Don’t get us wrong, we enjoy a bells-and-whistles, no expense spared beach day as much as the next sun seeker (a private cabana might just be our natural habit), but we can never forget that the best free beaches in Dubai offer a brilliant alternative.

We’re lucky enough to live in a city with an array of fabulous free beaches.

Here are some of the best places to soak up some sun for free.

Al Sufouh Beach

A beautiful beach of many names (Black Palace Beach, Secret Beach) and well-deserved legendary status amongst long-term Dubai residents. This is the perfect spot when you want to escape the crowds and feel like you’ve gone off the beaten track, but wish to do so without sacrificing the Burj Al Arab and Atlantis The Royal views. As befits the secret beach moniker there are no facilities or restaurants here so make sure you arrive well-stocked with supplies.
Turn right into the slip road after the bus stop on Al Sufouh Road (just before Hessa Street and about 500m before Dubai Media City).

JBR Beach

There’s something for everyone at Dubai’s busiest beach. From sunrise until sunset (and beyond) this stretch of sand – and the busy promenade behind it – hums with activity and possibility thanks to the children’s play areas, inflatable Aqua Park, sun-loungers for hire and restaurants, cafés and beach clubs galore. If not spending a dirham is the plan, that’s fine too; arrive early and snag yourself a prime spot on the sand, then spend the day drinking in the superb Ain Dubai views (and the water that you brought with you from home).
The Beach, opposite JBR.

Jebel Ali Public Beach

Picturesque, peaceful, far less built up than many of Dubai’s beaches and some would argue (us included) much the better for it. When all you want to do is chuck your towel on the sand, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin and power through your latest book or podcast, Jebel Ali Beach should be your go-to. Amenities are limited but there is a small kiosk selling snacks, ice creams and cold drinks and from time-to-time pop-up coffee or food trucks appear. Clearly, one of the best free beaches in Dubai.
Mina Jebel Ali.

Kite Beach

Trendy cafés and gourmet food shacks; a skate park, hanging rope obstacle course, human slingshot experience, long swathes of sand, 14km beach-side (for the most part) running track, options to go paddle boarding, water skiing, kayaking and of course kite surfing – consider that list just a taste of things to do at this beach. Brilliant for adults, kids and everyone in between, Kite Beach may have grown its offerings at pace over the last few years but a real sense of character remains.
Street 5a, behind Jumeirah Beach Road, Umm Suqeim.

Mercato Beach

All the neighbourhood feels. Sure, this isn’t the most spectacular beach in town but when old-school beach holiday activities are on the agenda – rock pooling, sand castle building, shell collecting and shoreside paddling – Mercato’s your beach. Seek respite from the sun and reward the family for embracing wholesome screen-time free fun with an ice cream from Mercato Mall or up the ante and treat the team to lunch at 3Fils in nearby Jumeirah Fishing Harbour (you won’t be disappointed).
Take a u-turn once you’ve passed Mercato Mall into 13a Street, Jumeirah 2.

Nessnass Beach

While this beach is most popular with kite surfers, there’s plenty of scope for paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and sailing too. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head for the turquoise-hued Feels cafe for coffee and a wholesome feed.
Nessnass Street, behind Sunset Mall.

La Mer

Close your eyes and imagine the bustling beachside town of your dreams. If glittering blue sea, soft, white sand, palm-tree fringed paths, quaint-yet-cool beach huts, funky street art and twinkling fairy lights feature then we have an inkling that you’ll love La Mer. As well as all that, this is a trendy dining and shopping destination in its own right, complete with fast food spots and gourmet ice cream trucks, high-end restaurants and more. Not your average beach and one of the best free beaches in Dubai.
Jumeirah 1, lamerdubai.ae.

Sunrise Beach

All you need to enjoy this free beach is a car – ideally a 4×4 – a picnic, (there are no restaurants or toilets around) and the kit and clobber necessary for a beach day out (towels, toys, hats, sun lotion – you know the drill). This massive expanse of sand stretches from the road to the shore (great for an intense sand running workout) and the bay arches around providing a great view. Crane your neck to the left and you’ll even see the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah far off in the distance.
At the corner of Al Athar Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, under the canal bridge. Jumeirah 2.

Sunset Beach

Kite Beach’s lesser-known sibling has plenty going for it, not least the fact that the wide stretch of milky-white sand is often deserted in the early morning (this is a fabulous spot for a pre-work ocean-side stroll) and tends to remain if not exactly quiet, then certainly calm, throughout the day. Keen surfers often cite this beach as a top spot, fishing is popular, families are well-catered thanks to a children’s playground and clutch of BBQ areas and there’s even a pop-up library and free wifi (our kinda place). As the name suggests, you should of course stick around for sunset.
2C Street, Umm Suqeim.

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