The UAE has a coastline that stretches over 1,318 kilometres, but some people have never really explored it, possibly put off by the belief that there’s no such thing as a decent public beach, where the masses are conspicuous only by their absence, where the water is crystal clear, and the sand isn’t covered with discarded drinks cans.
Do such places exist? The good news is that, yes, they do. And, as per a recent report, one is the second-most eye-catching beach in the world.
Here's where you'll find them.
1. Soul Beach, Abu Dhabi
OK, so this isn’t free to access (Dh50 per person on weekdays and Dh75 on Fridays and Saturdays), but it's worth the investment. Soul Beach opened in the Mamsha Al Saadiyat community last year and offers one kilometre of shoreline to visitors, as well as a 400-metre swimming zone and 400 sun beds set up along the sand. All beds come with a table with a QR code, which can be scanned to access a menu. Refreshments and food are then delivered by buggy. The beach is open daily from 7am to sunset.
2. Shuweihat Island
This one really does take some commitment, but the rewards to anyone who makes the epic journey (from practically anywhere else in the UAE) to this stunning location are innumerable.
If you’re familiar with the colour of sandstone the ancient city of Petra in Jordan is famous for, you’ll know what to expect from the low-lying cliffs and caves at Shuweihat Island that look like nothing else you’ll have seen in this country.
Ideal for a meticulously planned, long weekend of camping, Shuweihat is about as far west along the coast as you can get before you’re faced with the Saudi Arabia border – not too far past the town of Al Ruwais.
You’d be advised to use a four-wheel drive vehicle to get across the causeway and over the rocky headland, whereupon it’s best to disembark and scramble down to the water’s edge. You won’t believe your eyes – it’s that beautiful down there.
3. Mirfa Beach
Way out west of Abu Dhabi in Al Dhafra region, Mirfa Beach is home to the annual Al Dhafra Watersports Festival. But don’t let that put you off from going, for if you can stomach the long, long drive to get there, this pristine stretch of public coast lapped by turquoise waters is almost always peaceful and uncrowded.
Camping facilities are available and there’s a small, low-key village nearby where you can buy supplies. You have to pass through this place to get to (or from) Sir Bani Yas Island if you’re going there by car, so why not stop off en route and soak up a day or two of extra downtime before heading back to the daily grind?
4. Al Sufouh Beach
Al Sufouh Beach, also known as Secret Beach or Black Palace Beach, was recently named the second-most eye-catching beach in the world, as part of new research by luxury travel company Kuoni. "Dubbed as one of Dubai's hidden gems, this beach is a must-visit for those looking for fantastic views across the water as well as a glimpse of some of Dubai's most impressive buildings, the perfect spot for taking in a sunrise or sunset," said the report.
Sandwiched between royal palaces in Al Sufouh, not far from Knowledge Village, the entrance is unsigned and there are no real facilities, no restaurants and, depending on the time of day, no other people. Bliss.
So if you’re self-sufficient and fancy a few hours of simple, unadulterated and tranquil beach time, coupled with impressive views of the Burj Al Arab, take a towel, seek it out and relax. It might be smack-bang in the heart of Dubai, but this is about as basic and peaceful as it gets.
5. Khor Fakkan
Overlooking the Gulf of Oman, Khor Fakkan (part of Sharjah, bordering with Fujairah) is a favourite destination for city dwellers who want to get away from it all and soak up some good old-fashioned nature. Roughly translated as “The Creek with Two Jaws”, Khor Fakkan is also home to a peaceful cove known as Heart Beach on account of the shape that’s been carved into the headland above.
Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa is nearby if you fancy stopping over, but Heart Beach will take about 15 minutes of trekking to reach – a small price to pay when you clap eyes on this paradisiac location, the likes of which you won’t have believed exist anywhere in this region. This is the UAE coastline at its finest; just make sure that if you do visit, that you leave it just as you found it: naturally beautiful.
6. Jebel Ali Beach
Not far from the hustle and bustle of Dubai, but far enough to dissuade many from making the trek, Jebel Ali’s public open beach is a great place to chill out. Adjacent to JA The Resort, this stretch is natural and bereft of the facilities demanded by most tourists, which is probably another reason the crowds stay away and the unassuming bay of beauty is not disturbed by the racket of construction.
7. Dibba
Take your passport with you if Dibba tickles your fancy – you’ll need it to go in and out of Omani checkpoints to get to the best stretches of beach. Even the journey there is breathtaking, with the imposing Hajar Mountains ever-present, providing dramatic backdrops all along the coast.
Do your homework and you’ll discover that the best beaches are unreachable by car. You need to put in some legwork, or charter a boat, if you want isolation and quality snorkelling in waters teeming with marine life. Not far from the renowned Six Senses Zighy Bay, Al Mayam and Haffa are some of the finest and most peaceful areas of the UAE coast that are well worth seeking out. Take your tent and unplug from everyday life.
The specs
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder
Transmission: CVT auto
Power: 181bhp
Torque: 244Nm
Price: Dh122,900
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Full list of brands available for Instagram Checkout
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KKW @kkwbeauty
Kylie Cosmetics @kyliecosmetics
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Michael Kors @michaelkors
NARS @narsissist
Nike @niketraining & @nikewomen
NYX Cosmetics @nyxcosmetics
Oscar de la Renta @oscardelarenta
Ouai Hair @theouai
Outdoor Voices @outdoorvoices
Prada @prada
Revolve @revolve
Uniqlo @uniqlo
Warby Parker @warbyparker
Zara @zara
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Coming soon
Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura
When the W Dubai – The Palm hotel opens at the end of this year, one of the highlights will be Massimo Bottura’s new restaurant, Torno Subito, which promises “to take guests on a journey back to 1960s Italy”. It is the three Michelinstarred chef’s first venture in Dubai and should be every bit as ambitious as you would expect from the man whose restaurant in Italy, Osteria Francescana, was crowned number one in this year’s list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Akira Back Dubai
Another exciting opening at the W Dubai – The Palm hotel is South Korean chef Akira Back’s new restaurant, which will continue to showcase some of the finest Asian food in the world. Back, whose Seoul restaurant, Dosa, won a Michelin star last year, describes his menu as, “an innovative Japanese cuisine prepared with a Korean accent”.
Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
The highly experimental chef, whose dishes are as much about spectacle as taste, opens his first restaurant in Dubai next year. Housed at The Royal Atlantis Resort & Residences, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal will feature contemporary twists on recipes that date back to the 1300s, including goats’ milk cheesecake. Always remember with a Blumenthal dish: nothing is quite as it seems.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Look north
BBC business reporters, like a new raft of government officials, are being removed from the national and international hub of London and surely the quality of their work must suffer.
Selected fixtures
All times UAE
Wednesday
Poland v Portugal 10.45pm
Russia v Sweden 10.45pm
Friday
Belgium v Switzerland 10.45pm
Croatia v England 10.45pm
Saturday
Netherlands v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Denmark 10.45pm
Sunday
Poland v Italy 10.45pm
Monday
Spain v England 10.45pm
Tuesday
France v Germany 10.45pm
Rep of Ireland v Wales 10.45pm
SCORES
Multiply Titans 81-2 in 12.1 overs
(Tony de Zorzi, 34)
bt Auckland Aces 80 all out in 16 overs
(Shawn von Borg 4-15, Alfred Mothoa 2-11, Tshepo Moreki 2-16).
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
Armies of Sand
By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
Where to Find Me by Alba Arikha
Alma Books
The biog
Born: Kuwait in 1986
Family: She is the youngest of seven siblings
Time in the UAE: 10 years
Hobbies: audiobooks and fitness: she works out every day, enjoying kickboxing and basketball
