7 BEST BEACHES IN DUBAI - OUR EXPERIENCE AND REVIEW

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Author: Igor

The beaches of Dubai are so different - you can't immediately figure out where the gently sloping entrance is, where the infrastructure is better, and which one is better for families with children.

Finally I decided to make a text and photo review of the main beaches in Dubai! I'll tell you about paid and free, which beach is better to choose and, most importantly, why.
* I already have a very popular video on YouTube, I will leave it here in the article too.

In short, I really like a beach vacation in Dubai. It's clean, safe, it won't take long to fly, and the tours here are one of the cheapest and year-round for Russia. This is probably why we were in Dubai four times. The average cost of a voucher for two was 45,000-50,000 rubles in 5-7 days!

What are the beaches in Dubai?

The beaches in the emirate are sandy, and there are no big waves, since Dubai itself is located in the Persian Gulf, and not on the open sea. They are mostly public and free, and if paid, they are inexpensive. And yes, I will say right away, private beaches at hotels are common in Dubai at times less often than in Turkey.

Main beaches of Dubai:

Dubai Marina (JBR Beach)
Jumeirah
Sunset Beach
Kite beach
La Mer
Al Mamzar

I'll start describing the beaches with one of my favorites - Marina Beach, a beach in the Dubai Marina area.

Marina Beach

The photo was taken in the midst of the day, if you come earlier, there will be fewer people. Can you find the famous Parus hotel on the photo? 🙂

Beach rating: 9 out of 10!

Another name is JBR Beach. Marina Beach is located in the eponymous luxury area of Dubai Marina.

It immediately benefits from the fact that the DMCC metro station is nearby.
Behind the scenes it is considered one of the best free beaches in Dubai.
Family holidays are perfect here.

In my opinion, the Marina has a well-developed infrastructure - the beach is, as it were, "inscribed" in the adjacent residential area with skyscrapers. The Walk JBR is a beautiful and pleasant promenade for walking (especially in the evenings!), Many cafes and restaurants, including chains such as McDonald's and Starbucks, a large supermarket, pharmacies. You can swim, sunbathe, walk around, and eat deliciously. Nearby is Skydive Dubai - the center of extreme sports, where parachutists jump and gyrocopters fly every 20-30 minutes.

The coastline is long, about 2.5 kilometers. Attached is a view of the world's largest Ferris wheel, which is about to work.

Free changing rooms on the beach, everything else for money:

- In the shower, one and a half minutes are given for 5 dirhams (100 rubles). It wasn't enough for me to wash the sand off my body, I had to pay twice.
- A sunbed with a towel costs 110 dirhams (2125 rubles) for the whole day; if you take two umbrellas at once, then 195 dirhams (3765 rubles). Rip-off, yes ... So many people sunbathe on their towels in the sand.

The entrance to the sea is relatively shallow, without a sharp entry. Camels ride along the shore, you can ride for a fee. There are inflatable attractions on the water for children. The sand on the beach is fine, clean and white, there are small shells and pebbles. Reviews of tourists about Marina Beach are generally positive, although someone noticed garbage here, and someone found a construction site (apparently, they were confused with neighboring beaches).

Note # 1. It was here that we took an interesting boat tour of Dubai Marina, it cost about $ 20. Here is all our experience on sightseeing tours in Dubai.

Note # 2. I can also recommend local good cafes - Urban and Leopold's of London... In the first we liked the seafood, and in the second bagel and pizza. Read our review of prices in Dubai, where we give a lot of establishments from all our trips.

Pros of Marina Beach:

+ Free beach
+ Quite clean (although there are a lot of tourists, they are promptly cleaned on the beach)
+ Convenient to get there
+ Infrastructure at a high level
+ No dangerous and stressful water activities like catamarans and parasailing

Minuses:

- A large number of people (no matter how much we were here, we never saw it empty)
- No natural shade
- The water could be better (I will not say that the sea is bad, just Palm Jumeirah is located nearby, there are many tourists nearby - it is difficult for the water to remain always the purest)

How to get to Marina Beach?

There are also few people on the beach in the last hour and a half before sunset.

It is much easier to get here than to other beaches. Therefore, if you are looking for a good beach in Dubai in its central part, the choice is obvious 🙂

Metro: get to DMCC station, 10 minutes walk - and you are at Marina Beach. For example, we lived at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, five minutes from the metro, and traveled here every day.
It is even easier to get a taxi, but it is not cheap in Dubai. So, the trip from the Atlantis hotel to Marina - about 10 km - cost us 30 dirhams (580 rubles).
If you arrive by your own car, you will have to pay about $ 5 (355 rubles) for parking, I have not seen free parking. If you suddenly know this, write in the comments to the article, I will add it.

Jumeirah Beach

There are many tourists in the distance, almost everyone came here just to take a photo with the hotel

Beach rating: 6 out of 10

Free public beach Jumeirah is the first beach in Dubai that I have seen with my own eyes. Back in 2014, we came here on an excursion from Ras al-Khaimah to take photos with the famous Parus hotel. And in December 2019, we went to this city beach with a free transfer from our hotel - a frequent feature of Dubai hotels.

The beach is long and wide, with golden sand and interspersed with white limestone. Cigarette butts come across 🙁
The place is popular, but the infrastructure seemed to me completely undeveloped. No, toilets, showers and sun loungers are all there (alternating all over the beach, but at a decent distance).
But there is nothing around, just a long walking and jogging path and an embankment.

Well, and besides, it is not picturesque somehow to swim in the bay, where there is a large construction site on each side. Although here you will find the same view of the Burj Al Arab sail hotel. Below I will attach a few photos of Jumeirah Beach to make it clear what I am talking about.

My tip about the beach: I would not go here, except to get on a free hotel transfer and then stomp to another beach. You can walk to Kite Beach, by taxi - to Marina or La Mer.

Pros:

+ Great view of the sail hotel
+ Nearby is the Souk Madinat market where you can walk
+ There is a nice promenade towards Sunset and Kite Beach
+ Many city hotels have a free transfer for guests here

Minuses:

- There are many tourists, they bring here in groups of Chinese to swim. And since they are afraid to swim, they will start squealing ... or taking group photos!
- The sand is dirty
- No infrastructure on the beach

How to get to Jumeirah Beach?

A small bus took us from the hotel to this beach for free

Well, it's either a transfer or a taxi. Inconvenient beach in terms of transport. You can also walk 5 km from the Mall of Emirates metro station (don't ask why we did this ...)

Sunset Beach

It looks like the promenade along which we walked between the beaches

Beach rating: 5 out of 10

Located next to the Jumeirah beach, you can walk from there. Tourists are also brought here by buses for photographs with the Burj al-Arab hotel, almost no one swims. And who sunbathes - bring their own towels. I did not see sun beds, there are changing cabins, showers and toilets. They are free.

The water is clean, but the beach is far from the best, more for photography than for swimming. It's probably worth coming to these beaches once, see the view of the Parus hotel, walk along the embankment (as we did) and go to another beach 🙂

Pros:

+ Nice beach for a photo with Burj Al Arab hotel
+ Convenient promenade along the coast
+ Few people

Minuses:

- Poor infrastructure (almost none)
- Difficult to get to

How to get to the beach?

Taking a taxi to the beach

Probably the best way is taxi. It will not cost so much if you live in the area, but I would advise you to choose either Kite Beach, which is a little further along the coast, or Marina Beach, which can be reached on a budget by metro.

Kite Beach

The Kite Beach promenade does not end and goes on, but we took a taxi and drove towards La Mer

Beach rating: 7 out of 10

The next beach just after Sunset Beach and Jumeirah is Kite Beach. It's free too. Along all these beaches there is a beautiful promenade, along which you can walk (if you come in late autumn or winter, when it is not so hot). We walked from the 7-star hotel to Kite Beach, from where we took a taxi towards La Mer beach. What we advise you too 😉

The beach seemed to me cleaner than the previous two, with fewer people.
From the name you can understand that kitesurfers are frequent guests here, as good winds blow. We did not observe them, maybe the day was not windy enough.

Nevertheless, there is infrastructure for beach goers: showers, toilets, changing rooms. But I didn't find any sun beds either, even for rent. Unless you can take a sun lounger from rare cafes along the coast, if you buy a cocktail - I did not find out the details.

In terms of safety, I liked Kite Beach. There are few people, there are no water activities along the coast, kitesurfers do not drop in every day, but there are rescuers and police officers.

Pros:

+ Not crowded
+ Entertaining for certain categories (kitesurfing fans)
+ Clean

Minuses:

- Difficult to get
- No natural shade, bare sand in the scorching sun
- Nothing around

How to get to Kite Beach?

The most convenient way is by taxi. The metro is very far away. Or drive to the neighboring two beaches and walk along the promenade. Or maybe rent a car?

La Mer

We are looking for where to spread a towel 🙂

Beach rating: 9.5 out of 10!

I would put 10 out of 10 on La Mer beach, but I put it a little less, since getting to La Mer is not so easy. But if your hotel is suddenly nearby, then this is the best beach in Dubai, in my opinion. I would go to it and that's it :)

We spent the most time on La Mere and on Marina Beach. And that's why:

Free
Incredibly well maintained and stylish !!
New (opened in 2018)
Clean and blue water
There are not so many people as on the Marina

Please note that the water park divides La Mer into two parts. We always went to the one to the left, if we stand facing the sea. The second beach is called Smoky Beach, but in fact it is a continuation of La Mer Beach.

The beach is modern with a bunch of cafes and shops, it's good to walk here
There are free showers on the street (you get drenched in a bucket), toilets, changing rooms, which are not decorated at all like your typical amenities on a public beach. There are water activities like paddleboards (it's good that there is no parasailing!).

Note # 1. There are many different cafes scattered along the winding embankment - we dined, for example, at The Duchess, but the prices are not budget at all. There is also Starbucks, but not a simple one, but Starbucks Reserve - so to speak, an "advanced" Starbucks with really good coffee.

Note # 2. Set "sunbed, umbrella, towel" - 100 dirhams (1930 rubles); "Umbrella and sunbed" - 80 dirham (1550 rubles); “Just a sunbed” - 60 dirham (1160 rubles).

Pros:

+ Good entry into the sea, but sharp
+ Clean and clear water
+ Cool infrastructure (everything is free, except for sun beds)
+ New beach
+ A classy and modern boulevard adjoins the beach
+ The beach itself is an atmospheric place, pleasant to relax

Minuses:

- Relatively difficult to get to
- Not as big and wide as other Dubai beaches

How to get to La Mer?

Bright houses in the background - changing cabins and showers (paid)
We took a taxi, it was much more convenient that way. The problem is that Dubai is hardly a hiking destination. And although La Mer is located next to the Burj Khalifa (3-4 km), you still can't walk on foot - there are no sidewalks, there are only highways.

Taxi from Kite Beach to La Mer - 25-30 dirham (480-580 rubles)
From La Mer to Burj Khalifa - 18-25 dirham (350-480 rubles), depending on traffic jams

Al Mamzar

To get to Al Mamzar beach, you need to buy tickets and go through such a checkpoint
Beach rating: 9 out of 10

Al Mamzar beach consists of several lagoon-beaches (probably this would be more correct) and a large park, where you also have access, along with the beach, for 5 dirhams (100 rubles).

This is an ideal beach for children - clean sand and sea, a gentle entrance (you can walk 15 meters to a set of depth). In general, Al Mamzar beach is liked by most tourists who come here.
The infrastructure is good, everything you need is there - from showers to changing rooms and toilets.

The beach is very good, but its main disadvantage for staying in Dubai is its remoteness. It is located almost on the border with Sharjah, in the Deira region. And for Deira, it's a great choice. All from the center - not very, will have to pay a lot for a taxi.

Pros:

+ Cozy private beach
+ Small number of tourists
+ Lots of space
+ Green park nearby
+ Good infrastructure

Minuses:

- The beach is paid, although the entrance is inexpensive
- Men will not be allowed on Monday and Wednesday
- Far if you do not live in the Deira area

How to get to Al Mamzar?

Perhaps you will have a free pick-up from your hotel if you live in the Deira area or in the emirate of Sharjah (although most tourists are still taken to the free public Sharjah beach). Otherwise, the best way to get here is by taxi.

Part of the park and beach

Zero Gravity Beach Club

Zero Gravity is a famous beach club in Dubai (beach club). In fact, it is a restaurant by day and a nightclub in the evening with its own private beach, swimming pool and views of the Marina skyscrapers.

What attracts visitors?

First, the atmosphere. Stylish, fashionable, youthful, and there are no Nyur grandmothers with grandchildren.
Secondly, alcohol, which you will not find in Dubai during the day with fire.
Third, the food is really good cuisine.

Basically, Ziro Gravity gathers companies to hang out in the pool and drink cocktails, or young couples. The pool, by the way, is Instagrammed here - with glass sides. But the beach is not so big, but there are enough sun beds.

How much is all this luxury worth?

- Sunday-Wednesday: 100 dirham (1930 rubles) per adult
- Thursday: 150 dirham (2900 rubles) for a girl, 250 dirham (4830 rubles) for a man
- Friday-Saturday: 150 dirham (2900 rubles) per adult
- Every Tuesday and Sunday - free admission for girls (+ cocktail, a set of all sorts of girls' joys and massage), in a word, Ladys Day

The price includes sun loungers by the sea and access to the pool. But the gazebo tents cost 1,600 dirhams (30,900 rubles), however, you will also be given a bottle of Moët as a gift.
The entrance fee is also a deposit that can be spent on food and drinks (and you cannot order a separate drink, please choose your food first). Dish - from 60 dirham (1160 rubles), cocktail - 55 dirham (1060 rubles).

Where to stay in Dubai? Beach hotels

Room in our hotel in Sharjah - 3 * Centro Sharjah by Rotana

Good news: in all of Dubai there will be at least 45 hotels on the first line with their own beach. Agree, a lot, there is plenty to choose from.
Bad news: they are all four- and five-star; as in Turkey - so that a three-ruble note and by the sea - does not happen here.

Dubai hotels with their own beaches are clustered in the Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina areas. There are a couple closer to the Burj Khalifa.

The easiest way to find a beach hotel. If you are traveling on a tour, go to Travelata.ru (a service for booking tours), enter the desired date, composition and city of departure - and be sure to click on the "Filters" button on the left in the window with tours, and then tick the "Private beach of the hotel" ... If you are driving on your own, then RoomGuru (hotel booking service) will help according to the same principle, only a tick must be put in "Services" and "Access to the beach".

For example, here are hotels with private beach areas that are popular with Russian tourists:

5 * Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa
5 * Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort
5 * Habtoor Grand Resort
5 * JA Beach Hotel
5 * Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach
5 * Atlantis The Palm

Prices for tours to Dubai (UAE)

For 4 trips to the UAE, we have visited many excursions (we have a review in the blog), one of our favorites is a safari!

As I said at the beginning, one of the main advantages of Dubai for me is its accessibility. Both in terms of price and distance. The cost of tours to Dubai is one of the cheapest from Russia, and there are departures both from Moscow and from the regions (we flew from Kazan). Tours cost us from 40,000 rubles for two - such prices can be seen, for example, in November-December. On holidays and in high season, of course, it will be higher.

Once I was counting on an independent trip to Dubai, it comes out much more expensive than a tour. At the same time, from the tour we take, in theory, only the flight, transfer and hotel, you don't even need to go to a meeting with a guide. Excursions, if necessary, we book online ourselves.

If you want to fly to Dubai as cheaply as possible, you should consider the Deira area for a hotel, or better - the neighboring emirate of Sharjah, tours there are quite inexpensive. Sharjah is located from Dubai literally 30 minutes by taxi.

Where do we usually look and compare prices and buy tours?

Travelata
Level.Travel
Onlinetours

My review of the beaches in Dubai

My opinion and reviews of tourists about the beaches in Dubai are generally positive. My favorites are Marina Beach and La Mer. Yes, and a beach vacation in Dubai is one of our favorites, with an opportunity (good price of the tour) we will come again! Fortunately, it takes only 4.5 hours to fly from central Russia 🙂

I made a good video about the beaches of Dubai and showed all the main places, except for Al Mamzar - on the last trip we did not get there, we lived in the central part of Dubai. There are also several more videos about Dubai on the channel:

What are the rules of conduct on public beaches?

Open swimwear is allowed - but only in the beach area. As in Turkey (in shops or shopping malls) it is not like that, most likely they will come up to you and ask you to get dressed!
Difficulties with alcohol, it is definitely impossible to describe it openly. I advise, if you are traveling to Dubai and you really need alcohol, drink it in a hotel / cafe or buy it in duty-free.
Some beaches have women's days, of the above, this rule applies only to Al Mamzar.