Not every hotel with a beach has a good beach. The water can be shallow, the sand can be coarse, and some of the best looking resorts are actually built on reclaimed land where the swimming is average. Here are the UAE beach hotels where the beach itself is the reason to go.
Dubai
- Jumeirah Al Naseem has the best beach inside the Madinat Jumeirah complex, soft sand, calm water and the Burj Al Arab in the background.
- One&Only Royal Mirage has one of the longest natural beachfronts in the city and the Arabian Court feels like a different country.
- Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort has overwater villas and a sheltered lagoon, brilliant for kids who cannot yet swim in the open sea.
- Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah is on the outer crescent so the water is open sea and properly deep.
- Nikki Beach Resort Pearl Jumeira is the move if you want beach club energy without leaving the hotel.
Abu Dhabi
- The St Regis Saadiyat and Park Hyatt Saadiyat share what is genuinely the best beach in the UAE, white sand, turtle nesting, and open Arabian Gulf.
- Jumeirah at Saadiyat Island Resort is on the same beach with a more family focused setup.
- Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villa Resort is the move if you want a private island and wildlife on the doorstep.
Ras Al Khaimah
- Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah has the best beach in the northern emirates, a private cove, and a serious golf course attached.
- The Ritz Carlton Al Hamra Beach is all tented villas on the sand, very romantic.
- InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab is the newer pick with the best swimming pool in the emirate.
Fujairah and the east coast
- Six Senses Zighy Bay is technically in Oman but most guests fly to Dubai. Paraglide in arrival, private pool villas, and the Indian Ocean rather than the Gulf.
- Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort is the most reliable four to five star on the Fujairah coast, with proper waves and excellent snorkelling.
If you are buying beachfront property in the UAE, stay at the resort closest to the building you are considering. The beach quality, the wind direction and the actual sunset view are things you can only judge in person. Happy to help plan that trip.