Most public beaches in Dubai are free. For night swimming, use the floodlit zones at Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1 (Sunset Beach), or the 24-hour night beach at Khor Al Mamzar, opened in May 2026. Kite Beach is the liveliest, Sunset Beach has the classic Burj Al Arab view, JBR has the most restaurants, and Al Mamzar Beach Park, at AED 5, is the best for young families. Swim only in lifeguarded zones, and only in daylight outside the night beaches.
At a glance
- Free beaches
- Kite Beach, Sunset Beach, Jumeirah beaches, JBR, Jebel Ali, Khor Al Mamzar
- Night swimming
- Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Khor Al Mamzar
- Best for families
- Al Mamzar Beach Park (AED 5), Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim beaches
- Best for food and buzz
- Kite Beach and JBR
- Burj Al Arab view
- Sunset Beach, Umm Suqeim
- Season
- October to May by day; summer evenings at the night beaches
Last checked: 13 October 2026 against Dubai Municipality beach information and recent announcements.
On this page
Dubai public beaches compared
| Beach | Area | Entry | Night swim | Facilities | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kite Beach | Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah | Free | Nearby zones | Showers, toilets, food trucks, cafés, outdoor gym, sports courts | Active days out, kitesurf watching, food |
| Sunset Beach (Umm Suqeim 1) | Umm Suqeim | Free | Yes | Showers, toilets, beach library | Burj Al Arab views and sunset |
| Jumeirah 2 and Jumeirah 3 | Jumeirah | Free | Yes, floodlit zones | Showers, toilets, jogging track | Night swims and calm family days |
| Jumeirah 1 (Jumeirah Public Beach) | Jumeirah 1 | Free | No | Redeveloped: wider beach, paths, new facilities | Quiet local beach |
| JBR, The Beach | Dubai Marina | Free | No | Restaurants, shops, water sports, showers | Food, people-watching, Ain Dubai views |
| Al Mamzar Beach Park | Al Mamzar, Deira | AED 5; car AED 30 | No | Five beaches, pools, chalets, BBQ areas, playgrounds | Families with young children; ladies’ days Monday and Wednesday |
| Khor Al Mamzar Lagoon Beach | Al Mamzar | Free | Yes, 24 hours | Floating walkway, water sports, tracks, 19 food outlets | Night swimming and water sports |
| Jebel Ali Public Beach | Jebel Ali | Free | No | Basic; caravans allowed with a free permit | Space, quiet and caravan weekends |
| Palm West Beach | Palm Jumeirah trunk | Free; venues paid | No | 1.6 km promenade, beachfront restaurants, running trail | Sunset, dinner and skyline views |
| Dubai Islands Beach | Dubai Islands, off Deira | Free | No | Dog park, kayaking and paddleboarding | Dog owners: Dubai’s first pet-friendly beach |
| Al Sufouh Beach | Al Sufouh | Free | No | Few or none | Quiet swims with Palm and skyline views |
| La Mer and J1 Beach | Jumeirah 1 | Beach access free; clubs paid | No | Restaurants, beach clubs, paid loungers | A smart day out with lunch |
Beach clubs: when it is worth paying
If you want sunbeds, a pool, service and lunch in one place, Dubai’s beach clubs sell day passes, usually as a minimum spend you eat and drink against. Well-known names include DRIFT Beach at One&Only Royal Mirage, Nikki Beach on Pearl Jumeira, WHITE Beach at Atlantis and the clubs at J1 Beach and along Palm West Beach. Prices jump at weekends, so book ahead and check the minimum spend, age rules and dress code.
Night swimming in Dubai
Dubai Municipality allows swimming after dark only at designated, floodlit night beaches with lifeguards. Umm Suqeim 1 became the first in 2017, and Jumeirah 2 and Jumeirah 3 were added in May 2023. Khor Al Mamzar’s 300-metre night beach, lit by floodlight towers, opened in May 2026 and runs 24 hours a day.
| Night beach | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Umm Suqeim 1 (Sunset Beach) | 2017 | The original night beach, with Burj Al Arab views |
| Jumeirah 2 | 2023 | A long, clearly marked floodlit zone |
| Jumeirah 3 | 2023 | Quieter, next to Kite Beach |
| Khor Al Mamzar | 2026 | 300 m night beach, open 24 hours |
Swim only inside the lit, marked zone; everywhere else, swimming after sunset is not allowed. Guides disagree on whether the older night beaches run all night or from sunset to sunrise, so check the signs at the beach. See our night swimming guide for hours and rules.
The best beaches for families
- Al Mamzar Beach Park: five sheltered beaches with calm water, pools, playgrounds, shaded lawns and chalets, for AED 5 entry. Mondays and Wednesdays are ladies’ days.
- Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim beaches: calm, gently shelving water, showers and lifeguards, without the crowds of JBR.
- Kite Beach: lots for older children, from food trucks and courts to the long promenade.
- Accessibility: Dubai Municipality has been adding ramps, accessible toilets and parking for people of determination as it upgrades its public beaches, and people of determination enter Al Mamzar Beach Park free. Facilities vary by beach, so check before you go.
La Mer and J1 Beach
La Mer, the beachfront district in Jumeirah 1, has changed a lot since it opened in 2017. Its Laguna Waterpark closed permanently in March 2023, and La Mer South has been rebuilt as J1 Beach, a restaurant-led waterfront with beach clubs, paid loungers and water sports. Beach access is reported to stay free, while the clubs charge entry or a minimum spend. Parking is in the underground car parks, with validation at participating outlets. Check the developer’s channels for which parts of La Mer North and Central are open on the day you go.
Jumeirah 1 redevelopment and the Dubai beach plan
Dubai Municipality has redeveloped the 1.4 km Jumeirah 1 beach, widening it by about half and adding pedestrian, cycling and jogging paths, family zones, new restrooms and changing rooms, and smart services; it was due to reopen in early 2026. It is part of a wider AED 3 billion programme to upgrade Dubai’s public beaches, including Jumeirah 2, Umm Suqeim, Jebel Ali and the Al Mamzar beaches, as the emirate’s 2040 urban master plan aims to greatly expand public beachfront.
Dubai beach rules
- Swim in lifeguarded zones only. Lifeguards work from sunrise to sunset on most beaches; outside the night beaches, do not swim after dark.
- Watch the flags: green means safe to swim, yellow means take care, and red means no swimming.
- Barbecues only in designated areas, such as those at Al Mamzar Beach Park; fines apply elsewhere.
- No tents or camping on city beaches; caravans only at Jebel Ali with a permit.
- No pets on most public beaches. The exception is Dubai Islands Beach, Dubai’s first pet-friendly beach, where dogs can swim and run off the lead in a 460 square metre dog park.
- Modest swimwear, and cover up when you leave the sand.
- No photos of other beachgoers without consent, no drones without permission, and take your rubbish home.
Best time to go
| Months | Verdict |
|---|---|
| October and May | Hot; go early morning or late afternoon |
| November to April | The best months for all-day beach trips; weekends get busy |
| June to September | Too hot by day; use the night beaches after sunset |
Weekday mornings are quietest everywhere. Friday to Sunday afternoons and public holidays are the busiest, especially at Kite Beach and JBR, where parking fills quickly.
Beaches in the other emirates
| Emirate | Top public beaches | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | Corniche Beach, Al Bateen, Saadiyat, Hudayriyat | Corniche and Al Bateen, Saadiyat, Hudayriyat |
| Sharjah | Al Khan, Al Heera and family beaches | Sharjah beaches |
| Umm Al Quwain | Mangrove Beach and the lagoon | Mangrove Beach |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Al Hamra, Flamingo Beach, Marjan Island | RAK beaches; barbecues have been banned at Flamingo Beach since 10 September 2026 |
| Fujairah | Al Aqah, Dibba, Snoopy Island | Fujairah beaches, Snoopy Island |
Every beach guide
- Kite Beach Dubai: timings, parking and the best time to go.
- Umm Suqeim and Sunset Beach: free Burj Al Arab views.
- Al Mamzar Beach Park: entry, ladies’ days, chalets and the new lagoon beach.
- Jebel Ali Beach: public access, camping and caravan permits.
- Night swimming beaches in Dubai: where, hours and rules.
- Beach camping in the UAE: where it is allowed.
- Best parks in Dubai: lawns, BBQ areas and play areas.
- Things to do in Dubai: the city’s best days out.
- UAE weather by month: when each outing is at its best.
Dubai beaches FAQs
Are public beaches in Dubai free?
Yes, most are free, including Kite Beach, Sunset Beach, the Jumeirah beaches, JBR, Jebel Ali and Khor Al Mamzar. Al Mamzar Beach Park charges AED 5 per person, or AED 30 per car.
Which beaches in Dubai allow night swimming?
Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1 (Sunset Beach) have floodlit night-swimming zones, and Khor Al Mamzar opened a 24-hour night beach in May 2026.
What is the best beach in Dubai for families?
Al Mamzar Beach Park, with five sheltered beaches, pools, playgrounds and chalets, is the best for young children. The Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim beaches are good free alternatives.
Where can I see the Burj Al Arab from the beach?
Sunset Beach at Umm Suqeim 1 has the classic free view of the Burj Al Arab, especially at sunset.
Is La Mer still open?
La Mer has been partly redeveloped. Laguna Waterpark closed in 2023 and La Mer South was rebuilt as J1 Beach, with free beach access and paid beach clubs.
Can you have a BBQ on the beach in Dubai?
Only in designated BBQ areas, such as those at Al Mamzar Beach Park. Barbecues elsewhere on Dubai’s beaches can be fined.
Are dogs allowed on Dubai beaches?
Not on most public beaches. Dubai Islands Beach, reached over the Dubai Islands bridge from Deira, is Dubai’s first pet-friendly beach, with an off-lead dog park.