Dubai Destinations: 10 top beaches to get the best sun, sea and sand days

With the World’s Coolest Winter in the UAE and the Dubai Destinations campaigns running, there are so many attractions for residents and tourists to explore in the country. A global study released late last month named Dubai the ‘world’s best winter-sun destination’ – given that the city is blessed with more than eight hours of sunlight daily and a pleasant average temperature of 20.4 degree centigrade in the winter.

The UAE may be one of the few places where beaches get popular during the winter season. In the perfect way to enjoy a picturesque and fun-filled day during the season, head to one of these beautiful beaches in Dubai. From family-friendly activities and delicious food outlets to thrilling adventure sports, Dubai beaches have it all.

PALM WEST BEACH: It is a fun, dog friendly beach that offers a relaxed ambiance in which one can enjoy lazy beachfront breakfasts, reading a favorite book, building sandcastles, and picture-perfect sunsets. There are also a number of eateries with a view of the waves, so you could also just head here for a meal by the sea. If you are of a more of an active one, then head to the 1.6km long promenade, lined with 300 palm trees which will illuminate the walking and running trail in the evenings.

SMOKY BEACH: Head over to Smoky Beach at La Mer with your camera in tow. Smoky Beach is free to use, and you have the benefit of a selection of restaurants offering everything from light snacks, to sushi rolls, healthy salads, fresh sandwiches, desserts and more! All the while serving as a great spots to see the setting sun.

SUNSET BEACH: Surf’s up dude. Sunset Beach, which is opposite Sunset Mall on Jumeirah Beach Road, is a free, public beach, where you can go to catch the best waves. Surf school UAE is run and operated here, so if you don’t know how to maneuver a board, sunset beach is where you go to learn.

KITE BEACH: Are you into water sports? If so, head to the free to enter Kite Beach, the most popular section of Umm Suqqeim beach, where you can rent kayaks and paddle boards and even go kite surfing. It’s also got a bit of a bazaar vibe, so there are tonnes of food trucks and ice cream stalls. And for the grown-ups there are little restaurants and cafés all along Jumeirah Beach Road.

SECRET BEACH: This next one is also free and comes with a brilliant photo opportunity of the Palm Jumeirah and Burj Al Arab. Secret Beach, which is sometimes also known as Black Palace Beach may not be the easiest to access – you get to it via an almost impossible-to-find pathway -but once you’re there, it’s well worth it. There’s not much else around – no amenities, no showers, no food trucks, but there’s a stunning view of the Burj Al Arab that makes the journey well worth the trouble.

NIKKI BEACH: Azure blue waters lap at Nikki Beach and in the evening the sand appears to glow golden. It’s perfect for a day out with the entire family. Since this beach belongs to a resort, it is not open to the public for free.

UFO BEACH. This beach, best known for that UFO-type house at the back, is an open beach located in Jumeriah 1 , near the Town Centre mall. It's definitely quieter than the other more popular beaches on this list and works better if you want some privacy.

MAMZAR BEACH: This old school beach has sandy stretches perfect for fun activities like BBQ, jet skiing, sunbathing, swimming, picnicking and more. It is one of the oldest beach areas in Dubai and is popular with Sharjah residents too, as it's located pretty close to the boarder between Dubai and Sharjah.

THE BEACH: The Beach at JBR, is ensconced by a sea of skyscrapers and is perfect for both the sunbather and adventure lover. There’s lots of sun, sand and a promenade rife with shops, restaurants, an outdoor market and even a mini games arcade. Oh and it’s where you’ll see the best sunsets thanks to the towering Ferris wheel Ain Dubai.

JEBEL ALI BEACH: It is about 32 kilometers south of downtown Dubai. Already known as an industrial zone with the world's largest man-made harbor, the area is home to many long, sandy beaches where you can find yourself virtually alone. Much of the focus here is on diving. The wide, flat Jebel Ali Beach area is right in front of the other palm-shaped island, Palm Jebel Ali.