Life & Style | Leisure
Riding the waves
Tabloid! speaks to Surfers of Dubai Club to find the best places to hit the beach.
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 July 19, 2006
Tabloid! speaks to Surfers of Dubai Club to find the best places to hit the beach
When is the best time of year to surf in Dubai?
December to March and sometimes there are waves from November to April. Very rarely are there any waves during the summer months from June to September.
How often can you surf?
During the summer probably not a lot - it can be flat for over a month.
During the winter maybe once or twice a week, sometimes you'll get three or four days in a row with surf-able waves.
How big does it get?
Usually 3 to 5ft faces, occasionally 6 to 8ft faces with strong onshores and once or twice a year bigger than that.
The maximum face reported to be surfed or seen is 10 to 12ft which you might get once in 3 to 5 years.
Remember that you'll very rarely get clean surf when it's bigger than 6ft faces.
Where's the best place to surf in Dubai?
As of January 2005, the number of places you can surf decreased due to the big offshore developments like The World and the Palm Islands.
Most people surf at Sunset Beach (relatively crowded when there's a reasonable surf), and some still try at Moscow Beach or Mamzar Park. The Coke Machine (if you find it) is still probably too dangerous for surfing due to debris from a storm in 2003.
Can you surf in other emirates?
Yes. Although Abu Dhabi is on the coast we have never heard of anyone surfing there - Abu Dhabi surfers come to Dubai to surf.
Sharjah to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) coast has surf-able waves but they are usually smaller than Dubai as you go further towards RAK.
Very occasionally, if it's a strong onshore with big waves in Dubai, RAK will have clean 3 to 4ft faces. Fujairah sometimes gets swell in the summer months - up to 8ft faces - but rarely in the winter months.
Can you surf on the islands of The World or Palm Island?
As of January 2005, no. "No" meaning that if you try, the security patrols will tell you to clear off at best and may take you to the police and/or confiscate your boat (you'd need one to get there unless you're happy to paddle 5 to 10km).
Is there an artificial reef for surfing in Dubai?
We hear construction is planned and the answer may be "yes" within a year or two.
I'm visiting Dubai. Should I bring my board?
Depends on the time of year and how long you're staying. Usually the answer is that it's probably not worth it.
Certainly don't plan to do a surf trip to Dubai. The surf is too poor and inconsistent to make it an attractive surf destination.
I'm moving to Dubai. Should I bring a board or can I buy one there?
If you have one, bring it. If you don't, try to buy one before you come here - you'll probably have more choice.
There's very limited choice here both for new boards and for second-hand boards. Although that is improving - there was a time when you simply could not get any boards.
Prices here are more expensive than South Africa, slightly more expensive than Australia, New Zealand, and similar to Europe and USA.
Can I rent a surfboard in Dubai?
Yes. Information is available at www.surfigloo.com
Where can I buy surfboards and other stuff here?
New ones from Al Boom Marine, Geco Marine, sports shops in Ibn Battuta Mall and Mall of the Emirates (Ripcurl and Quicksilver), or sometimes www.surfigloo.com and/or from other Surfers of Dubai in the forum.
Second-hand from supermarket noticeboards, word of mouth or the forum trading section.
What's the surf like in Oman?
In Muscat not great - generally less reliable and smaller than in Dubai. But down the eastern coast it can be good. Usually big surf is accompanied by big onshores and strong currents. Compared to Dubai, you get decent groundswells with long periods and if you hit it with the right combination of wind and size, it makes it worth the long drive. Al Ashkharah, Asilyah, and Masirah Island are all good locations.
When's the best time to go to Oman?
Most swell is in the summer months from May to September. But that's also the windiest time of year and although the water temperature is fine, the wind makes it unpleasant sitting on the beach or camping. You may, oddly enough, want your wetsuit in the summer.
The winter months have not much swell but if there are waves, it's usually a much more pleasant time of year to go. Not as cold as Dubai and usually not much wind.
Where can I stay in Oman?
Camp on the beach - be prepared for attention from curious residents no matter how isolated it seems and lock your valuables in your car if you're surfing. There are some hotels of varying standards.
What should I bring if I go surfing in Oman?
A surfboard at least. And if you're camping on the beaches, you'll need everything. Bring lots of water.
Are there sharks in Oman?
Probably. Also lots of other sea life so hopefully they're not hungry enough for surfers. The eastern coast is reputedly a Tiger Shark habitat.
Often you'll see sharks on the backs of the fishermen's trucks that drive up and down the coast.
Did you know?
Surfing is a surface water sport that involves the participant being carried by a breaking wave.
There are different kinds of surfing, based on different methods used to ride the craft.
The basic categories include stand-up surfing, kneeboarding, bodyboarding, surf-skiing and bodysurfing.
Further sub-divisions reflect differences in surfboard design, such as long-boards versus short-boards.
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