Best places to surf in the UAE
While surfing in the UAE is still gaining popularity as a sport, there is no shortage of waves and swells to ride here. There are several places to surf in the UAE, which depending on the emirate and the season can make great surfing destinations for surfers of different expertise levels.
SURFING IN THE UAE
Whether you’re a pro surfer or just a beginner, surfing spots in the UAE give you an incredibly unique playing field with good-sized waves and waters ranging from mild to wild. Surfing in the UAE is a year-round sport, with the waters generating swells throughout. However, these swells are generally infrequent and last only a few days at a time.
Things are different in the cooler months between November and March. This is the best time to surf in the UAE. Sometimes, during the summer months, surfers in the UAE can catch cyclone swells on the country’s east coast. Beaches in Fujairah and Kalba become some of the top surf spots in the UAE during this time, offering fun waves for surfers to ride. Occasionally the storms get messy, so watch out for that.
BEST PLACES TO SURF IN THE UAE
You can find places to surf in the UAE in almost all the emirates. The surf however, may vary in shape and strength depending on the location and the time of the year. But as long as you know when and where to look for them, you’re good to go.
To answer your question of “where can you surf in the UAE?”, here is a list of the best places to go surfing in the UAE.
KHORFAKKAN BEACH FUJAIRAH
Another interesting place to surf in the UAE is the Khorfakkan Beach in Fujairah. Khorfakkan is located on the east coast of UAE on the border of Sharjah and Fujairah. This particular surf spot offers classic beach breaks and excellent waves every time a high tide develops on the coast. The wait might be a long one for seasoned surfers, but it is worth it.
TIM’S REEF FUJAIRAH
For those of you who want to take surfing the UAE to the next level, Tim’s Reef in Fujairah is a great surfing spot for you. Facing the Indian Ocean, this is the only reef break spot in the UAE. Surf’s up at Tim’s Reef during the cyclone season, which makes summer months the best time to take on the waves here. The best part is, it’s located a little over an hour’s drive away from Dubai.
AL KHAN BEACH SHARJAH
Next on our list of places to surf in the UAE is the Al Khan Beach in Sharjah. Out of all the beaches in Sharjah, Al Khan Beach’s natural land and sea condition makes it an ideal surf spot for beginners. The Surf School in Sharjah is also located on Al Khan Beach, where beginners can learn to ride the waves that are usually mild and small. This may not be the ideal place to surf for pro surfers because the swell is usually gentle.
SUNSET BEACH DUBAI
Sunset Beach is located in Jumeirah. It is one of the busiest beach breaks in Dubai that offers a consistent swell during the winter months. Even though the waves are sometimes small, this part of Dubai’s coast has strong swells and rip tides to ride. Being popular among the masses, Sunset Beach is always crowded, but there is a part of the beach designated for surfers. Plus you can get surf equipment from the Surf House nearby.
KITE BEACH DUBAI
Next on our list of surfing spots in the UAE is Kite Beach. Counted among the best beaches in Dubai, Kite Beach is popular among surfers and kite surfers and those interested in other watersports in Dubai. The groynes constructed on the beach have created some good surf spots that are great for surfing every time there is a big swell in the area. Kite Beach by Meraas also has some of the best water sports equipment shops and rentals in Dubai.
NORTH BEACH DUBAI
Like the name suggests, the North Beach is located to the north of Dubai, on Pearl Jumeirah. This beach normally has a sparse amount of beach-goers or tourists, which makes it ideal for surfing. North Beach gets some really high waves during the surf season and that’s why you’ll mostly find experienced surfers here.
OTHER SURFING SPOTS IN THE UAE
Apart from this roundup of popular places for surfing in the UAE, there are a handful of other spots that offer good surfing conditions in the UAE. Let’s look at them.
COAST OF AJMAN
The entire coast of Ajman gets some great offshore winds and overnight swell for pro surfing in the UAE. This is one place where you can get big barrels and long rides when the surf’s up. Keep a lookout for ride-able waves near the jetty.
AL HAMRA BEACH RAK
We can’t leave the coastal strip of Ras Al Khaimah when talking of the places for surfing in the UAE. If you want to find the best waves in the emirate, look for breaks on the stretch of Al Hamra Beach. You can find some potentially good swells here.
KALBA
Another spot for surfing in the UAE is the beach strip on the Kalba-Fujairah border. When the wind is up, you’ll have to slightly scout the area for some fun waves and messy swells that can be thrilling to ride.
SAADIYAT ISLAND ABU DHABI
Can you surf in Abu Dhabi? Yes, you can. The only problem is that there are not a lot of places for surfing in Abu Dhabi, despite the capital being surrounded with water. However, on windy days, grab your surf gear and head over to Saadiyat Island. You can catch some good waves there for surfing.
This brings us to the end of this post on the best spots for surfing in the UAE. Even though the capital doesn’t have too many surfing spots, there are beach clubs in Abu Dhabi that give you the best of both worlds – luxury and fun at the beach. If you’re looking for particular watersports, kayaking in Abu Dhabi is something you should try.
In terms of watersports, it’s Dubai that takes the cake. There are plenty of beach activities in Dubai for you to try. You can go jet skiing in Dubai and have the time of your life bashing waves in the sea. Just as good as surfing, wakeboarding in Dubai is also a great option you can consider.
