Which is the best beach in Dubai? The age old question without an answer. Instead of trawling the web reading about The Best Beaches in Dubai, read this and find out which beach is actually THE BEST!
We compared all 10 main beaches in Dubai against one another for Location, Views, Accessibility, Things to Do and Nearby Hotels to find out which beach was the best. Overall, The Beach at JBR came out the winner, but there wasn’t much in it between the top few.
To find out why The Beach JBR is the best beach in Dubai and which other beaches were close to the top, then get stuck in below.
How Many Beaches are in Dubai?
First of all, let’s take a look at all of the main beaches in Dubai, of which there are 10.
- The Beach – Located at Jumeirah Beach Residence
- Palm West Beach – Located at the Palm Jumeirah
- Al Sufouh Secret Beach aka. Black Palace Beach – Located at Al Sufouh
- Sunset Beach – Located at Umm Suqeim
- Kite Beach – Located at Umm Suqeim 1
- Jumeirah Beach – Located at Jumeirah
- Open Beach – Located at Jumeirah
- Mercato Beach – Located at Jumeirah 1
- La Mer Beach – Located at Jumeirah 1
- Al Mamzar Beach – Although technically in Deira not Dubai, Al Mamzar is neighbouring and too good to miss!
Which Dubai Beach Has The Best Views?
The first thing to look at when comparing the best beaches in Dubai has to the be scenery.
There’s nothing like a peaceful view when you’re lounging on the beach! All of the beaches at Dubai offer unique and beautiful views whether that is of the sea or the dazzling city itself, so let’s look at which has the best.
The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence
The Beach offers a sandy shoreline, refreshing blue crystal clear water, and overlooks the Gulf, Palm Jumeirah and many sky-scraping hotels, as well as delightful views of Bluewaters Island featuring the Ain Dubai!
Rating – 4 Stars
Palm West Beach
Nothing quite beats a sunset view from Palm West Beach which overlooks the rest of the Palm, JBR, Bluewaters Island and the vast expanse of the clear Arabian Gulf.
Rating – 4 Stars
Al Sufouh Secret Beach
As we’ve established Al Sufouh Secret Beach truly is a hidden gem, with a vast expanse of a sandy white beach and the Burj Al Arab from a distance makes for a relaxing trip whilst still marvelling at some of Dubai’s iconic landmarks!
Rating – 4 Stars
Sunset Beach
Much like Al Sufouh Secret Beach, the Sunset Beach edges closer for a view of the Burj Al Arab! There’s also a reason it’s called the Sunset Beach as the setting sun provides some incredibly picturesque sights.
Rating – 4 Stars
Kite Beach
Kite Beach is a great spot to behold a whole new type of picturesque setting with the kite surfing action taking place! Combined with the distant view of the Burj Al Arab, you truly get a unique view here!
Rating – 4 Stars
Jumeirah Public Beach
Jumeirah Public Beach has a good expanse of shoreline and makes for a great spot to gaze upon the incredible architecture with the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Burj Al Arab standing strong and proud!
Rating – 3 Stars
Open Beach
Open Beach is similar to Sunset Beach as you get a great view of the Burj Al Arab on a long stretch of shoreline, with the right amount of peace and quiet to unwind. Daria Island sits out right in front of you, whilst the Sky-Scrapers of Downtown Dubai sit behind.
Rating 3 Stars
Mercato Beach
Mercato Beach overlooks the turquoise glistening Gulf with a fairly unobstructed view and is home to a vast expanse of beach for you to enjoy at your leisure!
Rating – 3 Stars
La Mer Beach
The beach with one of the most iconic photo’s of Dubai Beaches around – La Mer.
Tonnes of swanky beach shops and restaurants, the glistening Arabian Gulf, Burj Khalifa and swinging palm tree’s all add to the many reasons why La Mer Beach is one of the best in Dubai!
Rating – 5 Stars
Al Mamzar Beach
Al Mamzar Beach offers a vast expanse with the right balance of shoreline and city views off to the side. The crystal blue seas and the tall tropical trees make for a perfect spot for you to relax at.
Rating – 3 Stars
Which Dubai Beach Has The Best Things to Do?
When visiting the beach, you tend to want there to be a range of activities to do, so let’s take a look at what activities there are at each beach. For this section, we will not be looking at nearby activities, but solely focusing on ones at the beach or on their promenade.
Things to do at The Beach at JBR
Firstly, The Beach has one of the city’s most photographed locations right onsite, we of course mean the Flying Cup! The Flying Cup is a slowly spinning ride so you can take in all angles of the magnificent city and even enjoy a drink or dinner whilst you’re up there!
However, if you fancy something a bit more adrenaline-inducing, The Beach has plenty of water sports activities for you to take your pick from. The water activities include classics such as the banana boat and parasailing, and something different such as flyboarding, jetpacking, wakeboarding, and water-skiing.
And this is by no means all! The Beach has a train for your children, camel rides, open air yoga, a beach volleyball court, and an outdoor gym. That’s all without even venturing onto the promenade! The Walk at JBR is a hotspot for going on a shopping spree or having your pick at the many restaurants across the beachfront. If you’re even wanting the relax a bit more, why not catch a movie at Roxy cinemas?
There is an abundance of activities and things to do at The Beach, it truly ticks all of the boxes.
Website: https://www.thebeach.ae/en
Rating – 5 Stars
Want to know more about JBR? See our Ultimate Guide to Jumeirah Beach Residence!
Things to do at Palm West Beach
Palm West Beach is the latest addition to Dubai’s already incredible sandy collection. In fact, it’s already become a hotspot tourist destination!
At Palm West beach you can find day-long beachfront entertainment, whether you’re just passing through or making a day of it, you’re bound to be drawn to the attractions. There’s plenty of restaurants around the beachfront for an indulgent dinner & a light snack, or if you’re planning to catch a light run, there’s an ideal running trail along the edge.
If you yearn for some water activities, Palm West Beach also does not back down with offerings including kayaking, paddle boarding, sea bikes, and catamarans!
Website: https://www.westbeach.ae/
Rating – 4 Stars
Things to do at Al Sufouh Secret Beach
The Sufouh Secret Beach is known as being a bit of a hidden gem, hence the name, and it offers a different experience to the others.
Located between Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah, the Black Palace Beach is easy to miss as it’s concealed by palm trees, but offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. You won’t find so many activities here as it is a secret beach, but it makes for a perfect spot to just relax, unwind, and spend some quality time with your close loved ones.
The shallow waters here also make for a great spot for children to explore the sea safely.
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/al-sufouh-beach
Rating – 3 Stars
Things to do at Sunset Beach
The Sunset Public Beach is a hotspot for surfboarding with views of the Burj Al Arab setting the scene! The reason for this is that the waters are still and calm, but there are plenty of high winds to make for a enjoyable experience for those testing the waters and seasoned surfers alike.
For those looking to get their daily exercise, there is also a running track alongside the beachfront. Sunset Beach also offers a completely different experience with their night swimming, as you may have guessed it is one of the only beaches to offer night-time swimming, so this is a great must if you fancy a moonlit dip.
Website: https://www.visitdubai.com/en/places-to-visit/sunset-beach
Rating – 3 Stars
Things to do at Kite Beach
Kite Beach is a beach packed full of activities and things to do for those of you who fancy keeping busy. A big draw to Kite Beach, as you can tell by its name, is kite surfing! If you’re a newbie, there is a kite surf school on the beach, so you can have professional guidance. However, Kite Beach is perfect for more advanced Kite Surfers due to the deep waters and strong winds.
There are plenty of other activities on the beach too including the XDubai Skatepark, paddle boarding, volleyball, and jet skiing! Kite Beach also has some good facilities for children including Wire World and Splash N Party. You can find plenty of food stops as well as a beach gym for the fitness fanatics.
Kite Beach has a well-rounded and fantastic offering for all walks of life!
Website: https://www.kitebeach.ae/en
Rating – 4 Stars
To find out all there is to know about Kite Beach’s activities, check out our article on Things to do at Kite Beach!
Things to do at Jumeirah Public Beach
Jumeirah Beach is a tourist hotspot which has plenty of activities to do as well as the chance to enjoy a delicious barbecue on the beach. It’s an ideal spot for families as it caters towards children by having a playground as well as measures in place to ensure they’re safe.
On the green areas around the beach, you can also enjoy activities including volleyball, as well as basketball and handball!
Rating – 3 Stars
Things to do at Open Beach
Jumeirah’s Open Beach is another great spot for getting your adrenaline kick! Here, you can soar through the air whilst parasailing and rush across the sea on a jet ski. However, if you’d rather relax on the beach with a good book, there is even a Beach Library here so you can take your pick and let your imagination unwind. For small children, there is also an on site park with swings, a climbing frame and slides.
For those wanted to pursue their passions, there’s a calisthenics park and a fishing harbour within a short distance from each other.
Rating – 3 Stars
Things to do at Mercato Beach
Mercato Beach is a pleasant beach if you’re wanting some time away from the glitz and the glamour to relax a bit more. There are no water sports facilities but you can get a fix by going for a ride along the cycling track. There is also a Beach Library so you can truly unwind and take some time to listen to the crashing of waves at a much quieter beach to the rest.
Take a look at our full guide to Mercato Beach for everything you need to know!
Rating – 3 Stars
Things to do at La Mer Beach
La Mer is a popular tourist spot featuring magnificent swaying palm trees for an exotic paradise feel! It’s a universal beach meaning it’s perfect for couples, friends, and families.
You can find more than 15 art installations around the beach, so it’s great for those with a creative spark! There’s also a lot of water sports at La Mer including stand-up paddle boarding, pedalos, kayaks, water step bikes, inflatables, jet skis, wakeboarding, fly boarding and towables. There is plenty to keep you busy! As for food, there are all sorts of restaurants along the beachfront for you to sink your teeth into.
Rating – 5 Stars
Things to do at Al Mamzar Beach
The final beach is Al Mamzar Beach located in Deira. You can find a play area for the children and an assortment of food kiosks for a convenient bite to eat onsite so it’s a good family spot. There’re also plenty of opportunities to have a picnic or a barbecue depending on the time of year.
Excitingly, Al Mamzar is also due to become a night-swimming beach, so keep an eye out! As for other leisure activities, there’s jet skis, sledges, climbing, football, basketball, roller skating, a fitness area, and beach volleyball for a good selection of things to do. For those wanting to relax with family, light up a BBQ and do a bit of swimming, you can also rent out Chalets.
Rating – 4 Stars
See our guide to rental Chalets at Al Mamzar Park here.
Which Dubai Beach has the Best Hotels?
All of Dubai’s beaches have an abundance of hotels within a close distance, but which has the best? For this section, we will look at the beaches and what the hotels are like nearby as well as how they rank on TripAdvisor.
The Beach at JBR – Hotels Nearby
The Beach at JBR, as we’ve already established is in a great spot for restaurants, tourist attractions and hotels as well as being a stone’s throw away from Dubai Marina which also has plenty of dazzling hotels and restaurants.
The Walk at JBR is 1.7km long as is lined with hotels all the way down, meaning you don’t have to venture far from many of the hotels to be right on the beach.
Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach, Roda Amwaj Suites, Amwaj Rotana and finally JA Ocean View are all just across the street from The Beach.
Let’s see how they rank on TripAdvisor
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach | 4.5/5 |
| Roda Amwaj Suites | 4.5/5 |
| Amwaj Rotana | 4.5/5 |
| JA Ocean View | 4.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.5/5 |
Palm West Beach – Hotels Nearby
Palm West Beach has a fair selection of restaurants nearby and is nearer the base of the island for easy access. There is of course, plenty to marvel at on the manmade island for a true paradisal retreat. But with that in mind, what hotels are nearby?
- Adagio Premium – 92m
- Fairmont The Palm – 450m
- Dukes The Palm – 800m
- FIVE Palm Jumeirah – 0m
Here is how these hotels rank on TripAdvisor
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Adagio Premium The Palm | 5/5 |
| Hotel Fairmont The Palm | 4.5/5 |
| Dukes The Palm | 4.5/5 |
| FIVE Palm Jumeirah | 5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.75/5 |
Al Sufouh Secret Beach – Hotels Nearby
Sufouh Beach certainly comes with the benefit of a peaceful trip, but the obvious downside is that this quietness extends to the surrounding area compared to busier hotspots of the city. Therefore, there aren’t as many hotels within a close distance, but let’s take a look!
- Fraser Suites Dubai – 4.7km
- Holiday Inn Express – 9.5km
- Two Seasons Hotels & Apartments – 3km
- Ibis Dubai Al Barsha – 8.5km
However, with that aside let’s look at their TripAdvisor ratings
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Fraser Suites Dubai | 4.5/5 |
| Holiday Inn Express Dubai | 4/5 |
| Two Seasons Hotels & Apartments | 4.5/5 |
| Ibis Dubai Al Barsha | 4/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.13/5 |
Sunset Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Park Regis Boutique Jumeirah – 900m
- Jumeirah Beach Hotel – 2.1km (Although has a private beach)
- Lemon Tree Hotel Jumeirah – 1.6km
- Burj Al Arab – 2km (Although has a private beach)
Now let’s look at the TripAdvisor ratings
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Park Regis Boutique Jumeirah | 4.5/5 |
| Jumeirah Beach Hotel | 4.5/5 |
| Lemon Tree Hotel Jumeirah | 5/5 |
| Burj Al Arab | 4.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.63/5 |
Kite Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Beach Walk Hotel – 1.7km
- Park Regis Boutique Jumeirah – 2.8km
- Roda Beach Resort – 3km
- Jumeirah Beach Hotel – 4.5km
So what are the ratings like?
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Beach Walk Hotel | 5/5 |
| Park Regis Boutique Jumeirah | 4.5/5 |
| Roda Beach Resort | 4/5 |
| Jumeirah Beach Hotel | 4.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.5/5 |
Jumeirah Public Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Roda Beach Resort – 1.7km
- Four Seasons Resort – 2.4km
- Beach Walk Hotel – 2.8km
- Bulgari Hotel & Resorts – 2.7km
Now let’s see their TripAdvisor ratings
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Roda Beach Resort | 4/5 |
| Four Seasons Resort | 4.5/5 |
| Beach Walk Hotel | 5/5 |
| Bulgari Hotel & Resorts | 5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.63/5 |
Open Beach – Hotels Nearby
Open Beach has plenty of dining options nearby as well as activities to keep you entertained, but how many hotels are nearby, how close are they and how well-rated are they?
- Four Seasons Resort – 800m
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeira – 3.5km
- Bulgari Hotel & Resorts – 1.8km
- La Ville Hotel & Suites – 4.5km
So, how does TripAdvisor rate them?
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Four Seasons Resort | 4.5/5 |
| Mandarin Oriental Jumeira | 5/5 |
| Bulgari Hotel & Resorts | 5/5 |
| La Ville Hotel & Suites, City Walk | 4.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.75/5 |
Mercato Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeira – 170m
- Four Seasons Resort – 2.2km
- Rove La Mer Beach Hotel – 1.2km
- La Ville Hotel & Suites – 2.7km
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Mandarin Oriental Jumeira | 5/5 |
| Four Seasons Resort | 4.5/5 |
| Rove La Mer Beach Hotel | 5/5 |
| La Ville Hotel & Suites, City Walk | 4.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.75/5 |
La Mer Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Rove La Mer Beach Hotel – 270m
- Regent Beach Resort – 1.3km
- Mandarin Oriental Jumeira – 1.4km
- Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa – 3.7km
Here is how TripAdvisor rates these hotels
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Rove La Mer Beach Hotel | 5/5 |
| Regent Beach Resort | 3.5/5 |
| Mandarin Oriental Jumeira | 5/5 |
| Dubai Marine Beach Resort & Spa | 4/5 |
| Average Ranking | 4.38/5 |
Al Mamzar Beach – Hotels Nearby
- Movenpick Hotel Apartments – 4.7km
- Telal Hotel Apartments – 5.1km
- Al Manar Hotel Apartments – 5.2km
- Abjad Grand Hotel – 5.4km
Now let’s look at the TripAdvisor ratings
| Hotel | TripAdvisor Rating |
| Mövenpick Hotel Apartments | 4/5 |
| Telal Hotel Apartments | 4.5/5 |
| Al Manar Hotel Apartments | 4/5 |
| Abjad Grand Hotel | 2.5/5 |
| Average Ranking | 3.75/5 |
Which Dubai Beach Has The Best Hotels Nearby?
| Beach Name | TripAdvisor Rating | Average Distance to Beach | Rating |
| The Beach | 4.5/5 | 350m | 4* |
| Palm West Beach | 4.75/5 | 335m | 5* |
| Al Sufouh Secret Beach | 4.13/5 | 6.4km | 3* |
| Sunset Beach | 4.63/5 | 1.6km | 4* |
| Kite Beach | 4.5/5 | 3km | 4* |
| Jumeirah Public Beach | 4.63/5 | 2.4km | 4* |
| Open Beach | 4.75/5 | 2.6km | 4* |
| Mercato Beach | 4.75/5 | 1.5km | 5* |
| La Mer Beach | 4.38/5 | 6.6km | 4* |
| Al Mamzar Beach | 3.75/5 | 5.1km | 3* |
Which Dubai Beach is the Most Accessible?
It’s all good and well there being some fantastic beaches, but it becomes redundant if you cannot get them. Luckily, all of Dubai’s beaches are accessible, but here we will look at which is the easiest to access!
The Beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence
The Beach at JBR is blessed for being located right by the shopping centre, so there are plenty of transport links located nearby. Firstly there’s the Jumeirah Beach Residence Station 1 and 2 for the bus which leaves you at a 10 to 15 minute walk from the beach depending on which way you are going. Here, you will find the 8, 84, and N55 services which arrive around every 15 minutes and have connections to areas all over the city.
Next, there’s the Jumeirah Beach Residence 2 stop for the T1 tram, which leaves you around 10 minutes from the beachfront. As for the nearest metro station, you’re looking at the DMCC Station 1 which puts you at a 15 to 20 minute walk to The Beach.
Accessibility Rating – 5 Stars
Palm West Beach
Palm West Beach is located on the western side of The Palm as you come onto the island so it’s not located too far away. However, the only feasible way to get to it is by either driving or through the Al Ittihad Park monorail stop which leaves you with a short 3 minute walk from the beach’s edge. The monorail station offers the NB and SB services which run across the island and back to mainland.
Accessibility Rating – 4 Stars
Al Sufouh Secret Beach
Al Sufouh Secret Beach is located in a slightly quieter area of the city, but fortunately it has some great access points. The beach is located right beside the Dubai College 1 bus stop where you can catch the 8, 88, and N55 services. Likewise, for heading back the Dubai College 2 bus stop is a 8 minute walk away.
There are more neighbouring bus stops including the King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street stop, a mere 3 minutes away, which operates the same services. As for trams, you can find the Al Sufouh tram stop which operates the T1 service, an 11 minute walk away from Al Sufouh Secret Beach.
Accessibility Rating – 4 Stars
Sunset Beach
The Sunset Beach is located at a quieter section of the city, but near lots of green space such as Umm Suqeim Park. For this reason, the nearest bus stop would be the Umm Suqeim Park 1 stop which is approximately a 7 minute walk to the beach. It serves the 8, 81, 88, and N55 services with the neighbouring Umm Suqeim Park 2 stop being around a 10 to 15 walk away. Unfortunately, there are no tram or metro stations within walking distance.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Kite Beach
Kite Beach is located near the green Jumeira Park in a less busy area of the city. The closest bus stop is the Umm Suqeim 1 1 which is approximately a 5 to 10 minute walk from Kite Beach. The bus stop operates the 8, 81, 88, and N55 services. Alternatively, there is the Abu Manara Masjid which is a similar walking distance to the beach and operates the same services. Much like Sunset Beach, there are no trams or metro stops within walking distance.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Jumeirah Public Beach
Jumeirah Beach is situated in the Jumeirah district, neighbouring Dubai Creek. The nearest bus stop would be Majlis Al Ghoreifa 1, which is located a 10 minute walk away from Jumeirah Beach and serves the 8, 81, 88, N55, and X28 services. The returning stop is the Majlis Al Ghoreifa 2 and is also a 10 minute walk away. As with some of the previous beaches, there are no tram stops or metro stations in walking distance.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Open Beach
The Open Beach neighbours the luxurious Daria Island in the Jumeirah district, it is surrounded by a good assortment of restaurants to grab a bite in. With regards to nearby bus stops, you can find Rashid Al Hadees Masjid 1, which is approximately a 10 minute walk from the Open Beach and operates the 8, 81, 88, and N55 services.
Along the same road, you can also find the Rashid Bin Bakhait Masjid 1 located a 5 to 10 minute walk away and serving the same bus services as well as the X28 service. The returning Rashid Bin Bakhait Masjid 2 stop is located a 10 to 15 minute walk away.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Mercato Beach
Mercato Beach is located slightly further along the shore than the Open Beach, surrounded by restaurants and shops. For bus stops, the nearest is Hassa Bint Al Murr Masjid 1, which is located a short 5 minute walk from the shoreline! The stop serves the 8, 9, 88, and C10 services. The opposite direction stop Hassa Bint Al Murr Masjid 2 is located the same distance away for an easy access.
Unfortunately, Mercato Beach is also not located near any tram or metro stations.
Accessibility Rating – 2 Stars
La Mer Beach
La Mer Beach neighbours the Laguna Waterpark so it makes for a great stop after a day of adventure! The closest bus stop is the Beach Center 1 which is located around a 5 to 10 minute walk away and serves the 8, 9, 88, and C10 services. The returning stop, Beach Center 2, is a similar time length away for convenience.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Al Mamzar Beach
Al Mamzar Beach at Deira offers the ideal amount of tranquillity and also facilities within a fair distance. There are various bus stops located by the beachfront across the expanse of the beach, which all operate the C28 service. There are no tram or metro stations that are within walking distance.
Accessibility Rating – 3 Stars
Conclusion – Which is the Best Beach in Dubai?
After looking at all of the beaches in Dubai, it’s now time to determine who is the winner!
Having rated all of the beaches in Dubai for Scenery, Things to do, Hotels and Accessibility; we found The Beach at JBR to finish with 18 stars from a possible 20! Coming in a close joint second though was Palm West Beach and La Mer.
Either way, all of the beaches in Dubai are well worth a visit and we absolutely recommend going to as many as you can!
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