The Best Private Beaches in Dubai

A hotspot for celebrity-watching, Cove Beach features a narrow plunge pool near the restaurant area, as well as access to the sea with just a quick stroll down the sand. Staff come down to the waterfront to serve and the venue pumps out music during the daytime, so don’t expect that you’ll be able to get a nap in while catching some rays. Dubai’s Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum has been spotted dining here, so if it’s good enough for royalty…

Palm Jumeirah is known for having some of the most serene private beaches in Dubai. The beach boasts different pools for families and adults and it offers unobstructed views of the water. Get there early for a chilled morning – while it stays fairly peaceful throughout the day, it usually fills up fast. However, there’s plenty of space to stretch out and you’ll save money on expensive resort water, because hotel-branded H2O is free and unlimited here.

With seven restaurant options on offer, where you choose your sunlounger on the strip might depend on whether you feel like chowing down on Japanese–Peruvian or Arabic food that day. Prop up an umbrella and hunker down with a good book on one of the busier beaches of the Palm Jumeirah, then cool off indoors with some welcome AC when it’s time to eat.

This is a private beach and a music venue rolled into one, with a bar, restaurant, pool and large-scale event space constructed for famous DJs and festivals. You can choose to stay close to the action up near the deck or head down to the sand. It’s located right next to the Skydive Dubai Drop Zone so it’s a cool spot to catch skydivers as they prepare to come back down to earth. Since launching in 2013, the likes of Fatboy Slim, Duke Dumont, Roger Sanchez, Martin Solveig and Sigala have played here. Guests have also spotted Lindsay Lohan and Justin Bieber splashing around in the glass-front infinity pool, famous for the unique picture opportunity it presents against the Dubai Marina skyline.

This world-renowned brand, known around the globe for its white furnishings, opened one of its private beaches in Dubai in 2016 and is loved by famous people and VIPs. Its pricey cabanas (one with TV included) and entertainment acts take it up a notch compared to other private beach clubs in Dubai. This one has a stage in the pool, and party people have a choice of plush restaurants in which they can dine. On the resort side, where the hotel lies, staff in the more family-friendly pool offer just as much attention, and there’s yet another restaurant to dine at. Can’t stand the Dubai heat? Sunloungers submerged in the pool solve the problem.

The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is connected to Le Meridien Mina Seyahi hotel’s beach club, so you get access to both. Between the two of them there are five temperature-controlled pools including two shaded kids’ pools. Choose to lounge near the sea or the pools, and with a quick WhatsApp message, you can summon staff to bring you whatever you need, including a good selection from the food menu. Swing in the hammock over the shallow water at the Westin, or cool off on the in-water loungers.

Atlantis, The Palm’s private beaches in Dubai consist of several pools and have plenty of staff to deliver quick service. Whether you want to smoke shisha on the sand or dance in front of a live-music act, much of the activity at this resort takes places outdoors when the weather allows. It’s the most recognisable resort on the island, and you don’t have to come prepared at Atlantis, as towels are provided. If guests are really caught out they can even buy a bathing suit inside one of the hotel’s boutiques.

At Jumeirah Al Naseem resort, guests can lounge by the pool or hang out at one of the most pristine and exclusive private beaches in Dubai, with a view of the Burj Al Arab. There’s access to all the facilities you need for freshening up, and juicy fruit platters, drinks and towels are all provided. A DJ provides music and international cuisine is served.

Situated in the middle of a public beach in the JBR neighborhood, Azure is a welcome escape from the busy touristy area. Near the world’s largest observation wheel, visitors feel close to all the action. On this fun beach, expect to find giant inflatables in the pool and loads of activities for kids to enjoy while the adults relax. The menu here is Asian-inspired, and sunloungers have their own personal storage unit that doubles up as a meal table.

Privacy at its best is right here, with stretches of sand that are near no other resorts. Visitors might find it a pain to get the ‘end’ of the Palm Jumeirah, but it’s worth it to feel this secluded while using the upscale hotel’s private beach. To avoid traffic on the palm-shaped island, guests can use a boat service from the sister hotel One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai Media City. There are even oversized cabanas for those who really want to keep to themselves. If the sea is too warm, there’s a huge pool calling. The resort offers a range of water sports and even deep-sea fishing.