Parks and Beaches in Dubai
Beaches
Should you wish to visit a beach whilst staying in Dubai, the coastline has many beautiful untouched public beaches here you can relax and unwind and soak up the gulf sun. There are many beaches where you will see kite surfers and surfers riding the waves as they come in to Jumeirah Beach. Over the last three to four years the more hardened surfer has moved to beaches near Jebel Ali. Be prepared in this area to witness a lot of construction work as the main trunk for the Palm Jebel Ali is under construction. Access to all these beaches is free however facilities are limited.
Beach Parks
For a nominal fee you can enter a beach park, this is the perfect place to spend a whole day under the sun in superb setting with white sandy beaches and lush greenery all around you. Many locals use these as there weekend getaway. The two main beach parks are:
Jumeirah Beach Park – This park has a one kilometre stretch of golden sand and palm trees. At either end of the beach there are cafes selling snaks and drinks, there are also showers and toilets and a lifeguard is on duty until sunset. www.dm.gov.ae
Al Mamzar Beach Park – This park has four luxurious beaches, it is a very popular spot for the locals. Each beach has sheltered areas with changing rooms and showers and you can even rent a n airconditioned shalley complete with a barbecue area on a daily basis for Dhs150. For those of you who do not want to venture into the sea there are also 2 swimming pools with lifeguards on duty. You can also hire bikes, or even take a train around the park. At this park Wednesday is classed as a family day which means no single males are allowed to enter. www.dm.gov.ae
Please note both the parks have a ladies day, when men are not allowed to enter. It is also a requirement that all ladies wear full bikinis at all times. Topless sunbathing is prohibited. It is also advisable not to wear thongs, this offends the locals.
For safety the waters of Dubai generally look calm and very inviting, however even the most confident and strongest swimmer has been pulled out to sea by strong rip tides. Please do not swim away from the beaches where there are no lifeguards.
Parks
Should you decide the beach is not the place to visit try the many beautiful parks around Dubai. You will be amazed as you enter these parks how in the middle of a city with towering buildings there could be an oasis of green shrubbery and colourful plants. Some parks have a ladies day, please check before entering. As with the beaches there are barbecue pits provided, and numerous cafes selling hot and cold snacks. All the parks can be found on www.dm.gov.ae.
If you get the chance make sure you visit Zabeel Park. This is an oasis of greenery set right in the middle of Dubai and covers an area of 51hectaers. In 2007 they are building an attraction called Stargate, which will look like a spaceship has crash landed into the park. This will become the most popular attraction away from the beaches.
