Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach is free at Gate 4 (Al Sahil) and costs about AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children in the family sections at Gates 2 and 3. A free night beach at Gates 4 to 6 runs from 6pm to 10pm, and until midnight from Friday to Sunday. Al Bateen Beach, a few kilometres south-west, is free, calmer and open from 8am to sunset. For a women-only beach, the dependable option in 2026 is the Al Bateen Ladies Club, a private club; details below.
At a glance
- Corniche, Gate 4
- Free, open to everyone, including singles and groups
- Corniche, Gates 2 and 3
- Family sections, about AED 10 adults and AED 5 children; under 5 free
- Night beach
- Gates 4 to 6, 6pm to 10pm; to midnight Friday to Sunday
- Accessible beach
- Gate 3, for visually impaired visitors, free with one guest
- Al Bateen Beach
- Free, 8am to sunset
- Women-only
- Al Bateen Ladies Club (private, membership or passes)
- Best months
- October to May
Last verified: 12 October 2026 against Abu Dhabi City Municipality announcements and the beach operator’s published fees.
On this page
Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach: gates and fees
The Corniche Beach is a 2 km Blue Flag beach along the city’s 8 km Corniche waterfront, facing north-west across the Arabian Gulf to Lulu Island. Blue Flag is the international award run by the Foundation for Environmental Education for clean water, safety, lifeguards and environmental education. The beach is split into sections by gate, each with its own rules.
| Section | Who it is for | Entry | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 2 | Families | About AED 10 adults, AED 5 children under 12, under 5 free | Quiet, well kept, sunbeds and umbrellas to rent |
| Gate 3 | Families with children; also the accessible beach | About AED 10 adults, AED 5 children; accessible zone free | Family focused, calm |
| Gate 4, Al Sahil | Everyone, including singles and groups | Free | The busiest and most social section |
| Gates 4 to 6, night beach | Everyone | Free | Floodlit swimming and sports after dark |
The family sections are managed by the beach operator, which also rents sunbeds and umbrellas, and they usually open from 8am to 8pm. Fees have stayed at the same modest level for years, but check at the gate, as prices and age bands can change. On the free section, you can lay out your own towel and umbrella anywhere on the sand.
The Corniche night beach
Abu Dhabi City Municipality opened a night beach on the Corniche so that people can swim safely after sunset, when it is cooler. It covers a 1,000-metre stretch reached through Gates 4 to 6.
- Hours: 6pm to 10pm daily, extended to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- Swimming: only within the lit, marked zone while lifeguards are on duty.
- Sports: volleyball, basketball and football courts beside the sand.
- Entry: free.
Summer cue: from May to September, the night beach is the most comfortable time to swim on the Corniche. In the cooler months, the daytime family sections are the better choice.
The accessible beach at Gate 3
In April 2025, Abu Dhabi City Municipality and the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination opened a 1,000-square-metre beach area near Gate 3 for visually impaired visitors and their families, the first of its kind in the UAE. It has tactile paving, Braille signs, a fenced guide-rope path with sound bells into the water, a supervised swimming zone with trained lifeguards and a vehicle service for people of determination. Entry is free for visually impaired visitors and one companion. The area is open from 6am to midnight, with swimming from 6am until sunset. Floating wheelchairs and accessible facilities are also available on the Corniche.
Al Bateen Beach
Al Bateen Beach is a free public beach in the Al Bateen area, on the south-western side of Abu Dhabi Island near Al Bateen Marina, reached from Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street. It is smaller and calmer than the Corniche, with shallow water, palm shade and a local, family feel, and it holds an international safety rating for its lifeguarding and facilities. It is open from 8am to sunset, with showers, toilets and lifeguards in season, and sunbeds and umbrellas to rent.
- Best for: families and anyone who wants a quieter swim than the Corniche.
- Swimming: only in daylight and in the flagged zones.
- Food: a few kiosks nearby, with more choice at Al Bateen Marina.
- Picnics: bring a mat and a cool box for the shade under the palms; barbecues are not allowed on the sand.
Women-only beaches in Abu Dhabi
This is where most guides are out of date. Here is the current picture:
| Option | What it is | Access | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Bateen Ladies Club | A women and children’s club with a private beach, pool, padel courts, gym, spa, children’s club and café, run by Matcha | Membership and passes through the club | Reopened by the Department of Municipalities and Transport in January 2024 |
| Al Bateen ladies’ beach section | A gated public women’s section listed by older guides at AED 25 for adults and AED 5 for children, boys up to 6 | Pay at the gate | We could not confirm it is operating in 2026; call ahead |
| Corniche ladies’ beach | The former women’s beach at one end of the Corniche | None | Closed for redevelopment in 2022 |
On a women-only beach, boys are usually allowed only up to about age 6, swimming ends at sunset, and phones and cameras are restricted to protect privacy.
Facilities on the Corniche
- Lifeguards on the swimming sections, with flags showing safe zones.
- Showers, toilets and changing areas at the main gates.
- Sunbeds and umbrellas to rent in the family sections.
- Cafés and restaurants along the promenade, plus kiosks by the gates.
- A long cycling and walking path, playgrounds and shaded parks behind the beach.
- Jet skiing, kayaking and boat rides from licensed operators along the waterfront.
Beach rules in Abu Dhabi
- Swim only in lifeguarded, flagged zones, and only in daylight except on the night beach.
- Modest swimwear on public beaches; cover up when you leave the sand.
- No barbecues or glass on the beach, and take your rubbish with you.
- No photographing other beachgoers without their consent.
- Pets are not allowed on the public beaches.
Which beach should you choose?
| Beach | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche, Gates 2 and 3 | About AED 10 | Families who want a quieter, managed beach in the city |
| Corniche, Gate 4 | Free | Groups, friends and a lively atmosphere |
| Corniche night beach | Free | Swimming after dark, especially in summer |
| Al Bateen Beach | Free | A calm, local family beach |
| Saadiyat beaches | Varies | Long white sand and clear water, 20 minutes from the city |
| Hudayriyat Island | Free | Sport, cycling and a full day out |
Best time to go
October to May is beach season in Abu Dhabi. In October and May the water is warm and the afternoons are still above 35 degrees Celsius, so go early or use the night beach; from November to March the days are in the mid-20s and perfect for a full beach day. Weekday mornings are quietest. Friday to Sunday afternoons are the busiest time on the Corniche, and the free Gate 4 section fills first.
Getting there and parking
The Corniche Beach runs along Corniche Road West in the heart of Abu Dhabi, between the Marina Mall breakwater and the downtown towers. Each gate has nearby paid parking along the Corniche, which fills up on weekend afternoons, so arrive before noon or after sunset. Al Bateen Beach is a 10-minute drive from the Corniche towards Al Bateen Marina. From Dubai, allow about 90 minutes by car.
Nearby: Qasr Al Hosn, Marina Mall, the Heritage Village on the breakwater and the Etihad Towers are all a short drive or walk from the Corniche, so you can easily combine a beach morning with sightseeing. For questions about beach access, the Department of Culture and Tourism’s visitor line is +971 2 444 0444; see our places to visit in Abu Dhabi guide.
- Saadiyat beaches: Abu Dhabi’s best sand, public and hotel options.
- Best public beaches in Dubai: if you are based in Dubai.
- Night swimming: every floodlit night beach compared.
- Abu Dhabi with kids: family days beyond the beach.
- Mina Zayed markets: the fish market at the end of the Corniche.
- Khalifa Park: a big shaded park for a picnic.
Corniche and Al Bateen beach FAQs
Is Abu Dhabi Corniche Beach free?
The Al Sahil section at Gate 4 and the night beach at Gates 4 to 6 are free. The family sections at Gates 2 and 3 charge about AED 10 for adults and AED 5 for children.
What are the Corniche Beach timings?
The family sections usually open from 8am to 8pm. The night beach runs 6pm to 10pm daily and until midnight from Friday to Sunday.
Can you swim at night on Abu Dhabi Corniche?
Yes, at the night beach reached through Gates 4 to 6, a 1,000-metre floodlit stretch open from 6pm to 10pm, and to midnight at weekends.
Is Al Bateen Beach free?
Yes. Al Bateen public beach is free and open from 8am to sunset.
Is there a ladies beach in Abu Dhabi?
The Al Bateen Ladies Club, run by Matcha, has a private women-only beach with membership and passes. Older guides list a public ladies’ section at Al Bateen for AED 25, but its 2026 status is unconfirmed, so call before you go.
Is the Corniche Beach accessible for people with disabilities?
Yes. A dedicated beach for visually impaired visitors opened at Gate 3 in 2025, free for the visitor and one companion, and the Corniche has floating wheelchairs and accessible facilities.