Imagine you’re on such a gorgeous beach. As they love to say in Dubai, by the big water. And here, in the future, there will be a large port. Imagine waking up in the morning, stepping out of your apartment, walking just 20 meters, and finding yourself on such a luxurious private beach. You swim or go for a run along the sea, and in the evening, after work, you go for a sunset walk with your spouse. You enjoy the sunset and have a delicious dinner. Who wouldn’t dream of living like this? I think everyone would.

That’s why today we will explore all the popular waterfront districts and locations. We’ll take a look at these areas and compare them, because the most popular places aren’t always the best for living or the most attractive for investment. We’ll also discuss the areas where people truly want to live, including expats.

Bluewaters Island

Today, we will be moving from west to east and exploring Dubai’s coastal areas. The first area I’d like to talk about is, of course, Bluewaters Island. Here it is, the first stop, and we can see the famous Ferris wheel.

What stands out about Bluewaters Island is that it’s one of the few areas that has shown a tremendous price increase over the past five years. The cost of real estate on this island has risen from 2,100 dirhams per square foot to an average of 5,000 dirhams per square foot, showing more than a twofold growth.

Bluewaters Island is new, and in fact, it’s truly new, as the island was only completed in 2018, just eight years ago. By the way, the island was built by the company Mirasa. It’s no coincidence that we’re starting with this area — this is a man-made, artificial island.

Today, we’ll be looking at several artificial islands. I’ve mentioned several times on our channel that although Dubai is by the water and it’s a coastal city, there isn’t enough waterfront real estate on the first shoreline. That’s why, back in the early 2000s, the authorities of the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai’s authorities, came up with the idea to build artificial islands to extend the first shoreline. This was done to generate more revenue, build more waterfront properties, more hotels, and attract even more tourists.

This project is still actively developing, which is why some artificial islands, like the well-known Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters, are thriving. Their prices are increasing, they are highly sought after, and, for example, in winter, demand for Bluewaters even exceeded supply. It was very difficult to find a decent apartment for a yearly lease — everything was very expensive. In fact, everything here is truly expensive.

Real Estate Prices on Bluewaters

When it comes to prices on Bluewaters Island, if we’re looking at one-bedroom apartments, you can expect a price of around $1.5 million. Of course, you can search and find something for $1.4 million. I’ve seen some apartments sold for $1.4 million — which is around 5 million dirhams. Such deals have indeed taken place.

There are no limitations here; you can find one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as townhouses with separate entrances. These options are simply stunning and delightful. There are apartments with renovations and without, so there are plenty of offers available.

Rental Prices on Bluewaters

As for rent, one-bedroom apartments currently go for an annual rental price of between $90,000 and $120,000 per year. This depends on the specific apartment and the unit itself.

If you’re feeling discouraged, thinking you’ll never be able to afford waterfront property in Dubai, keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive areas, Bluewaters. Next, we’ll talk about more affordable areas.

We’ve all understood that Bluewaters is a fantastic and expensive area, and its value has increased. Let’s talk about why prices have risen so much and what factors contributed to this growth.

Why Property Prices Are Rising on Bluewaters

Why has this island become so popular? Why are people willing to pay such high prices for rent and purchase here? The thing is, if there weren’t people willing to buy property here for such prices, those prices wouldn’t exist.

Firstly, it’s about the location. Bluewaters is right next to Dubai Marina, just across the canal. You can walk there, as there is a pedestrian bridge and promenade. However, despite its proximity, it feels like they’ve removed all the downsides and inconveniences of Dubai Marina. Everyone knows that Marina, especially Dubai Marina, has traffic jams. On Bluewaters, there are no traffic jams. They have a separate highway and a dedicated bridge that leads directly to the main road.

Parking on the island itself is very expensive, and generally, the people driving on Bluewaters Island are either residents, guests staying at the hotel — there’s only one hotel — or people coming to dine at a restaurant. This means the traffic here is quite low.

Secondly, Bluewaters Island was built by the state-owned company Meraas. This company is known for constructing high-quality projects. Additionally, the development here isn’t high-rise. Many people prefer low-rise developments because it allows for a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere. This has been a huge advantage for this project.

The third point is that the island was very well designed. On one side, there’s a tourist promenade. You can walk from JBR to Bluewaters and stroll along the tourist promenade, which is located next to the Ferris wheel, restaurants, and plenty of tourist shops. It’s all very impressive.

However, if you think about where the local residents go for walks, they can head to the other side of the island, where there’s absolutely nothing: no shops, no cafes, no restaurants. There’s only a beautiful sea view and park areas with benches where people jog, walk their dogs, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. This area is not closed off — anyone can enter, but it has a small, neat entrance, so mostly residents walk there. Tourists usually have no reason to be there since there are no establishments or retail outlets.

On Bluewaters Island, all the best amenities are gathered. You live just 25 minutes from the city center, not far from Dubai Marina, but at the same time, you are on a quiet and peaceful island where you can enjoy low levels of noise pollution and beautiful sea views. If you go to the other side of the island, you’ll find a huge number of great restaurants, entertainment, and clubs. You can always walk to the street with clubs and restaurants, so you will never be bored.

At any time, avoiding traffic jams, you can drive on your personal bridge to the highway and reach the city in 25 minutes. We’ve found that everything on Bluewaters Island is great — only positives, no negatives, especially if you have 1.5 million dollars to buy a one-bedroom apartment. Yes, everything is really fantastic, but the price is quite high.

JBR District in Dubai Marina

The next district we’ll talk about is JBR, located in Dubai Marina. Let’s clarify a few things. This island with the Ferris wheel — that’s Bluewaters. We are currently in JBR, and behind the JBR area is the Dubai Marina district. If you look to the right of JBR, you can see the high-rise buildings, and that’s already Dubai Harbour. We’ll discuss them in the next topic since they are nearby.

And behind Dubai Harbour, you can see the buildings that are already on the Palm, as well as the famous Atlantis Hotel. That’s why people, especially those who don’t live in Dubai, often perceive the Dubai Island, JBR, Dubai Marina, and Dubai Harbour areas as one large district. However, that’s not entirely the case: these areas are neighboring and are close to each other. If you walk from the terrace through all of JBR to Dubai Harbour, it will only take you about an hour. The distance is one and a half kilometers. So, it will be a long, one-hour walk, but still, in just one hour, you can walk from Bluewaters through all of JBR to Dubai Harbour.

Pros of the JBR and Dubai Marina Areas

In this article, we will focus on two neighboring areas: Dubai Marina and JBR. Let’s start with the pros and cons of these locations.

One of the main advantages is the presence of an excellent public beach. From Dubai Marina, you can reach this wonderful beach in 10-15 minutes to relax with a towel, sunbathe, or swim. This is a huge plus, especially considering that despite the large amount of waterfront property in Dubai, there are actually very few easily accessible places where you can easily walk to the beach. This is a big rarity here.

As for Dubai Marina, another advantage is the availability of public transportation. Although the metro is being actively expanded throughout Dubai, it is not available everywhere yet. However, Dubai Marina already has a functioning metro and tram, making it easy and quick to move around the area or get to the city center.

Another benefit of this area is its affordability. Dubai Marina is one of the most accessible seaside areas. You can find a good one-bedroom apartment starting from 1,600,000 dirhams on the secondary market. This will be a decent apartment, and the rental cost for such a unit is around 120,000 dirhams per year.

The Dubai Marina and JBR areas have many advantages. They are fully developed and ready for living, offering all the necessary infrastructure. Almost all the free plots have already been built up, and there is a full-fledged shopping mall where you can walk to shop or buy groceries. Additionally, this area has several kindergartens and a large number of cafes and restaurants. In short, the entire infrastructure is fully operational.

Cons of the JBR and Dubai Marina Areas

As for the downsides of Dubai Marina, there are a few points that might be considered disadvantages for some residents. Firstly, the area is considered old, as construction began in the 2000s, and although there are still new buildings being developed, older ones remain next to the new developments. For some, this might be a downside, while others may not pay attention to it at all.

Secondly, the area is fully built up and ready for living, which leads to traffic congestion, especially during the tourist season. At this time, the area is crowded, and the beaches become packed with people. For some, this can be a drawback, as they may dislike being stuck in traffic. However, others might prefer having an apartment in such a location where they can quickly reach the sea, walk along the promenade, and enjoy being close to the beach. For them, this area is unrivaled.

Real Estate Prices

Today, we won’t delve too deeply into the real estate market in Dubai Marina because things are relatively straightforward. Most buildings here were constructed by the same developer. There is a difference in prices, but on average, this can amount to just 50%, depending on the type of apartment and the floor. In Dubai Marina, prices can vary much more. For example, the cost of one-bedroom apartments can range from as low as 1 million dirhams for apartments that are unfortunately in poor condition. Decent, well-maintained apartments on the secondary market start from 1,600,000 dirhams.

Additionally, you can consider new developments, such as the Kempinski project, where the infrastructure will be of the highest quality. For such developers, prices start from 3,200,000 dirhams for one-bedroom apartments.

If you’re interested in this topic, you can download a catalog from the website. We’ve compiled a list of the top 15 best projects in Dubai Marina, including both primary and secondary market options in various price ranges. You can download the catalog, review the information yourself, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our specialists. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Dubai Harbour and Emaar Beachfront

The next location we want to discuss is Dubai Harbour and Emaar Beachfront. It’s interesting because this is an entirely new area where everything will be brand new: all the buildings are fresh and beautiful, and it also boasts a magnificent marina. The scenery is stunning, and this location certainly has its pros and cons. Let’s quickly go over them.

Starting with the positives: First, this is a completely new district, and all the buildings will be of high quality. It’s also worth mentioning that there’s a distinction between Dubai Harbour and Emaar Beachfront. Emaar Beachfront is being fully developed by a master developer, Emaar, which is a government-backed developer that built Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai. They are also currently working on another interesting community, which we’ll discuss later. As for Dubai Harbour, a variety of different developers are involved, but all the projects are also presented at a high level. Let’s focus more on Emaar Beachfront, as there are currently many offers available on the primary, secondary, and rental markets.

Pros and Cons: Dubai Harbour vs. Emaar Beachfront

The first advantage worth mentioning is the presence of a private beach. You always have access to the beach, and you can walk to it in just 2-5 minutes. This is undoubtedly a huge plus for those who want to go for a morning run or simply swim in the sea.

The second advantage is that the area is completely new and modern, with well-developed infrastructure. Everything here is beautiful and new. There are also plans for the construction of a road that will significantly improve transportation accessibility to the area. As a result, you will be able to reach the city center in 20-25 minutes without traffic.

However, this location also has certain drawbacks. The first one is more of a matter of taste. When we talk about such a premium community, some may expect low-rise buildings for a more tranquil atmosphere. But here, high-rise buildings will be constructed by various developers, and the development is quite dense, which might not appeal to everyone.

If you choose an apartment in Emaar Beachfront, be prepared for a lack of peace and quiet. Dubai Harbour will be under construction for the next five years, so during that time, you will likely experience construction noise, dust, and the ongoing development around you.

Property Prices

As for prices today, a one-bedroom apartment at Emaar Beachfront can be purchased starting from 2,300,000 AED. It’s important to note that Emaar never builds studios; their minimum apartments are always one-bedroom and quite spacious. The area of one-bedroom apartments is about 70 square meters. If you want an apartment with a beautiful sea view and a good location on a higher floor, be prepared to pay from 2,900,000 AED for similarly spacious units. In my opinion, every dirham is worth it.

You can also consider purchasing an apartment on the secondary market and moving in. Alternatively, explore projects currently being built in Dubai Harbour by other developers. Remember, you can always contact us for more comprehensive and detailed information.

If you’re considering renting an apartment at Emaar Beachfront, the average price ranges from 130,000 to 200,000 AED per year for one-bedroom apartments. This cost depends on the floor and specific features of the apartment.

Palm Jumeirah

The next location we’ve arrived at is Palm Jumeirah. When it comes to Palm Jumeirah, it’s not just another waterfront district, nor is it simply a residential area by the sea. This is one of the symbols of Dubai, alongside Burj Khalifa. Choosing to live on Palm Jumeirah means residing on one of the iconic landmarks, which is undoubtedly very cool. Like any other area, it has its own pros and cons. Let’s quickly go through them.

Pros of Palm Jumeirah

The first thing to note is that living on Palm Jumeirah is undoubtedly prestigious. It truly is a symbol of Dubai. Aerial views of the Palm from a helicopter are some of the most memorable images of the city.

Secondly, the infrastructure is impressive. The Palm has absolutely everything. There are shopping malls, cafes, bars, and restaurants—every amenity you might need. Additionally, the stunning sunset views and beautiful landscapes, both of the Palm itself and the sea, are remarkable.

Every villa, hotel, and apartment complex has access to the beach. If it’s a villa, it includes access to a private beach. Honestly, I’ve lived in Dubai for quite a while now, and I’ve noticed that when people first arrive, they often explore various areas of the city. However, over time, I frequently hear that they want to live specifically on Palm Jumeirah. You gradually tire of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Cons of Palm Jumeirah

The first con to mention is that there is only one exit from the Palm. This creates some traffic problems. Therefore, during peak hours, exiting the Palm can be challenging; you may have to wait in traffic for a bit. However, if you choose to live in the center of the Palm, often referred to as the trunk, exiting is much easier. If you live on the fronds, especially at the ends, it can take 20-25 minutes to exit the Palm, which requires some time.

Another interesting point regarding the cons is the price. However, this isn’t entirely a negative, as the prices are reasonable. New apartments start at around 3.6 million dirhams for a one-bedroom unit. Of course, there is a secondary market, but often the apartments on the secondary market may be less appealing compared to the primary market, which offers new and modern units.

Renting on Palm Jumeirah

When it comes to rentals, the price for one-bedroom apartments ranges from 140,000 to 180,000 dirhams per year. However, as I mentioned, this typically applies to older buildings. Palm Jumeirah was developed nearly 20 years ago, with occupancy starting in 2008. On the other hand, if you’re into flipping properties—such as buying apartments, renovating them, and then reselling—Palm Jumeirah is a fantastic location for that. It has become very popular for flipping.

In terms of prices, renting a villa with new renovations can cost three times more than renting a villa with older renovations. This can significantly boost your return on investment (ROI) for rentals. You can also resell the villa for a profit. The situation with apartments is similar; they require less investment compared to villas.

Community on Palm Jumeirah

So, who chooses to live on the Palm? These are people who want to combine the quiet island lifestyle with life in a major metropolis. Here, for example, you can live in an apartment and then head to the stunning, uncrowded, and peaceful beach. You’ll be able to enjoy beautiful views, clean water, and go for morning runs.

Moreover, there’s a park here. In fact, it’s one of the few parks where people actually engage in sports; many jog and practice yoga here. Almost all of the Palm is pet-friendly, meaning you can bring dogs and pets to all the parks. Most cafes also allow pets, so if you have furry friends, this location is worth considering.

In general, you can find everything you need for life on Palm Jumeirah: parties, clubs, bars, restaurants, and shopping centers for leisurely strolls. It’s always just a 25-30 minute drive to the heart of the bustling metropolis—downtown Dubai. This is the splendid Palm Jumeirah.

If you’re already in love with Palm Jumeirah but think that 3,600,000 dirhams is a bit steep for a one-bedroom apartment, I’d like to remind you that we have another location that closely resembles Palm Jumeirah, with an entry threshold that is half the price.

Maritime City and Rashid Yachts and Marina by Emaar

The next two locations we will discuss are Maritime City and Rashid Yachts and Marina by Emaar. I’ve combined them into one section because they are located very close to each other. The tall tower you see is already part of Maritime City, while we are currently in the Rashid Yachts area. So, both of these locations are adjacent.

Unlike the previous locations we’ve visited, there isn’t much here at the moment. However, you can still notice the beautiful marina that already exists, along with adequate infrastructure: palm trees have been planted, roads are laid out, and overall, it looks very appealing.

What’s planned for the future? There are plans to create a large port and a major marina. Additionally, cruise liners will dock here, which will bring a flow of tourists to the area.

Property Prices

As for the current prices in this area, as you can see, there isn’t much available except for one tower from Emaar located in Maritime City. This is the benchmark to consider. In the secondary market, studios can be found starting at 1.1 million dirhams. These studios are already being rented out for 75,000 dirhams a year. For one-bedroom apartments, the average price is around 1.8 million dirhams, with similar apartments renting for up to 115,000 dirhams annually.

But don’t rush to calculate your profits in this location just yet. As you can see, there’s nothing here. Imagine, people are paying 115,000 dirhams a year to rent a one-bedroom apartment in an area where there are virtually no amenities. There’s one small shop, a little kiosk, and there’s one café over there. Everything looks nice, of course, but there really isn’t much here at the moment.

According to Dubai’s development plan for 2040, this area is set to become another popular tourist and residential location. The development plan also includes a large tourist center. As I mentioned earlier, cruise liners will be docking here, and a large marina will be constructed. Additionally, a substantial community is being developed.

Emaar, the state developer that built areas like Downtown and Dubai Marina, does not construct standalone buildings; they only develop complete communities. Here, they are also creating a fully integrated residential complex that will include schools, nurseries, parks, and a huge 500-meter swimming pool. This will be a fully residential area with all the necessary infrastructure.

Currently, you can consider a one-bedroom apartment starting at 1.6 million dirhams for a spacious unit that is expected to be ready around 2027-2028.

Advantages of Maritime City

One of the main advantages of this location is undoubtedly its waterfront setting. However, all the areas we’re discussing today are near the sea. Here, there will also be a beautiful promenade where you can step out of your home and take a stroll.

Additionally, this area is very interesting. Even now, you can drive to the center of Dubai in just 20-25 minutes. We can see the Burj Khalifa, and in the future, a new interchange is planned, which will significantly simplify access to the center. This will allow you to travel without traffic jams and reach your destination in the same 20-25 minutes.

Certainly, all these advantages make this area very attractive from an investment perspective. However, it does have its downsides. The most obvious one is that there is no beach and likely never will be. This is because there’s a port and marina in the area, and another port on the opposite side in Maritime City. Thus, you shouldn’t expect a beach here. Nonetheless, the nearest beach can always be reached by car in 5-7 minutes.

Dubai Islands

We’ve finally arrived at our last location for today, and as promised, this is the most exciting and investment-attractive area—Dubai Islands.

In the past year, in addition to the master developer Nakheel, which is building these islands, ten other major developers have joined the project. Currently, there are 18 new projects under construction. Can you imagine those numbers? This is one of the few places where some of the most interesting apartments are still available for sale at launch. The most attractive units are often sold out even before the official sales begin, with investors purchasing multiple apartments or entire floors.

Let’s briefly discuss why this location is so appealing. First of all, just look at the beauty of the surrounding landscape! Wouldn’t you want to wake up every morning to such a wonderful view? You can easily step out of your home, cross the road, and find yourself on a stunning beach. Unlike Palm Jumeirah, where there are small inlets, here you have large, beautiful beaches.

It’s worth noting that there is no waterfront location in Dubai where property prices haven’t risen. It’s essential to remember that properties on the first coastline always appreciate in value.

Another interesting aspect is that Dubai Islands comprise four large islands covering a total area of 6 kilometers. One of these islands will be the Green Island, which will feature golf courses. Golf courses by the water are unique, and in my opinion, these will be the only golf courses in Dubai located right by the sea. Additionally, this island will host villas and sports facilities, including tennis courts and stables. Ultimately, all these islands will be fully developed with villas, and this particular island will be the only one with hotels and apartments.

Investments in Real Estate on Dubai Islands

Why should property prices rise here? Just look over there at the huge shopping center. Why are shopping centers so important in the United Arab Emirates? The thing is, it’s hot here for four months of the year, and people need a place to shop and walk around. That’s why shopping centers solve this issue.

This shopping center, I’m not sure if it’s bigger than Dubai Mall, but it’s definitely larger than Mall of the Emirates or about the same size. So, those who have been to Dubai can imagine the scale of this complex. It will have absolutely everything: cinemas, cafes, restaurants, clinics. All the infrastructure that will be on the island will essentially fit in one place.

The location here is also interesting. Even now, we can get from Dubai Islands to the city center in 25 minutes without traffic. Yes, there is traffic in this part of the city, especially during rush hours—morning and evening. But they are already building two new exits from this island and there will be two new bridges that will allow for a traffic-free journey to the center of Dubai in a pleasant 20-25 minutes.

Imagine this: you’re lying on the beach, you get into your car, and in 20 minutes, you’re in Dubai’s business center. Even on Palm Jumeirah, this is not possible. There’s a large concentration of people and cars there, traffic jams, and the journey takes about 40 minutes. Here, accessibility will be much closer.

By the way, since we mentioned Palm Jumeirah, the most relevant comparison for Dubai Islands would indeed be Palm Jumeirah. This is also a man-made island, primarily focused on beach tourism. There will also be a combination of residential and hotel complexes, meaning there will be space for both tourists and permanent residents.

New Developments on Dubai Islands

Currently, if we look at new developments on Palm Jumeirah, the price for a one-bedroom apartment is around 3.6 million dirhams. On the second shoreline, a number of excellent apartments are being built. As I mentioned, there are a total of 18 projects underway here, and one of the latest is a fantastic project by the developer Imtiaz. We really like Imtiaz as a developer; they have good quality and build well. The Beach Walk 3 project recently started, with prices for one-bedroom apartments starting from 1.9 million dirhams for spacious units.

It’s worth noting that there won’t be any studios here; the project is approved by Nakheel, the master developer. If there are any small apartments, Nakheel does not approve those projects, as they want to make the island more luxurious. Therefore, the minimum units are one-bedroom apartments, with sizes ranging from 68 to 72 square meters, making them quite spacious.

Another unique aspect is that the island is being constructed very quickly. Nakheel has decided to expedite the development and sells plots to developers, giving them only four years to complete the project. Thus, most of the projects currently under construction are expected to be ready by 2026-2027. Essentially, a large part of the island will also be ready by that time, and by 2026-2027, it will be possible to live here comfortably and peacefully.

So, if you have any questions about this island or any of the previous locations we visited, feel free to reach out to our specialists directly. Ask them any questions you have, and they will be happy to assist you.

Real estate in Dubai, UAE

What is the sea like in Dubai

Hello everyone If you are reading this article, then most likely you have either recently arrived at the seaside in Dubai, or are just going to come here and are looking for the best beach for yourself. You might be interested in some secret location where only locals relax, or a beach where locals go. In general, you are looking for a beach that can be called the best of the best — one that is not shown on the map.

But I want to disappoint you right away: there is no such thing here. On the sea in Dubai, every square centimeter of the area is visible. If there is a beach, then it is either private or public, and it is marked on the map, that is, everything is as transparent as possible. Nevertheless, today we will look at the main public beaches that are good options for recreation.

Public beaches in Dubai

Today we will look at different places to get to. Some beaches are within walking distance, others can be reached by car, and there are places that can only be reached by taxi. There are also beaches where you can drive directly to the territory.

The beach at JBR

Let’s start with Abu Dhabi and look at the first beach that comes our way. This beach in the JBR Dubai Marina area is one of the most famous areas in Dubai among Russian—speaking people. Despite the fact that the beach is very wide and long, I will immediately note the first drawback: this entire strip of beaches is divided into private hotel beaches, where sun beds are located, and public, so to speak, municipal beaches, where anyone can come and sit with their towel.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of people in the area where they are allowed to rest. None of the beaches here are closed or fenced, so you can walk along the sand to the very end at any time. However, if you enter the hotel, you will not be disturbed. But as soon as you put down your bag or put a towel on the sand, the security service will immediately approach you and tell you not to do that.

As for the advantages of this beach, firstly, it has absolutely all the infrastructure: cafes, restaurants, embankments. You can take a walk, use the showers, changing rooms and toilets — it’s all very clean and accessible. In addition, you can get here by metro, which makes this beach popular with people who do not have cars. They choose this particular beach because it is convenient to get to it by metro or tram and then enjoy swimming and sunbathing.

It is very convenient for those who live or relax in the area: you can leave the apartment and walk to the beach in just 5-7 minutes, which is really cool, wide and beautiful. However, if you already live in Dubai and you have a car, then there are much more interesting beaches that we will also look at today.

Dubai West Beach

I suggest we move to the second beach, to the second location. The next beach that I would like to show is West Beach, located on a palm tree. I walked all along this beautiful coastline and found out that there are no public beaches here. All these beaches belong either to beach clubs or hotels. The situation here is the same as in Dubai: as soon as you want to put down a towel, the guards will immediately approach you.

However, you can walk here, so you can come, enjoy the walk and take great photos with views of the Marina, Beach Front and JBR. Even from here you can see the Ferris wheel on Bluewaters. But you can’t just come for a swim and sunbathe on a palm tree.

As for beach clubs, this is a recreation format where you can swim, sunbathe, listen to a DJ, hang out and have a delicious meal. If you go to the beach club, the price tag starts from 200 to 300 dirhams per person, and this deposit can be spent on drinks and food. If you are interested in this format of recreation, but you want to save a little, then there is a place called Barasti. It is located on the Marina, specifically in that part behind Café Pronto. People over the age of 21 can enter there for free, they must have an identity card with them, for example, a passport or an Emirates ID, and they must not have any drinks with them, neither water nor alcohol. Then you can just get into this beach club and buy anything you want there. Or you can just sunbathe, swim and listen to the DJ without buying anything.

As for transportation, there are several ways to get here, including by car and taxi. By the way, if you go by car, there is free parking nearby – look carefully at the map, there is a large free parking lot five minutes from this point. If you decide to use public transport, then the most convenient option is to take the subway to the station, and then transfer to the monorail. The monorail station is very close by.

The next beach that I would like to show you was the only beach in the city center that could be reached by car, but unfortunately it is closed. But that’s okay, we’re going to the next location. Next in line will be Jumeirah Public Beach, Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach.

Why did I combine them? Because from here begins a running, walking and cycling path that stretches for 5 kilometers along all these beaches. Here you can walk, bike, rollerblade or go for a run, as there is a very cool treadmill.

Jumeira Public Beach

This is the first location — Jira Public Beach. He’s changed a lot. Construction started here, which I didn’t know about. It used to be one of the quietest and most peaceful beaches, because there were not a huge number of cafes and restaurants here. You could have come quietly, just relax on the beach. This is where most of those famous Instagram photos with the sail were taken.

Recently, the construction of a new building was completed here, and, by the way, the sail is now half closed, so it will no longer be possible to take the famous photos next to the Parus Hotel. So, let’s move on. I suggest going through this whole story, because there is a small port here, and then go to the night beach and my favorite beach – Beach. There’s a much more interesting picture there.

We walked literally 10 minutes and found ourselves on the next beach — Night Beach. I will not say at every beach that they are all equipped, except for where you can go by car. That means there are public toilets, showers and changing rooms everywhere. Everything is clean, everything is cleaned literally every 30 minutes. There are also public spaces: benches, cafes, restaurants. Here you can eat, drink coffee, in general, anything you want. By the way, you may notice that the inscriptions are duplicated in several languages, including Russian.

Right now we are on the night beach. Why is it nocturnal? People are swimming here now too. This beach is open 24 hours a day. When I moved here, it was new information for me that there are no wild beaches in Dubai — all beaches are public, and they are all equipped and guarded.

When the sun goes down, at about 5:30-6:00 p.m. in summer, and later at 7, a special employee passes by and expels all people from the sea. Special lighting equipment is installed on the beach, which illuminates the area well. There are several beaches in Dubai where you can come and swim at night. Therefore, there is no need to complain that there is no place to swim at night in Dubai. You can also see that there are quite a lot of police officers here, and they check the documents of many. So everything is safe, wallets are not stolen here, and you can come, leave your bag and go swimming. Of course, we don’t do that.

By the way, the beach line, especially Kite Beach, is the most popular among Russian-speaking people. There are also many Europeans vacationing there, because there is always something to do there. You can come to work: there are many tables where you can just work with a computer, as well as a large number of different establishments with a variety of cuisines where you can have a delicious meal overlooking the sea. Here you can practice a variety of sports: there is a running track, horizontal bars. You can also practice various water sports. Even here you can see the guys riding jetskis. It’s like a whole broth with jetskami! Personally, I really like it.

Why do I come here for a vacation? Because there is an open sea and an open space here. These are not artificial bays, there are no artificial islands here. You can say that you are swimming in the open sea. Unfortunately, there is no subway or public transport service. You can get there by some bus, but most likely you will be waiting for him at the bus stop for an hour. So, of course, you will go either by car or by taxi. In my opinion, the most convenient way is to get to Kite Beach, where you can walk, sit, eat, and swim. I go to the neighboring beach, Jumeirah Beach. It’s literally a 10-minute walk there, but Jumeirah Beach is much more free. There are fewer people resting there, and you can settle down, swim and relax. And for all the entertainment, you can go for a walk along the embankment, it’s literally 10 minutes to Kite Beach. In my opinion, this is the most convenient.

La Mer Beach

Of course, in the format of a beach issue, you can’t ignore a beach like Mer. It is a very beautiful beach, and there is a wide promenade on this side. There are beaches on my right, but they are currently being upgraded. Almost everything here is closed, but it is worth noting that on the one hand it provides an opportunity for a more relaxing holiday, as it is really very quiet, peaceful and sparsely populated. At the same time, the beach remains very beautiful.

I don’t often go to this beach, probably because I live in a completely different part of the city. But this beach is very pretty, so if you want to diversify your vacation and visit some new location, this beach is definitely worthy of your attention. I’m walking right now, and to be honest, I’m very surprised. Because they’ve been trying to develop this location for a long time. All the buildings here were created in such a style to attract tourists.

Everything is closed at the moment, but in any case, I don’t think this location will remain empty for long. This place is a real find, not far from the center and next to the sea. I am sure that modernization will be carried out here in the near future. And now, if you want to enjoy the peace and quiet, shoot interesting content and take cool photos, then feel free to go to Mer Beach. You will not lose!

Al Mamzar Beach Park

Well, the last place I would like to talk about today is Al—Mamzar Beach Park. It will be ideal for those people who want to go barbecue on the beach. There is such a place here too. Admission costs 5 dirhams — literally, it’s very inexpensive. The park is fully equipped, very beautiful, with green lawns and green palm trees.

At the same time, you can book a barbecue there, come, roast kebabs and swim in the sea. There are also interesting beaches with beautiful views of the Ry area. And by the way, we have reached a new location, a new location, and you can see that active construction is already underway here. That is, it is possible that soon it will all be demolished, removed and something else will be built. So I recommend enjoying this place while it’s still here.

By the way, you can see behind me, even from here you can see the Burj Khalifa. That is, it’s really possible to get to the city center by car in literally 15 minutes, probably. Well, I hope this article will be useful for you, and you have learned new information for yourself. When you come to Dubai for a vacation, you will be able to visit different beaches, enjoy different locations and take cool photos.

If you are interested in real estate in the United Arab Emirates, then be sure to write to us and we will send you an interesting document with real estate offers up to 150,000 dollars on the first coastline, from where you can walk to your nearest beach.

Real estate in Dubai, UAE

Today, it seems that Dubai is talked about from every corner: as a business location, about real estate. But today we will talk about something else – about leisure in Dubai. How to get here, where you can save money, where you can go absolutely for free. And, of course, the main question: is it worth going to Dubai for vacation at all?

Is it worth flying to Dubai for vacation?

If you have ever contacted tour operators and looked at tours to the United Arab Emirates, you know that the United Arab Emirates consists of seven emirates, and tours to Dubai are among the most expensive. So the first question is: is it worth flying specifically to Dubai for vacation? I’ll put it this way: if you are interested in beach holidays and plan to spend most of your time on the beach, then going to Dubai makes no sense. There is, for example, a very cool option – neighboring Sharjah. It takes only 30-40 minutes to drive from Sharjah to the center of Dubai (excluding traffic jams). But if in Sharjah you can rent a nice four-star hotel within walking distance of the sea for the same money, then in Dubai for the same money you will only be able to rent, well, something not so great… a three-star hotel somewhere in the outskirts.

And by the way, you can get there both by public transport and by transfers. Most hotels in Sharjah provide absolutely free transport to the center of Dubai, to Dubai Mall. This way, you can save a lot on transportation.

Dubai or other emirates?

As an option, there are two emirates such as Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. That is, in Ras Al Khaimah, the vacation will be much calmer, it’s already a small town, there will be much quieter beaches. Well, if we consider Fujairah, then Fujairah is not even the Persian Gulf, it is the Gulf of Oman, and it is practically the Indian Ocean. This is my favorite place, where I go regularly once every two or three weeks, because there is a magnificent underwater world with turtles, fish. You can go diving, snorkeling, the sea is the purest and most pleasant, the gulf, the ocean. There is a very cool beach holiday, but you should understand that all good hotels in Fujairah are located outside the city, and you will find yourself in such a village where there will only be your hotel and some neighboring hotels with their territories. If you want to go to Dubai, you can always take a tour and get to the center of Dubai in an hour and a half or two hours.

The fifth emirate we will talk about today is Abu Dhabi. This is the city of Abu Dhabi, which is also the emirate of Abu Dhabi. I’ll put it this way: Abu Dhabi is so self-sufficient that if you come for 10 days or even 20 days, you can go to different world-class places every day. This includes Ferrari World, the official branch of the Louvre, Warner Brothers amusement park, and various water parks. There is also good, classy shopping, Michelin-starred restaurants. By the way, a huge number of world stars come to perform, mostly in Abu Dhabi rather than in Dubai. So in Abu Dhabi, you will actually get everything at once: shopping, entertainment, restaurants, and a good beach holiday with uncrowded beaches with white sand. You can, for example, go to Dubai once to see it with your own eyes, go to the Burj Khalifa, take a walk in Dubai Marina, and that will be more than enough. So, if you choose a vacation package and you choose one emirate, in my opinion, it is much better to stay in Abu Dhabi.

Well, if you just dream of coming and relaxing in Dubai, then the question arises: where to stay in this city? Again, everything will depend on your preferences. If you want a beach vacation, then make sure your hotel is close to the beach, and this should be given special attention because even if, seemingly, the hotel is close to the beach on the map and it seems like you can walk there in 30 minutes, you need to understand that Dubai is not Sochi, it’s not Turkey, it’s not other resort places where you can leave your hotel and calmly walk to the beach in 30 minutes along pleasant streets, as we did in Sochi, as we did in Turkey. No, here, often when you leave the hotel, you’ll enter a megapolis, a very noisy city, with big roads where you can’t cross the street, and ultimately you’ll need to rely on taxi services, and taxis are expensive here, you’ll spend about 1200-1300 rubles on a taxi for a short trip one way. Buses here run poorly, they exist, but essentially you can’t rely on them because you can wait for a bus for an hour. Also, most hotels provide transfers to the beach, but you need to understand that you will adjust to the transfer because it has a schedule, you need to book in advance, and if this option suits you, then you can consider hotels that are a bit further from the beach.

Favorite tourist area for tourists from the CIS in Dubai

Let’s also talk about the most popular area for tourists from the CIS – Dubai Marina. This is the most Russian-speaking area, and not the most expensive area for leisure. You don’t have to spend money on transfers there; you can walk or take the tram, which is available in Marina. Everything you might need for leisure is within walking distance. And the most interesting thing is that there are already so many tourists from Russia and the CIS that almost every hotel and restaurant has its own Russian-speaking manager.

Where and when to buy plane tickets to Dubai

Any journey starts with plane tickets. Now there are many flights to Dubai from Russia. I flew from Sochi to Dubai and back for just 15,000 rubles in the summer. Of course, now, during the season, the prices will be higher, but not extremely high. I think even now you can find tickets for around 25,000 – 30,000 rubles if you monitor them not too far in advance, but approximately 2-4 weeks before departure. By the way, when you look for tickets from Russia to Dubai, you don’t have to look for direct flights to Dubai; you can also look for flights to neighboring emirates, such as Sharjah or Abu Dhabi. And from Kazakhstan, a lot of flights go to Abu Dhabi. So, remember that you can look for tickets from your neighboring cities to neighboring emirates because it can be much cheaper.

What to take on a trip to Dubai

Once you’ve bought your plane tickets, the second question arises: what to take with you? I prefer to travel light. And actually, in hot countries, you can easily travel with just a backpack because the weather here is very stable. There is a warm season and a very hot season, and it’s not like it was 10 years ago when all malls and metros had extremely low temperatures, and all guidebooks said you must take pants, socks, and a sweatshirt with you because when you enter a mall, you need to dress warmly. Now it’s not like that anymore. Now all air conditioners are set to not +16°, but to comfortable +22-23°, so when you enter a mall wearing a t-shirt, you don’t need to put anything else on top. If you plan to visit a mosque, either take the most closed clothing with you, right up to the wrists and ankles, and a scarf, or you can always buy an abaya on the spot, which is traditional women’s clothing. It will cost around 2,000 rubles. It will also be a great souvenir from the United Arab Emirates.

Insurance for a trip to Dubai

I recommend getting insurance before your flight. They often don’t ask for it at the airport, but I recommend getting it because anything can happen in a foreign country, and healthcare here is very expensive. Also, I advise you to take with you a minimal first aid kit with the drugs you need, for headaches, stomachaches, because here, of course, you can find something in pharmacies, but these will be different names of drugs. Spending your precious time on vacation when you or your loved one are sick, searching for the right medicine, googling what a particular medicine is called here, will be long and stressful, I think you don’t need that.

They haven’t asked for a return ticket for a long time, and SIM cards are now distributed right at customs when they check your passport. They put the SIM card directly into your passport, and I recommend using it because it includes 1 GB of free internet, so if you figure it out a little, show just a drop of patience, then you can already leave the airport with a working SIM card and internet, which is very important to stay connected while traveling.

How to get around during your trip

If you arrive at the main international airport in Dubai (DXB), you can get to your hotel by metro. At the same time, you’ll visit one of the attractions – the local metro, which is very fast, clean, and comfortable. To use the metro, you’ll need to buy metro cards, and then you can get around using these cards.

If you arrive not at DXB airport, but at any other airport, for example, Al-Maktoum Airport (also a Dubai airport), or in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, then you will, of course, need a taxi service. Here, there is a taxi called Careem, which is the cheapest. There is also Yandex Taxi, called Yango. In Abu Dhabi, there is Abu Dhabi Taxi. And, of course, the well-known Uber also operates here. You can also catch a taxi without ordering one, just by waving your hand at the airport, and the price will be the same. I recommend exchanging money right at the airport, at least a small amount for initial expenses. You can pay for taxis with both cash and card.

Let’s spend a couple more words on renting a car because it’s an important and serious topic. First of all, before your departure from Russia, make sure to obtain an international driving permit. It can be obtained quickly through the state services in a couple of days, and the fee is relatively small, around 1500 rubles. You’ll receive a card from the traffic police called an international driving permit, and with it, you can rent a car. Often, rental managers may tell you in advance, “Don’t worry, buddy, I’ll give you a car with your Russian driver’s license, it’s fine,” but in reality, they might just write some fake details from another license into the contract, like a nonexistent international number. Any minor problem, accident, or damage, and you’ll start facing issues, and they’ll demand money. So, to avoid all these problems, it’s essential to obtain an international driving permit because without it, the insurance won’t be valid.

You’ll have to pay for petrol yourself, but petrol is inexpensive here. I recommend always taking photos of the car before renting it. If you find any damages on the car, ask to include them in the rental agreement if they’re not already marked. Otherwise, they might claim that you caused damage to the car and charge you $1,000. When returning the car to the manager, make sure to get a document stating that there are no claims against you, that the car is returned in the same condition, and that you haven’t caused any new damages to the car. Also, set a reminder for yourself on the date of deposit return, and if they don’t return it on time, start writing to them angrily and insistently: “Guys, where’s my deposit? Return my deposit in full.”

When renting a car, ask the managers or check online how to pay for parking because it’s slightly different in various emirates. But in any case, if you get a local SIM card, you can pay for parking via SMS because not everywhere you’ll find parking meters where you can pay with cash or card. And the fine for not paying parking is very high.

Where to find accommodation in Dubai

Once you’ve figured out how you’ll be getting around, it’s important to decide where you’ll be staying. I don’t recommend using Booking – it’s expensive. I use Google Maps and Agoda.com directly. Let me explain how it works. Once you’ve chosen the area where you want to stay, simply type “Hotel” into Google Maps, and it will show you all the hotels in that area. Then, when you click on a hotel, Google will show you sites with the best and most attractive prices. Prices on Booking are usually 100 – 150 dirhams higher compared to Google, which gives you the best price, especially on Agoda.

I recommend booking, for example, three hotels and visiting three locations:

• First, visit Dubai, where you can shop, see the dancing fountains at the Burj Khalifa, and take a stroll at Dubai Marina.
• Then, it’s best to go to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
• There’s also plenty to see there, so you can decide based on your interests and explore the city. And finally, as the icing on the cake, spend 2 days in Fujairah, where you can swim, enjoy a fantastic beach vacation, and return home fully relaxed.

Where to Go and What to See in Dubai

Apart from the well-known dancing fountains at Dubai Mall, there are several other places in Dubai that I recommend visiting, some of which are either entirely free or quite expensive.

1. Global Village: An international fair showcasing goods from around the world. It’s a great place to stroll around, with ongoing shows and various attractions, and the entrance fee is quite affordable, around 20 dirhams per person.
2. Miracle Garden and Butterfly Garden: These are also worth visiting, offering beautiful and interesting experiences at reasonable prices.
3. In another part of the city near Dubai Frame, you’ll find Zabeel Park, Dinosaur Park, and Dubai Garden Glow, featuring detailed handmade animal and flower figures made from lamps. The entrance fees are either free or very affordable.
4. You can also visit Deira’s Gold and Spice Souks for free. There’s a beautiful waterfront promenade where you can stroll and soak in the abundance of Eastern culture. It’s very noisy and crowded, which some people enjoy and others don’t, but the memories will last a lifetime.

One thing I highly recommend spending money on in Dubai is visiting the water park. There’s a fantastic water park called Atlantis located on the Palm, where they offer very good discounts on birthdays. So, if you’re coming here to celebrate your birthday, you can also visit the Atlantis water park at a discounted rate and create lifelong memories.

I tried to gather all the information into this condensed article, quickly summarize, and provide a brief guide before traveling to Dubai. Of course, it’s impossible to fit everything into one article, so we will continue to talk about what to do in Dubai.

Author: Anna