BEACHES & PARKS

 

BEACHES

Fancy the sand between your toes and the sea breeze in your hair, crystal clear water? Yes, well Dubai has many beaches where you can experience this. Dubai has a choice between public beaches and beach parks. The beaches are easily accessible, beautiful with white sand. They are open free to the public but the facilities are somewhat limited. The best of these beaches is along the Jumeirah Beach Corniche located next to the Dubai Marine Beach Resort. The Jumeirah Beach Corniche park has unrestricted opening times and free to enter. It stretches along around of 800 meters of beach front, and the facilities include children’s’ play areas, showers and shaded picnic tables. There is also a sheltered area for swimming.

Further along the Jumeirah Beach is the Umm Suqueim Beach which is close to the Jemeirah Beach Hotel. This is an undeveloped beach with little in the way of facilities but then it is not as popular so might be ideal to have a stroll along the beach undisturbed.

If you are looking for a more natural beach then pay a visit to the area as the Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Hotel where there is a 10 km stretch of beach.

Dubai also boasts 2 lovely beach parks. These are well developed, scenic and have large grassy area with palm trees and shrubs to provide the needed shade.

Al Mamzar Beach Park, a beach made for holidaymakers, is located about 20 minutes drive from the city centre in the opposite direction from the Jumeirah beaches area.which is open from 8am to 11pm and 4 pristine beaches, 2 swimming pools, picnic area, changing room and food stalls. There is an entrance fee for this beach of Dhs 5 per person or Dhs 30 for a car (includes driver and passengers). This beach park is reserved for women and children on Wednesdays. Jumeirah Beach Park is a ideal for a family picnic on the weekends. The park has a beach front and is visited a lot by tourists for swimming and sunbathing. It has picnic tables, barbecue area, small play areas for children, volleyball play area, showers and swimming areas with lifeguards. It spans 12 hectares of parkland with children’s play areas, barbecue sites, food kiosks, volleyball areas, jetty area fronting on to the beach with lifeguards on duty. Jumeirah Beach Park is a marvelous painting of landscaping of grass, flowers, palm trees and shrub

If you just prefer to have a wander around and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city Dubai has some pleasant lush green parks with lawns, palm trees and shrubs. The parks have kiosks serving snacks and drinks and some have picnic areas with barbeque pits. These parks all offer something individual from beautifully landscaped gardens, sporting areas, jogging tracks, train rides, fair ground activities, amphitheatres and desert areas. Should you wish to visit one of the parks check the opening times and ladies/childrens days. Also worth noting is some parks have a nominal entrance charge.

WATER PARKS

If the beach is not for you why not try one of the water parks. These are not just for kids but adults as well. The main two ones are Wild Wadi next the the Burj Al Arab hotel in Jumeirah and slightly further afield is the Dreamland Aqua Park in Umm Al Quwain.

Sitting in the shadows of the Burj Al-Arab hotel is the most well know of these water parks, Wild Wadi. This is an experience for young and old alike. It is owned and operated by the Jumeirah Hotel Group, owners of the Burj Al-Arab, so that tells you it is first class. Something no holiday maker should miss out on. It covers 12 meticulously maintained acres with over 30 thrilling rides. One of the “must do” things in Dubai.

30 minutes along the Emirates Road in Umm Al-Quwain is the 250,000 square metres of landscaped gardens of Dreamland Aqua Park. This park has 25 thrilling rides and is not as busy as Wild Wadi. It has numerous food outlets and is an ideal place to relax and “recharge the batteries”.

The newest addition to the water parks in Dubai is at the recently opened Atlantis Hotel at The Palm Jumeirah. Slide down the immense “Ziggurat” and through shark infested lagoon (you have read this correct, but don’t worry the sharks cannot get to you), experience the rapids or white water charger. After that take a 2 km lazy river ride. The children also have their own water play area.

Atlantis has other water based attractions to suit the family. Lost Chambers is a maze of underwater halls and tunnels with over 65,000 marine species, or the Ambassador Lagoon with its sharks and rays. Dolphin Bay is a lush tropical setting of over 4 hectares where you can get close to the dolphins.

If time allows and you like the thrills of water parks they why not visit all 3.