandy beaches with restaurants, cafés, play areas and a water park. The water is often calmer here, which suits younger children; see our guide to Dubai with kids for more family days out.

Al Mamzar Beach Park

On the Deira side, near the Sharjah border, this park has sheltered coves, big lawns, shady picnic spots and barbecue areas. A small entry fee keeps it relaxed, and it’s a good choice for families who want grass as well as sand.

Night swimming

Dubai Municipality runs dedicated night-swimming areas at Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1 beaches. They’re floodlit, with lifeguards on duty, safety screens and facilities, and they’re free. In summer, when daytime heat is fierce, an evening swim is one of the best things to do in the city.

Only swim at night inside these marked, lit zones. A beach being open after dark doesn’t mean swimming is allowed there, and currents are much harder to judge in the dark.

Beach clubs and day passes

Hotels and beach clubs, especially on Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai Marina and along Jumeirah, sell day passes with loungers, towels, pools and often food and drink credit. Prices vary widely by season and day of the week, and weekend passes sell out. They’re the only beaches where alcohol is served, in licensed areas.

Beach rules and etiquette

• Swim in patrolled areas and follow the flags: red means no swimming. Lifeguard hours are posted at each beach.
• Swimwear on the beach is fine, but cover up when you walk to cafés, malls or the street; see what to wear in Dubai. Topless sunbathing isn’t allowed.
• No alcohol on public beaches.
• Respect privacy: don’t photograph other beachgoers, especially women and children.
• Drones, glass and littering are prohibited or fined; take your rubbish with you.
• Pets are not allowed on most public beaches.

Our guide to UAE laws for tourists covers the wider rules.

When to go

• October to April: the best beach weather, with warm sun and pleasant water. Weekends are busy from mid-morning.
• May to September: very hot and humid. Go early in the morning or in the evening, and use the night-swimming zones. By late summer, the sea can feel as warm as a bath.

See our month-by-month guide for temperatures.

Beach tips

• Sun protection: the UV index is extreme for much of the year. Use high-factor sunscreen, a hat and shade, and avoid the sand at midday in summer.
• Hydrate: bring more water than you think you’ll need.
• Footwear: sand gets painfully hot; bring sandals.
• Jellyfish: occasionally present; heed warning signs and lifeguards.
• Getting there: the metro serves JBR and Marina; for Kite Beach, La Mer and Umm Suqeim, a taxi or bus is easier. Parking fills up at weekends.

Choosing a hotel near the sea? Our guide to where to stay in Dubai compares beach areas, and free things to do in Dubai has more ideas that cost nothing.

Frequently asked questions

Are Dubai’s beaches free?

Most public beaches, including Kite Beach, JBR, Sunset Beach and La Mer, are free. Al Mamzar Beach Park has a small entry fee, and hotel beaches charge for day passes.

Can you swim in Dubai at night?

Yes, but only in the floodlit night-swimming zones at Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1, where lifeguards are on duty.

What is the best beach in Dubai for families?

La Mer and Al Mamzar Beach Park, thanks to calmer water, play areas, shade and facilities. Kite Beach is also good for older children.