History
A guide to Dubai’s beautiful beaches, beach clubs and seaside hotspots.
Beautiful beaches, luxurious beach clubs, waterside restaurants and cool surfer cafes are just a few of the attractions of Dubai in the winter. Unearth “real Dubai” neighbourhoods, cool performance pit-stops, beckoning canals, and some of the developments that have made Dubai famous. Pick a starting point, and drive down Jumeirah Road for an effortless self-guided tour of the city’s seaside hotspots.
Luxury locals
The always-expanding neighbourhood of Jumeirah Beach Residences (affectionately known as JBR to locals), has had a facelift in recent years, upgrading from a rather sleepy small beach to an extended stretch of boardwalk, with ocean-facing restaurants, hotels, and improved beach and water access.
Big wheels turning
Across the water, see the beginnings of Ain Dubai on Bluewaters Island. Currently an imposing mass of beams and cranes, the completed AED1 billion structure will become the world’s largest observation wheel at an expected 260m tall, and able to carry 1,400 passengers at once.
A 15-minute drive away, find one of Dubai’s best known beach features, The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island featuring an impressive 78km of shoreline in the shape of a palm frond. Drive up the “trunk” (or catch the monorail for an elevated view over the island), and turn left at the top to explore. Park on the roadside and take a stroll down the ocean-side path popular with the Palm’s residents. Perch on the wide sandstone walls for an uninterrupted view of skydivers floating back to earth, and Skydive Dubai’s small planes in action over the Dubai Marina.