Umbrella Beach in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Umbrella Beach in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Umbrella Beach in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Umbrella Beach in Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Umbrella Beach: A guide to Fujairah's Instagram-worthy destination


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A jogging trail, a padel academy, beach volleyball courts and numerous restaurants are scattered across Umbrella Beach, a recreational complex in Fujairah that opened in December 2021.

Located about an hour and 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai, Umbrella Beach overlooks the Gulf of Oman. The aesthetic of the destination is mostly inspired by European cities and features intricate columns and brick buildings.

Scroll through the gallery below for images from Umbrella Beach

  • The design of Fujairah's Umbrella Beach is inspired by European cities. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
    The design of Fujairah's Umbrella Beach is inspired by European cities. All photos: Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Massive umbrellas dot the beach destination
    Massive umbrellas dot the beach destination
  • Umbrella Beach first opened in December 2021 and has become a destination for food, sports and family activities
    Umbrella Beach first opened in December 2021 and has become a destination for food, sports and family activities
  • The destination overlooks the Gulf of Oman
    The destination overlooks the Gulf of Oman
  • It promises an all-around family fun
    It promises an all-around family fun
  • Umbrella Beach feaures a jogging track
    Umbrella Beach feaures a jogging track
  • Rumailah farm at Umbrella Beach
    Rumailah farm at Umbrella Beach
  • The venue has several hangout spots
    The venue has several hangout spots
  • Some walls feature art
    Some walls feature art
  • Umbrella Beach is the only destination of its kind in the Emirates' east coast
    Umbrella Beach is the only destination of its kind in the Emirates' east coast
  • An installation on the beach
    An installation on the beach
  • Umbrella Beach is located about an hour and 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai
    Umbrella Beach is located about an hour and 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai

The waterfront development also has massive umbrellas at certain spots, adding to its Instagram-worthy appeal, and it offers numerous activities from dining to fitness.

Here's what not to miss at Umbrella Beach.

Restaurants and cafes

Similar to other waterfront developments in the UAE such as Yas Bay in Abu Dhabi or The Pointe in Dubai, the Fujairah destination is home to dozens of restaurants and cafes.

One of its most famous outlets is Mara, a home-grown restaurant that has eight branches across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

Mara at Umbrella Beach. Photo: Umbrella Beach
Mara at Umbrella Beach. Photo: Umbrella Beach

It serves an international menu, offering dishes such as shakshuka and Mexican baked eggs for breakfast. Lunch options include grilled salmon in citrus sichuan spice, Wagyu rib-eye with yakinuku sauce and grilled chicken with pasta. The outlet also serves butter chicken, Lebanese rice with a choice of meat and a selection of burgers.

Other outlets at the destination include Oak Berry, which specialises in Acai bowls, as well as Indian restaurant Mastani, which opened late last year.

Another popular spot is the floral-themed La Rozy cafe. It is filled with different kinds of flowers and offers a balcony seating that provides great views of the beach. Famed Japanese ice cream shop Yuki Nohana can also be found at Umbrella Beach.

Le Patchouli, a home-grown cafe with nine branches in Abu Dhabi, two in Dubai, and one each in Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, can also be found at the waterfront destination. Other local brands include Chicken Man, as well as Steki, which serves Greek food.

Fitness and family fun

The Fujairah destination offers a host of water sport activities, as well as a handful of beach volleyball courts. There is also a jogging track spanning the shore.

Red jogging track at Umbrella Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Red jogging track at Umbrella Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Umbrella Beach is also home to a padel academy, where training and tournaments are often held. Courts are available for bookings for Dh125 an hour during weekdays and Dh150 an hour on weekends.

Last year, Umbrella Beach hosted its first padel tournament during Ramadan, with plans to turn it into an annual event. The racket sport has gained popularity in recent years, with many padel facilities popping up across the UAE.

The destination also offers activities for guests with little children, including a playground.

Scroll through the gallery below for images from the newly opened Reem Mall in Abu Dhabi

  • Reem Mall partially opened in February. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
    Reem Mall partially opened in February. All photos: Leslie Pableo for The National
  • A total of 36 shops are already open
    A total of 36 shops are already open
  • Reem Mall has 6,800 parking spaces
    Reem Mall has 6,800 parking spaces
  • One of its much-awaited features is Snow Abu Dhabi, which shares similarities with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates
    One of its much-awaited features is Snow Abu Dhabi, which shares similarities with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates
  • Construction of the mall started in late 2017
    Construction of the mall started in late 2017
  • Some of the open stores include Timberland, The North Face, Max and Vans
    Some of the open stores include Timberland, The North Face, Max and Vans
  • Fast food restaurants that are already open include McDonald's, Papa Johns and Subway
    Fast food restaurants that are already open include McDonald's, Papa Johns and Subway
  • Reem Mall is open Sunday to Thursday, from 10am to 10pm, and Friday to Saturday, from 10am to midnight
    Reem Mall is open Sunday to Thursday, from 10am to 10pm, and Friday to Saturday, from 10am to midnight
  • The mall will eventually house about 400 brands
    The mall will eventually house about 400 brands
  • The mall covers an area of nearly 260,000 square metres
    The mall covers an area of nearly 260,000 square metres
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Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

How Voiss turns words to speech

The device has a screen reader or software that monitors what happens on the screen

The screen reader sends the text to the speech synthesiser

This converts to audio whatever it receives from screen reader, so the person can hear what is happening on the screen

A VOISS computer costs between $200 and $250 depending on memory card capacity that ranges from 32GB to 128GB

The speech synthesisers VOISS develops are free

Subsequent computer versions will include improvements such as wireless keyboards

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At least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment or blindness

More than 90 per cent live in developing countries

The Long-term aim of VOISS to reach the technology to people in poor countries with workshops that teach them to build their own device

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh359,000

On sale: now 

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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Updated: March 17, 2023, 7:36 AM