The Middle Eastern emirate of Dubai may be well known as a luxury travel destination, but it's also home to miles and miles of pristine white sandy beaches. These beaches are on the Persian Gulf (locally known as the Arabian Gulf), which is warm blue and watery, making the area a true beach destination.

Although many beaches are private and associated with residential communities or luxury hotels, the government has made sure to provide a large number of public beaches. Most beaches in Dubai are man-made. They are therefore flat and wide, with soft white sand.

Dubai's intense summer temperatures mean that many people go to the beach after dinner and well into the night. The busiest season is winter, when many tourists come from Europe to escape the cold. Most beaches have basic services: bathrooms, changing rooms and showers, and most official beach parks also have lifeguards. Some beaches even offer Smart Palms, which are free public Wi-Fi hotspots with charging stations for solar-powered devices.

Dubai is an emirate (like a state) within the country of the United Arab Emirates and offers visitors a level of personal security found in few holiday destinations. You will notice people leaving their purses, wallets and cell phones on their beach chairs when they go swimming.

Choose the best place to relax on the shore with our list of the best beaches in Dubai.

Table of contents:

• 1 JBR Open Beach
• 2 Umm Suqeim Beach
• 3 Kite Beach
• 4 Al Mamzar Beach Park
• 5 Dubai Creek
• 6 Jebel Ali Beach
• 7 The Sea
• 8 Marina Beach
• 9 Black Palace Beach
• 10 Rivas

Presentation of each range

– 1 JBR Beach

Dubai's biggest beach is still the best. The huge open beach of JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) encompasses the entire JBR area. Although some areas are reserved for hotels, the majority is accessible to the public. Every few hundred meters there are full toilets (which are immaculately clean) and places to buy food and refreshments.

The water is warm and a gorgeous blue-green hue, and the sand is powder white and soft. Lifeguards are on duty and buoys separate the swimming sections.

The Hilton Dubai Jumeirah faces the water and is on The Walk (the big little street that runs along the shore). There are also many places where you can rent water and land toys such as bikes and scooters.

– 2 Umm Suqeim Beach

Umm Suqeim Beach (also known as Sunset Beach) is the place to go if you want Instagram-worthy photos of the ultra-luxurious Burj al Arab hotel. This is another large, flat beach along the coast, directly next to the Burj (which sits on its own little peninsula extending into the sea).

With the exception of lifeguard stations and rudimentary facilities, the area is just a beach with limited services (toilets, showers and changing rooms). A few patches of green lawn, shaded picnic spots and playgrounds are available.

The beach is also home to one of Dubai's only surf breakers. The waves aren't big, but they are there, and there are usually other surfers.

After playing in the Arabian Gulf, visit the massive Wild Wadi Water Park in Umm Suqeim for even more fun.

– 3 Kite Beaches

Kite Beach is a section of Umm Suqeim Beach near the northern end. It's a wide, flat beach, and it's the place to go to rent kayaks and paddle boards. The exposed beach is windy and popular with kitesurfers and kite flyers.

The sand here is a little coarser than on the other beaches, with many shells. There is a skate park and many small ice cream stands.

Kite Beach is also popular with foodies in Dubai for the many food trucks that congregate there during the day and evening. Additionally, small restaurants and cafes line Jumeirah Beach Road, which runs along the beach.

The Jumeirah Beach Hotel is a magnificent luxury hotel, also designed to look like a sail. It is on Jumeirah Beach Road in Umm Suqeim, opposite the beach. It is an ideal destination for families, as all guests enjoy free access to the Wild Wadi Water Park. The hotel is also close to other attractions, such as Ski Dubai, the indoor ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates.

– 4 Al Mamzar Beach Park

Al Mamzar is a fantastic beach for families. There are four beach areas within the public park area, all of which are supervised by lifeguards. A picnic area, a children's playground and two huge swimming pools are available. All of these events are free and open to the public.

Fridays are the busiest days in the park (weekends in Dubai are Fridays and Saturdays). Showers, bathrooms and changing rooms are available. Make a day out of it by renting small, air-conditioned beach tents with barbecue grills.

Al Mamzar Open Beach, another beach area, offers a more natural beach experience with fewer crowds. Al Mamzar is located near the Deira district, which is an excellent site to visit, as it is the original center of Dubai. It is also close to the nearby emirate of Sharjah.

Sharjah Palace Hotel is close to Al Mamzar Beach Park and just across the border (the border is simply indicated by a sign, like when crossing from one US state to another).

– 5 Dubai Creek

One of the few areas of Dubai that retains some of the emirate's past is Dubai Creek and Deira, where Dubai began as a trading port. A stroll through the souks of Deira is a must-do activity, so it's also a good place for sightseeing.

In the area where it borders the creek, the Creek Park has acres of green space and small beaches. The Dubai Creek is not a freshwater river, but rather a wide inlet.

The XVA Art Hotel is located on Al Fahidi Street, in the heart of historic Deira, next to the creek, if you are looking for a place to stay.

– 6 Jebel Ali Beach

Jebel Ali is the newest recreational development area in the emirate, located about 30 minutes south of downtown Dubai. The area is home to several long sandy beaches where you can find yourself practically alone. It is already recognized as an industrial area with the largest artificial harbor in the world.

In addition to the beaches, it is a popular diving spot. The wide, flat Jebel Ali Beach is directly across from Palm Jebel Ali, the second of three palm-shaped islands.

The JA Jebel Ali Beach Hotel is a large luxury resort located on the beach. The property includes numerous swimming pools, a golf course and a private beach.

– 7 The sea

The newest beach development in Dubai is an entertainment complex in its own right. It is located just north of Deira and Old Dubai and includes a beautiful stretch of protected beach as well as restaurants, entertainment and a water park.

The beach is flat and wide, and it is maintained several times a day to keep it beautiful. As the beach is on a harbor protected by the Pearl Jumeirah development, the water is warm and the waves are gentle.

La Mer also has opulent lounge chairs and other lavish beach amenities. Rent one of the Day Rooms for a truly sumptuous beach experience. These are beach huts, little air-conditioned havens where you can escape the heat, relax on your sofa and grab a cold drink from your fridge.

The project will include a hotel, the Rove La Mer, which will open in 2020. In the meantime, the Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa, located near La Mer, is an excellent beachfront choice.

– 8 Marina Beach

Dubai Marina, located near JBR, is an upmarket residential enclave. Marina Beach is located opposite the JBR Beach Mall and is the last stretch of sandy beach along The Walk. It is a beautiful beach, wide and flat, with the characteristic smooth white sand of Dubai. Lifeguards are on duty and the water is warm.

You are also within walking distance of The Walk's restaurants, shops, small cafes and ice cream parlors.

Built primarily as a luxury apartment building, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dubai – Jumeirah Beach is a beautiful property. The hotel offers expansive apartment-style units with full ocean views and large balconies.

– 9 Black Palace Beach

Black Palace Beach, also known as Secret Beach, is a beautiful undeveloped beach located between the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Palm Jumeirah resort. It's in the Al Sufouh area, and it's just a beach with no vendors, sunbeds or facilities.

The beach is long and wide, with golden sand that gradually descends into turquoise water. You can even enjoy your beach time with the view of the Burj al Arab as a backdrop.

Take Al Sufouh Street towards Madinat Jumeirah to reach Black Palace Beach. After a few minutes of driving, a road crosses the palm trees and leads to a parking lot and then to the beach.

– 10 Rivas

RIVA is one of the best beach clubs, bars and restaurants in Dubai. Whether you want to laze on the shore, dine alfresco by the water or go paddleboarding, it's possible. Savor a burger, dip chicken skewers in satay sauce, and lay flat on a lounge chair.

All the beaches of the Palm Jumeirah are part of the luxury residential areas or apartment buildings located on some of the "fronds", or are associated with a luxury hotel. The Riva Beach Club is the only beach club that sells the public daily access to its beach on the Palm for around $30 per person per day.

Frequently Asked Questions