The residents' stretch of Jumeirah coast: Kite Beach with its sports courts and food stalls, the Umm Suqeim fishing harbour where Emirati fishermen's family shack Bu Qtair fries the catch, Sunset Beach with its surfers and early walkers, ending with the Burj Al Arab view (the hotel itself is closed for restoration until October 2027).
Best time: Sunrise, any day; from May to September only at first light, when residents walk and run the beach before the heat. Kite Beach's volleyball courts run 05:00-03:00.
The route, stop by stop
- 1Kite Beach
Cafes and food stalls, a skate park, paddleboarding, kayaking and kite-surfing; beach volleyball courts (AED 100 an hour) and padel courts. Start here. 30 min.
- 2Bu Qtair
Fish shack by the harbour since the 1980s: pick the fish, it is fried with a house spice rub and served with paratha. It opens for lunch and dinner, so at dawn just look at the boats. 15 min.
- 3Umm Suqeim Beach (Sunset Beach)
Wide public beach, quiet in the early morning, popular with surfers, with a playground and BBQ areas. 30 min.
- 4Burj Al Arab
The 1999 sail-shaped hotel, closed since April 2026 for an 18-month restoration and due to reopen in October 2027; seen from the beach. 10 min.
More walks in Dubai
- Al Fahidi lanes to the Bur Dubai souk
- Bur Dubai creekside to Al Shindagha
- Deira souks and Al Ras
- Safa Park to the Jumeirah heritage sites
- Oud Metha, Karama, Zabeel Park and the Dubai Frame
- Downtown: Burj Khalifa to the Museum of the Future
- Satwa and Al Hudaiba: Union House to Ravi's
- Deira back streets: Naif Souq to Al Ras
- Al Quoz: warehouse coffee and the Alserkal galleries
- Karama: market, Kerala breakfast and manakish
- Hatta: waterfall dam, heritage village and the lake