There are few better ways to embrace the UAE’s year-round sun than in the topaz waters of Abu Dhabi’s coast. Here are five of the city’s best beaches.
Abu Dhabi is a city edged by salt and sand. Beyond the skyline and the slow pull of the desert, its coastline reveals another side of the capital — one shaped by sea breeze, open sky, and long horizons. Some of the best beaches in the UAE, and indeed the wider Middle East, are found here (Saadiyat in particular has earned global acclaim). Some stretches feel almost untouched, made for walking with only the tide for company, while others hum with a more convivial energy — framed by beach clubs, watersports, and world-class hospitality venues.
Whether you’re here for a sunrise swim, a sundown spritz, or a barefoot afternoon with a flask and a book, these are the beaches in Abu Dhabi.
Saadiyat Beach
Saadiyat Beach is one of Abu Dhabi’s most captivating. Wide and wild, this public beach has powder-soft sands and luminous clear waters, home to bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles (though sightings are rare). Along the shore, you’ll find loungers, shaded daybeds and a number of upscale beach clubs, including Saadiyat Beach Club and Kai Beach. Large swathes of the beach however remain undeveloped and open, making it one of the few places in the city where you can walk for hours uninterrupted.
In the cooler months, a gentle swell sometimes rolls in on Saadiyat — just enough to tempt longboarders and beginner surfers. It’s not dramatic, but it’s real, and all the more special for its rarity in the UAE. Even rarer still, Saadiyat Beach forms part of a protected ecosystem, with critically-endangered Hawksbill sea turtles nesting on the sands under the protection of the Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Programme. Signs along the path remind visitors of their presence, and parts of the beach may be roped off during nesting season to avoid disturbance.
A unique draw of Saadiyat Beach is its proximity to landmark cultural institutions like Louvre Abu Dhabi, Manarat Al Saadiyat, and the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which form the heart of the city’s cultural district. It’s no surprise that this beach has won the World Travel Award’s ‘Middle East's Leading Beach Destination’ for 11 consecutive years.
Hudayriyat Beach
Hudayriyat Island may be just minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, but it feels a world apart. Easily accessible via bridge from Al Bateen, this is one of the city’s best escapes for active, all-ages beach days. The beach itself is broad and uncrowded — ideal for swimming or paddleboarding along a pristine stretch of open sea. What sets Hudayriyat Beach apart though, is its full-throttle embrace of outdoor, active living. Beyond the sand, cycling tracks loop for kilometres around the shore, complete with a dedicated velodrome and bike park. Football pitches, basketball courts and climbing walls add to the family-friendly, high-energy atmosphere on this Abu Dhabi island, especially on weekends.
For those who prefer to lounge, Hudayriyat Beach has a more laid-back side, with beachfront cafés, shaded picnic areas and a palm-lined promenade. Day bleeds into night at Bab Al Nojoum — a boutique glamping spot with beach tents, airstream trailers and firepits. Dining is relaxed and generous, with plenty of dishes to sink into with sandy feet and salty hair, from loaded fries and stacked burgers at MLT to ice-cold lemonade at Mashakeek & Steak.
Al Bateen Beach
Across the water from Hudayriyat, Al Bateen Beach brings a slower, more local feel to Abu Dhabi’s coastline. With its calm waters and golden sands, it’s a favourite among early-morning walkers and families looking for a relaxed outdoor space to spend the day. Al Bateen has a rare kind of simplicity — no big attractions, no frills — just open sea and space to breathe. While there are fewer restaurants than on Hudayriat, it’s exactly the kind of place to fill up a flask, unfurl a blanket and pack a hearty picnic.
For the ladies: the eastern end of Al Bateen is where to go for a women’s-only beach day, with private access and lifeguard supervision.
This Abu Dhabi beach was awarded the coveted Blue Flag by the Emirates Wildlife Authority, promising clean waters and ecologically sustainable practices. Be sure to stay for the sunset — the view across to Hudayriyat Bridge is especially beautiful at dusk.
Al Mirfa Beach
Al Mirfa Beach is one of Abu Dhabi’s best-kept secrets. Unlike the more manicured beaches closer to the capital, this is a wilder, windier stretch of sea — a favourite for kitesurfers, seasoned campers and anyone looking to trade crowds for open sky. It is approximately 90 minutes from downtown Abu Dhabi, and it’s absolutely worth the drive.
The energy here is low-key and nature-led. There are shaded picnic spots, barbecue areas and basic facilities, but the main draw is its open space, which offers the kind of breezy solitude you won’t find elsewhere in the emirate. Al Mirfa beach is also home to the annual Al Mirfa Watersports Festival — a community-driven winter event with sailing, wakeboarding, surf-ski kayaking, and traditional dhow races.
While there are a few small shops and restaurants nearby, most visitors come packed and prepared to spend the day (and sometimes the night). It’s the sort of place to bring your own grill, pitch a beach tent, and watch the tide shift under uninterrupted desert sky.
Yas Beach
Yas Island is Abu Dhabi’s epicentre of entertainment, and Yas Beach is no exception. This is where the city’s sunseekers come for ice-cold Aperol spritz, live DJ sets and beachfront brunches that slip easily into the night. Cabanas, loungers and low tables spill across soft sands, with a sublime stretch of sea just steps away.
It isn’t all partying on Yas, though. For those who want more than sun and social, the beach has an abundance of outdoor activities, including padel courts, jetskiing and paddleboarding. Just beyond the beachfront, the surrounding mangroves offer a peaceful contrast — best explored by kayak as the sun sinks and the tide rolls in.
Yas Beach is just minutes from some of Abu Dhabi’s best attractions, including Ferrari World, SeaWorld and Yas Waterworld.
