No More Excuses for Your Next Vacation: We Found the Top 10 Free Beaches in Dubai
I think it takes a big man to admit that he’s broke. And today, I am as big as I can be. There are a lot of things I can’t afford right now, like saying I’m financially well or that I can actually have a proper vacation.
But luckily, I’m rich in friends. Sometimes, they cover for me, which is awesome, though I really just love hanging out with them and appreciate their generosity. But honestly, it does sting my pride a bit.
So to keep things cool, I asked them to join me in checking out some of the best free beaches in Dubai. This way, I can enjoy their company and have a guilt-free vacation! Check out some of our favorite spots below.
Does Dubai have free beaches?
Dubai has a bunch of free beaches for locals and travelers to enjoy. Swing by public spots like Kite Beach, La Mer, Dubai Islands Beach, Jumeirah Public Beach, and Sunrise Beach for a refreshing dip or a bit of a tan!
Kite Beach
Media credit: kitebeachdubai
Website: http://www.kitebeach.ae/
Address: Umm Suqeim, Jumeirah Beach Road
Contact Details: +971 4 317 3999, [email protected]
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Retail & Leisure Venue Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
Food & Beverage Spot Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday – 10 AM to 10 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 10 AM to 12 AM
Kite Beach is a free spot in Dubai where you can indulge in many fun activities and water sports. This includes playing volleyball, kite surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing, kayaking, and so on—we bet you’ll never get bored!
But if you want to bring your introverted date for a long walk, no worries! The beach offers a 14-kilometer track, so we think you’ll have more than enough for a romantic stroll. Alternatively, there’s a beach library where you can hang out peacefully.
Plus, we love that there are some shopping spots here for your retail therapy and tons of food trucks to satisfy your midday cravings.
Pro tips:
Kite Beach has no chairs or umbrellas, so you’ll probably need to bring these items to make your trip comfier.
La Mer
Media credit: therover.ae
Address: Jumeirah 1
Beach Hours:
- Monday to Thursday, Sunday – 10 AM to 10 PM
- Friday to Sunday – 10 AM to 12 AM
La Mer is a complimentary beach spot offering magnificent views of the Arabian Gulf and Dubai’s city skyline. It provides blue waters, white sands, and colorful murals. Many visitors enjoy tanning on the sand or relaxing in a comfy hammock too!
Moreover, we like that this beach has 30 shops, including cafes, restaurants, and beach activities. You may event rent sun loungers and cabanas to level up your beach day! And no need to worry about the little ones, because there are play areas for them too.
Now if you’re short on some essentials, we like that there’s a tiny convenience store here selling sunscreen, drinks, and snacks. Showers and toilets are available as well.
Pro tip:
Though beach entry is free, La Mer charges for changing rooms and outdoor showers. Parking is also AED 30 per hour, so you might still need extra dirhams.
Dubai Islands Beach
Media credit: dubaiislandsbeach
Address: 8832+6G, Off the coast of Deira
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
- But note that beach swimming is only until 7 pm
Dubai Islands Beach is a wonderful, dirham-free place in Deira to get some tan. We feel this is especially true if you’ve been working a lot from a secluded office or home space.
But if you easily get bored with just lying around, we recommend getting active! You can play beach volleyball or football, as well as try paddleboarding or kayaking for a change.
And to make things even more fun, we appreciate that this beach allows dogs! Run and splash around to your heart’s content, as long as you try to be a responsible fur parent at all times.
Pro tip:
Dubai Islands Beach doesn’t have many restaurants and cafes around, so we advise bringing ample snacks and drinks on your beach trip.
Jumeirah Public Beach (Nessnass Beach)
Media credit: miss.kayc
Address: Jumeirah – Jumeirah 1
Beach Hours:
- Saturday to Wednesday – 7:30 AM to 10 PM
- Thursday to Friday – 7:30 AM to 12 AM
Want your beach experience to feel limitless? Jumeirah Public Beach offers a marvelous stretch of beach from the Dubai Marine Beach Resort to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai. We also like that it’s pretty low-key, unlike other more crowded beaches.
For us, it’s no wonder the location attracts many sunseekers—you may rent sun loungers too! You can do many fun things, like running, rollerblading, and cycling. But if it’s thrilling water sports you’re into, we suggest going for jet skiing or kite surfing.
We also find it incredible that this is among the few Dubai beaches that allow night swimming. What a fantastic way to cool off when the sun goes down, in our opinion. The beach has floodlights and lifeguards working to ensure your safety.
Pro tips:
Jumeirah Public Beach doesn’t provide sun loungers or umbrellas, so we feel it’s not best to come here during the summer since it can get too hot to handle.
This beach is also right at the back of Sunset Mall, where you can shop and dine after a long day in the sun. Why not try Lebanese cuisine from a restaurant like Beit Em Noor for a burst of flavors?
Sunrise Beach
Media credit: moejana
Address: 662P+42F
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Technically, many things you see in your 4×4 car are free. But for us, Sunrise Beach offers priceless views that can make your road trip so early in the morning memorable!
But if you’re not driving, we say stick your head out (safely) now and then to bask in the refreshing wind—you’ll see the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah on your left from afar!
Of course, that’s not to say you can’t stop by this beach at all! Since there are no restaurants or toilets around, we suggest getting creative and bringing your own picnic, sandcastle tools, and other essentials so you can relax for a few hours.
Pro tips:
We recommend getting to Sunrise Beach at least 15 minutes before sunrise so you can capture the best wakeup views.
For us, it’s also best not to stay too long here if you have a small bladder—there are no washrooms here when nature calls on you!
Sunset Beach (Umm Suqeim Beach)
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Website: http://sunsetbeachdubai.com/
Address: Umm Suqeim – Jumeirah 3
Contact Details: +420 739 466 191
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Sunset Beach is one of the best free beaches in Dubai that’s ideal for surfing, fishing, and kite surfing. For us, night swimming here also looks fun and safe, with big lights letting you go up to 30 meters out to the sea—lights will be out at midnight, though.
Not only that, but we also think that this spot provides the best views of the iconic Burl Al Arab! And don’t mistake this beach as being only great for the evening—we say this place is lovely for morning walks or jogs too, whichever you prefer that day.
We appreciate that this isn’t as popular as Kite Beach either. It’s not as crowded, giving you your well-deserved serene time. Just don’t forget about the pop-up library and complimentary Wi-Fi—for a different type of “surfing” at the beach!
Pro tip:
Are you a bookstore fanatic wanting to declutter some classics? At Sunset Beach, you can donate books at the handy library station!
The Beach JBR
Media credit: thebeachdubai
Website: https://www.thebeach.ae/en
Address: The Beach – Jumeirah Beach Residence – Dubai Marina
Contact Details: +971 4 590 5090, customerservic[email protected]
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 10 AM to 12 AM
- Friday to Saturday – 10 AM to 1 AM
The Beach JBR is the nearest public beach to Dubai Marina and can give you beautiful vistas of Ain Dubai. If you’re dreaming of a rejuvenating beach day, this spot is lined with sunbeds and cabanas that we believe can help you get there.
And if you like walking and wandering about, we suggest exploring the shops, restaurants, and outdoor markets here. Should you have kids in tow, there’s also a mini-game arcade that can entertain them all afternoon.
Pro tip:
We believe the visitors at The Beach JBR should be careful with the water levels. The depth can vary, even when close to the shore. This is why we think this can be unsafe, especially for non-swimmers.
Al Sufouh Beach
Media credit: kkris.off
Address: Al Sufouh – Al Sufouh 1
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Dubbed the “Hidden Beach,” “Secret Beach,” or “Black Palace Beach,” Al Sufouh Beach is a zero-cost spot we recommend for those who want to escape both the hustle and bustle of the city and the chaotic crowds at famous beaches.
You’ll get to this beach through a narrow sandy path between the royal palaces of Al Sufouh—ideal for a romantic rendezvous too, we say.
And because the waters are clear and shallow, we believe this is great for families to bond and teach kids how to swim. Just remember that there are no facilities or restaurants here, so ensure your cars are well-stocked with essentials.
Pro tips:
Al Sufouh Beach has no changing facilities, so we recommend being creative with how you change. Either have a buddy to cover you up or wear layered clothing so you can easily adjust it when needed.
The beach may be occasionally closed for reasons such as flooding, so we advise checking if it’s open online before you visit.
Marina Beach
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Address: Dubai Marina
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
If you love natural wonders, you might appreciate Marina Beach, a beautiful lagoon that’s totally man-made! We reckon photographers love it here because this place offers magnificent sights of the Dubai skyline.
This beach is surrounded by a bunch of skyscrapers. This is why it’s vibrant, with many folks wanting to sunbathe, watch the sunset, or enjoy water sports. This means it can get pretty crowded sometimes, so it’s best to swim pretty early to maximize your visit.
Pro tip:
Go cafe hopping at Marina Beach! There are many options surrounding the area, so we say make a list (or at least a mental note) of the coffee shops you want to try before or after you take a dip. We say go for Cafe Di Roma or Mondoux first!
Jebel Ali Public Beach
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Address: Public Beach – Mina Jebel Ali
Beach Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Jebel Ali Public Beach is ideal for those who don’t necessarily want a perfect golden beach—but rather a far less dolled-up one. Actually, we believe this spot has its own charms with its serene vibes and scattered grass.
There are a few amenities to expect, but we love the small kiosk with snacks, cold drinks, and even ice cream for a cool pick-me-up. And if you’re lucky, occasional food trucks or pop-up coffee shops might even appear!
Pro tip:
Love animals? At Jebel Ali Public Beach, you can see one or a few peacocks wandering about now and then. When you encounter one, make sure to have your phone ready and snap away!