Dubai’s Best Family Beaches: Sun, Sand, and Unforgettable Fun

While Dubai is mostly celebrated for being a dazzling playground of luxury shopping and futuristic skyscrapers, it is also home to sun-soaked sandy beaches and crystal clear waters along the Arabian Gulf.

Along the Jumeirah coastline, you’ll find family-friendly beaches including; Kite Beach and Sunset Beach, plus The Beach at JBR which offers a cosmopolitan marina vibe with a range of fun activities for kids. 

Read on to discover our guide to Dubai’s best family beaches where you can relax, play and eat shoreside. 

Kite Beach, located adjacent to Jumeirah Beach, is a great family beach with designated family friendly zones ideal for sports enthusiasts, sunbathers and picnickers.

Aptly named, Kite Beach, it’s the perfect spot to try kitesurfing. If you’re a beginner, learn to kitesurf with Kite Zone Dubai - they offer private, group and tandem lessons. They also teach stand-up paddle boarding lessons to people of all ages.

Other sporting activities at Kite Beach include volleyball, wakeboarding, a 14-kilometre jogging track and a skate park. The beach is floodlit at night and at designated points on the beach you can swim from sunrise to sunset safely as lifeguards patrol during this period.

Beach goers will enjoy the food trucks, shoreside cafes, and beach passes from Sole Mio  Beach Club which gives you access to comfortable loungers and easy food delivery (plus yoga on Sundays if you're keen).

Enjoy sliders, burgers and shakes from SALT, breakfast bagels and all day light refreshments from Circle Café,  Acai bowls and smoothies from Oakberry and paratha and kathi rolls from Filli.

Located in the centre of Dubai's upmarket Jumeirah neighbourhood, the white sands of Jumeirah Public Beach, or Nessnass as it’s known by locals is a popular sandy stretch offering incredible views. The sea is calm and shallow and it’s a good family beach experience if you are staying in the Jumeirah area.

The beach boardwalk offers running and walking tracks, changing facilities and there are food trucks selling ice cream and light snacks. There is limited parking, the beach is clean and flood-lit for night time swimming and walking and there are lifeguards on patrol in the day, into the evening.

Water sport lovers can go paddleboarding or kitesurfing and you can hire SUP boards, kayaks and kitesurfing gear from the Kite n Surf kiosk on the beach.

Jumeirah Beach is less crowded during the week and it’s a great spot to watch the sun set. The beach is situated directly behind Sunset Mall, which houses a selection of food and drink spots like Shivers Gelato for ice cream and sundaes and Wafi Gourmet for delicious Lebanese food.

The white sands and aqua blue waters of Palm West Beach are popular with locals and travellers from sun up to sun down and is a great place to explore with older kids looking for a fun vibe.

Located on Palm Jumeirah island, this is a great swimming beach where you can enjoy kayaking, stand-up paddling and pedal boating with Sky & Sea Adventures Palm West. There’s also parasailing and jet skiing for the more adventurous.

Enjoy the skyline views from the 1.6-kilometre promenade – perfect for running or walking and the myriad brunch spots, restaurants and beach clubs.

From breakfast at Jones The Grocer, to beachside sunset cocktails at February 30, a Mexican fiesta at Senor Pico, Riviera-style brunches at Lucky Fish, and beachside parties at Surf Club there's no shortage of options to indulge.

Dubai Islands is a new, man-made island just fifteen minutes’ drive from Deira along the city’s northern coast.

Its laid back golden shores are worth driving to access, or you can arrive in style by yacht as moorings are available at Nakheel Marina. It’s also fully pet-friendly, so you can bring along your pooch!

It offers a pristine, quiet beach with excellent changing room facilities, plus when this beach project is fully developed, Dubai Islands will cover more than 4,000 acres and feature cultural hubs, golf courses, beach clubs and more.

The Beach at JBR, also known as Marina Beach is open to everyone. It has a bustling, cosmopolitan vibe and beachgoers can enjoy swimming in the sea, sunbathing on the beach, delicious food and spending quality time with family.

There are a range of non-motorised and motorised water sports including parasailing, banana boat rides and jet skiing – check out Beach Riders Dubai.  We recommend hiring sun loungers from Sea Breeze for the day if you plan on spending a long time on the beach. 

The promenade is lively and filled with energy, making it a great place for families to enjoy its countless beachside cafes and restaurants.

Everything you need is within walking distance, from Roxy Cinemas, The Market - an outdoor artisanal bazaar and even camel rides.

The indoor/outdoor, temperature controlled Pavilion features six licensed restaurants including Italian fare at Eataly, grandma’s Slavic specials at Babushka, night time brunches at La Mezcaleria and seafood buckets at CLAW BBQ. Meat eaters will enjoy Hurricane's flame-grilled steaks and spicy Asian tapas and delicious sushi awaits at Mu-Kii Pan. 

Sunset Beach is a serene public beach located on Jumeirah Beach Road adjacent to Umm Suqeim Park. It’s a great beach for families - to relax, sunbathe, or enjoy morning and sunset walks along the shoreline.

Lifeguards and climate friendly solar lighting make it safe for you to swim and enjoy the beach until midnight.

The Amphibious Surf School operates from Sunset Beach and you’ll have fun learning to surf in the company of a supportive surf community.

Whether you’re a novice or experienced surfer, sign up for lessons which include beginner and advanced techniques and hands-on instruction and guidance.