La Mer Beach Dubai: visitor guide

What to expect at La Mer

La Mer is Dubai's most stylish free public beach, a purpose-built open-air lifestyle destination in Jumeirah 1 that combines a clean, well-maintained Blue Flag beach with an eclectic strip of over 70 restaurants, cafes and shops, a waterpark, water sports facilities, street art murals by international artists, and a pleasant community atmosphere. Unlike Dubai's more commercial beachfront developments, La Mer has been designed to feel like a neighbourhood rather than a resort, and it largely succeeds.

The Beach

La Mer's beach stretches for about 1 kilometre of fine white sand along the Gulf coast between the Jumeirah 1 residential area and the open sea. The water is clear and relatively calm. Generally, the shallow gradient and the natural Gulf conditions make it suitable for swimming, paddling and children's play. Designated swimming areas are marked with buoys, lifeguards are on duty during daylight hours. Also, the beach facilities, showers, changing rooms, toilets, are maintained to a good standard for a free public beach.

The beach is free and open to all visitors. Sunloungers and umbrellas are available for hire from beach operators (AED 50–80 per day) but bringing your own mat and umbrella is also entirely acceptable. The beach is at its most enjoyable in the cooler months from October through March, during the summer the heat and humidity make long beach sessions uncomfortable. Even so, the evening beach from sunset onwards remains pleasant year-round.

The Food and Dining Strip

The dining offer at La Mer is one of the best on any free beach in Dubai. Moreover, the development houses over 70 food and beverage outlets covering cuisines from Brazilian churrasco to Japanese ramen, Lebanese wraps to American smash burgers, with a good representation of independent operators alongside international chains. The famous Salt burger truck, often rated among Dubai's best burgers, operates from La Mer and usually has a queue that moves faster than it looks.

The waterfront dining area, with tables facing the beach and the Gulf, provides a beautiful setting particularly at sunset and in the evening. Several restaurants offer proper sit-down dining with full table service. The food hall area in the northern section of the development houses a concentration of fast-casual operators in a shared seating environment that works well for groups with varied preferences.

Laguna Waterpark and Activities

In addition, the Laguna Waterpark within La Mer is a family-oriented water park featuring a wave pool, water slides, a lazy river and dedicated play areas for younger children. It is considerably smaller and less expensive than Aquaventure on the Palm but works very well for families with children aged 4–14 who want water slides alongside beach time. Water sports on the beach, jet skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, banana boat rides, are available through beach operators at prices typically 10–20% lower than comparable operators at JBR or the Palm.

Trampo Extreme

The Trampo Extreme indoor trampoline park and various other indoor activities within the La Mer development provide excellent alternatives on hot summer days or on the rare occasions when Dubai receives rain.