Kite Beach is a beach along the Jumeirah coastline. It is a public beach and one of the city’s most favored beaches. It is situated in the area of Umm Suqeim. The white sandy part of the beach is about 1.4 kilometers long. Looking out to sea, the well-known and tall Burj Al Arab hotel is located in the background.
The beach came into existence because of the kite surfers and is now become a desirable location for tourists and an excellent spot for the whole family, where everyone can engage in various activities.
Access to the beach is free of charge. The beach is open 24 hours, seven days a week. Lifeguards are on duty during the daylight hours to avoid any accidents and make sure nobody gets hurt.
Where Is Kite Beach and How to Get There
By Car
The exact location is on Jumeirah Beach Road, also known as Route D94. Even if there is a fee for the parking space provided there, parking is on a pay-as-you-go basis. A sum ranging from AED 10 to 20 per hour is the parking tariff. Jumeirah Road in Dubai city has some free-of-charge slots open for parking on Fridays and public holidays.
By Public Transport
The Dubai Metro Red Line, whereas Metro stations are also present in the vicinity. In case a tram is in operation, visitors would be able to travel here by bus 81 or X28 from the Insurance Market Metro Station. Catch bus 81 or 88 from Mall of the Emirates Metro Station to get here. The average time between buses stopping at the station is just 5 to 10 minutes, and one can walk from the bus stop to the beach very easily.
By Taxi or Rideshare
Taxis and rideshare apps such as Careem or Uber are quite convenient alternatives, as they drop visitors right at the beach entrance. This is a very straightforward way for visitors to reach the beach.
Wheelchair Access
Wheelchair passengers can easily reach the beach via a concrete ramp near Sunset Mall. The sidewalk paths are spacious, level, and all the surfaces are even and smooth.
Facilities Available at Kite Beach
Kite Beach has the following facilities that visitors are required to use to have a comfortable visit. Let us look at what facilities are available at Kite Beach:
Basic Amenities
Common public washrooms, showers, and dressing rooms are located in different places along the beach. Also, visitors can quench their thirst using the water fountain. Contemporary furniture such as sunshades and lounges is placed right next to the kiosks and vending machines. A changing room for babies is also available for use by families.
Fitness and Sports
There is an open-air gym on the beach that includes equipment such as pull-up bars, mats, as well as a monkey bar. There is also a shaded calisthenics point. The beach also has a jogging and cycling trail that is 14 kilometers long along the whole perimeter. Visitors can go in for a beach volleyball game or visit the skate park if they want an adrenaline rush.
For Families and Kids
Playground and a splash pad are ready to use right on the beach for kids to have fun building their creativity. Lifeguards, knee-deep, are always there to save the children in case of any hazard. The area is particularly enjoyed by families with small children.
Food and Drinks
A line of food vans and casual coffee places line the current beach of Kite. Among the favorite hotspots, Salt for burgers, Parkers, and Sea Level Café could be considered. One can buy some coffee or smoothies. Snacks and meals are also available in the café. There is an area with huge amounts of shade that is used by families who bring their own food.
Kitesurfing
Kite Beach is the only kitesurfing location in Dubai. In the windy season, the beach is converted into a kite zone. Swimmers are relocated to the flagged and guarded area during this period.
Wind and Season
The best time to kitesurf is from November to March. In these months, the average wind is about 8 to 16 knots from the north-northeast. January and February are the windiest times, with year-to-year differences, but sometimes they can be as strong as 20 to 25 knots.
The time from the month of April until September is very dreadful for the kitesurfers as the breeze is very weak. In some cases, the wind speed is even 5 to 8 knots, which are not even enough for kitesurfing during the summer.
Rules for Kitesurfers
No special license is required to be a kitesurfer in Dubai. Of course, the only places where kitesurfers can effectively operate are Kite Beach and Nessnass Beach. If someone launches/mark or lands in the swimmer area, he/she/it is fined. Additionally, all kiters must stay out of the swimmer area.
Costs and Fees
Here is a simple way to determine the prices:
- Beach Entry: Free
- Parking: AED 10 to AED 20 per hour on-site. It is more economical out of the parking lot.
- Equipment Rental: AED 100 to AED 300 per hour for boards and kites.
- Beginner Group Lesson: Usually, learners are charged AED 700 for a group class that lasts 1 to 2 hours.
- Full Private Course: AED 2,000 to AED 4,000 for hour-long programs.
Safety
Safety is a high priority at Kite Beach, with the presence of lifeguards on patrol daily, 10 AM-6 PM, with the flag system to direct where it’s safe to swim. A green flag means safe; a yellow caution flag means take care; and a red flag means no swimming.
Thus, the swim area swims must always stay between the flags. When the kites are flown, swimmers must move to the guarded areas only. The lifeguard watchtowers keep an eye out for jellyfish that may appear during the summer months. No swimming beyond sunset is permissible.
Dubai Police inspect this area regularly. If any trouble arises, like a medical emergency or a life threat, the emergency services and the coast guard are always accessible as they arrive quickly on Jumeirah Road.
Events and Community
This Beach has a friendly community. They have yoga classes and fitness boot camps held on the sand. Paddleboard clinics and kayak tours are held during the winter months. School and business-organized beach clean-up events occur regularly. Informal downwind kiting events are also held. The local kiting community is very active in the organization of group sessions on social media.
Dogs on leash are invited to visit, which is why it’s also a good place for pet owners.
Best Time to Visit
Best Time of Day
Early mornings from 6 am to 9 am are considered the best time to visit as the beach is least crowded. The only people you will have to share your exercise with are joggers for the rest of the time. Late afternoons from 4 pm to 7 pm are ideal for kiting as well as for the charming sight of the setting sun near Burj Al Arab.
Best Days of the Week
Weekdays between Monday and Thursday are less crowded, and therefore are the best days to come if you want peace and full enjoyment of all the facilities. However, weekend days are high-traffic periods; if you come after early morning, the beach may be full already, so it is vital to come early.
Best Season
December through February is the prime time to visit. The weather will be really nice, and the water temperature is around 22-25 degrees Celsius. The yuppie side of the city is often sweltering during the summer months, with a peak of above 40 degrees Celsius midday. If planning to visit Dubai during the summer period, it is recommended to stay at the beach only in the early morning or late evening and under the shade.
Helpful Tips for Visitors
Parking: Arriving early to find parking spaces on weekends is a common practice. Don’t forget to use public transport or hail a ridesharing vehicle, as feasible, as this will save you time and avoid stress on a busy day of the week.
Families: Supply the kids with sun protection cream, a hat to keep them in the shade, and a rash guard for surfing. Life jackets or water wings are advised for children who are not good swimmers but want to play in the water.
Kiteboarding Beginners: It is fundamental to respect the sport and book lessons with a kite professional school. They should have their own rescue methods and equipment.
Gym Visitors: Very often, open-air training leads to dehydration, which is not desirable. Always bring a towel and a bottle of water. The natural gym instruments are free to use.
Pet Owners: Anyway, whenever they accompany their pets, pets must have water and shade. The only way to ensure dogs are under the shade at all times is to remind people to handle the animals.
Dress Code: It is acceptable to be in a swimsuit on the beach. Once you want to walk past the promenade to cafes and restaurants, you should have a cover-up.
Drones: Use of drones over people in the air requires a license from the Civil Aviation Authority. The better and safer option is to use a long-lens camera instead.
Smoking: Smoking is not allowed on the sand or boardwalk. Use only those places where smoking is allowed.
Environmental Responsibility
This Beach is cleaned every day by Dubai Municipality. The beach is cleaned each day, with the sand being raked of any debris, while the trash containers are emptied from time to time. The environment is generally very clean and well maintained.
As responsible visitors, trash should be disposed of by utilizing the available recycling and waste disposal places along the boardwalk. Bottles and straws are some objects that can be thrown away in the single-use plastics category. It is forbidden to feed the migratory birds that stop over. Sometimes people might wonder why we have a recycling program when getting rid of trash is so easy.
Yes, truly, we can get rid of our litter easily, but unfortunately, litter is a major problem for our environment. That is why aspirations have been set for the ban of plastics and the subsequent use of environmentally friendly transportation. An area of about 14 kilometers is given to people for cycling and run so that it is easier to get around without a car.
Regular volunteer beach clean-ups help remove plastic and debris from the shore. Visitors are directed to be part of these cleanups and ensure that they too help in maintaining the cleanliness of the area for all guests.
Final Thoughts
Kite Beach is the place to be in outdoor Dubai. Surprisingly, one can experience adventure, dynamic leisure, long cycling, and yoga with a buddy beside a sunrise-to-sunset day at Kite Beach. Finally, even those with budget limitations can join in these interesting activities at very low costs. The time to visit, thus, couldn’t be any better than November to March, when the whole family enjoys the water and interacts with the well-equipped facilities to attend great water sports, of which kitesurfing is one.
