La Mer Beach

About La Mer Beach

La Mer is Dubai's most complete beach lifestyle destination — a 2.5km stretch of Arabian Gulf coastline reimagined as a living neighbourhood. Built by Meraas, it takes the ingredients of a great beach — good sand, calm water, warm sun — and surrounds them with over 100 restaurants, a cinema, a waterpark, a trampoline park, and an outdoor art programme that gives La Mer its distinctive, colourful character.

The beach itself is free to access and beautifully maintained. Sunloungers and umbrellas can be rented for modest fees. The water here is reliably calm and clean, perfect for families with children and swimmers of all abilities. The beach stretches long enough that you can always find a quieter spot even on busy weekends.

The Laguna Waterpark anchors the north end of La Mer and is one of Dubai's better waterparks for families — not as enormous as Atlantis Aquaventure, but with excellent slides, a wave pool, and a lazy river in a well-designed, manageable setting. The infinity pool section makes it attractive even for adults without children.

Facilities & Amenities

Prices & Packages

Day passes at La Mer Beach start free – aed 100. Daybeds, cabanas, and group packages are available — confirm current rates and availability via the booking request.

What to Know Before You Go

What Is La Mer Beach?

La Mer is one of Dubai's most complete beachfront lifestyle destinations — a 2.5-kilometre stretch of Arabian Gulf coastline in Jumeirah 1, developed by Meraas, that pairs a free public beach with a whole world of dining, retail, entertainment and watersports. Sitting between Pearl Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah, it's far more than a beach: it's a vibrant, colourful, design-led neighbourhood by the sea, famous for its street art, its restaurants and cafes, the Laguna Waterpark, and its trendy, photogenic atmosphere.

What makes La Mer special is that combination of a proper free beach with the buzz of a full leisure destination. You can swim and sunbathe for free, then step off the sand into a lively promenade of eateries, shops and attractions — making it equally good for a beach day, a meal out, a family outing or a stylish stroll. It's a different proposition from a simple public beach or a single beach club.

La Mer North & J1 Beach South

It's important to understand that La Mer is really two distinct zones. La Mer North is the family-friendly leisure side — the free beach, the Laguna Waterpark, the colourful retail and dining, the inflatable parks and the relaxed, accessible vibe. La Mer South has been transformed into J1 Beach, a high-end Mediterranean-glamour strip of luxury beach clubs and restaurants (home to names like African Queen, Gigi Rigolatto and more). So La Mer now masterfully balances family leisure in the North with upscale beach-club glamour in the South — two very different experiences within one 2.5km development.

Where Is La Mer & How to Get There

La Mer is in Jumeirah 1, on the coast between Pearl Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah, a short drive from Downtown Dubai and the wider Jumeirah area. It's easily reached by car, taxi, Uber or Careem, with parking available (some free, some paid) across the development. There's no metro directly at La Mer, so a car or taxi is the practical way in — it's a quick, central trip from most of the city. The beach itself is open 24/7, while the restaurants, shops and entertainment venues typically run from around 10am to midnight.

The Free Public Beach

At its heart, La Mer offers a free public beach — a clean, well-maintained stretch of soft sand and calm Arabian Gulf water, with lifeguards, showers and facilities, open 24/7. You can swim, sunbathe and relax at no cost, with only activities like watersports, sunbed rentals and the Laguna Waterpark requiring payment. That free beach access, combined with the surrounding dining and leisure, makes La Mer excellent value — a quality beach day for free, with the option to add paid extras. The beach is family-friendly, with the calm water suiting children.

Laguna Waterpark

One of La Mer's headline attractions is the Laguna Waterpark, a dedicated paid waterpark right on the beachfront. It features a range of slides, a wave pool and water-play zones across themed areas, catering to thrill-seekers and families alike. As a compact, beachfront waterpark, it's a fun add-on to a La Mer day — you can combine the free beach with the paid waterpark for a full day of water fun. Tickets are required, so check current pricing and timings, but the waterpark is a major draw that sets La Mer apart from a standard public beach.

Dining & Restaurants

La Mer is a genuine dining destination, with a huge and varied selection of restaurants, cafes and eateries lining the beachfront — from casual bites and coffee to fuller meals across many cuisines. The North side offers relaxed, family-friendly and trendy dining, while the J1 Beach South side brings high-end Mediterranean beach-club restaurants. This breadth means you're never far from food, whatever your budget or mood, and many visitors come as much for the dining and the atmosphere as for the beach itself. Restaurants generally operate from around 10am to midnight.

Retail, Street Art & Atmosphere

Beyond the beach and food, La Mer is known for its colourful, design-led atmosphere — vibrant street art and murals, photogenic installations, and a curated selection of boutique shops and retail. The whole development is built to be trendy, Instagrammable and lively, with a youthful, creative energy that distinguishes it from Dubai's more traditional beaches. Wandering the promenade, taking in the art and the shops between beach sessions and meals, is part of the La Mer experience. It's this blend of beach, dining, retail and art that makes it a complete leisure destination rather than just a place to swim.

Watersports & Activities

La Mer offers a range of paid watersports and beach activities, from jet skiing and other water-based fun to inflatable parks and more, adding an active dimension to a beach day. Combined with the Laguna Waterpark, the dining, the retail and the free beach, it means there's genuinely something for every type of visitor and every energy level — relax on the free sand, get active on the water, cool off in the waterpark, or graze the restaurants. This variety is central to La Mer's appeal as a full-day destination for families, groups and couples alike. Confirm current activities and pricing on site.

La Mer for Families

La Mer North is genuinely family-friendly and one of the better family beach destinations in Dubai. The free, calm, lifeguarded beach is safe for children, the Laguna Waterpark offers slides and water play, inflatable parks and activities keep kids entertained, and the abundant casual dining makes feeding the family easy. Add the colourful, walkable, pram-friendly promenade and the variety of things to do, and you have a destination where a family can happily spend a full day — beach, waterpark, food and fun all in one place. For families wanting more than just sand, La Mer's blend of free beach and paid attractions is hard to beat.

J1 Beach: The Luxury South

The southern end of La Mer has been redeveloped into J1 Beach, a high-end strip that has quickly become one of Dubai's hottest luxury beach-club destinations — a curated collection of glamorous Mediterranean-style beach clubs and restaurants (such as African Queen, Gigi Rigolatto, Kaimana, Bawa and others), each with its own personality but a shared see-and-be-seen sophistication. This is a very different experience from the family North — it's about premium dining, stylish beach clubs and glamour rather than free family fun. If you're after the upscale beach-club scene, J1 Beach is the side to head for; if you want the free family beach and waterpark, stick to the North.

La Mer in Transition: What to Know

It's worth being honest about La Mer's current state, as it has been undergoing significant change. With the southern end transformed into J1 Beach and parts of the development evolving, some visitors have noted closures of shops and restaurants on the older La Mer side, which can affect the experience — though the beach itself, lifeguards, showers and facilities remain functional, and the free beach and waterpark continue to operate. So set expectations accordingly: the family-leisure North may feel quieter or in flux in places, while the J1 Beach South is the vibrant, growing luxury draw. Checking what's currently open before a visit helps, especially if specific restaurants or shops are your goal.

Beach Facilities

The La Mer beach is properly equipped, with lifeguards on duty, showers, toilets and the supporting facilities of a developed beach destination, all backed by the surrounding dining and retail. That makes it far more comfortable and convenient than an undeveloped beach — you have everything you need close at hand, from changing facilities to food and drink. Combined with the free entry and the 24/7 beach access, the facilities make La Mer an easy, practical beach day. As the development evolves, specific facilities may change, but the core beach amenities remain in place.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months, October to April, are the prime season for a full day at La Mer, with comfortable weather for the beach, the waterpark and strolling the promenade. The beach is open 24/7, while the shops, restaurants and entertainment generally run from around 10am to midnight, so evenings are lively for dining and the J1 Beach scene. Weekdays are quieter; weekends busier. In summer, the heat is intense by day — favour early morning, the waterpark, or the evening dining and beach-club scene. Sunset along the 2.5km coastline is lovely year-round.

La Mer & J1 Beach for Couples

La Mer works well for couples across both its zones. On the North side, a free beach day followed by dinner at one of the many restaurants, with a stroll past the street art at sunset, makes for an easy, affordable, atmospheric date. On the J1 Beach South side, the luxury beach clubs and upscale Mediterranean restaurants offer a more glamorous, romantic evening or beach day. So whether you want a relaxed, budget-friendly outing or a stylish, premium experience, La Mer can deliver — you simply choose the zone to match the mood and budget.

Photography & the Street Art

La Mer is one of Dubai's most photogenic destinations, by design. The vibrant street art and colourful murals, the trendy installations, the beachfront setting and the stylish J1 Beach clubs all make for eye-catching, Instagrammable images — it's no accident the development is a social-media favourite. The colourful North side is particularly fun for creative, casual shots, while J1 Beach offers glamorous beach-club aesthetics. Sunset along the coastline adds warm light. As always, keep photography considerate of other visitors, but La Mer genuinely is built to look good on camera.

La Mer vs Other Dubai Beaches

La Mer offers a distinct experience among Dubai's beaches. Where Kite Beach is the free, active, food-truck-and-watersports beach, and Sunset Beach is the free surf-and-sunset spot, La Mer is the free beach plus a full leisure destination — waterpark, 100+ restaurants, retail, street art, and now the J1 Beach luxury strip. It's the most “destination” of Dubai's free beaches, blending sand with shopping, dining and entertainment. Choose La Mer when you want variety and a full day out beyond just the beach; choose the simpler free beaches for pure sand-and-sea (or surf); and J1 Beach for upscale beach clubs.

The Value Equation

La Mer offers strong value precisely because of its free beach. You get a clean, lifeguarded, facility-rich beach for nothing, with the option to add paid attractions — the waterpark, watersports, sunbeds — only if you want them. For families, that means a full day out where the core experience (beach, strolling, atmosphere) is free, and you control the spend on extras and dining. Compared with a luxury beach club, where a single day can cost hundreds per person, a La Mer beach day is far more affordable. And for those wanting luxury, the J1 Beach side is right there too — so La Mer spans the full value spectrum.

A Day at La Mer

A great La Mer day mixes beach and destination. Morning: arrive, settle on the free beach for a swim and some sun. Late morning: hit the Laguna Waterpark for slides and water play (especially with kids), or try some watersports. Lunch: graze the many restaurants and cafes along the promenade. Afternoon: stroll the colourful street-art-lined walkways, browse the shops, and relax. Evening: sunset on the coastline, then dinner — casual on the North side, or upscale at a J1 Beach club on the South. A full, varied day blending free beach time with paid attractions and great food.

Insider Tips

• Know your zone — North for free family beach and waterpark, South (J1 Beach) for luxury clubs.
• The beach is free and open 24/7 — you only pay for the waterpark, watersports and dining.
• Check what's open before you go, as the development is evolving and some venues have closed.
• Come in the cooler season for a full day; summer favours the waterpark and evenings.
• Bring the family — the free beach, waterpark and activities make it a great family day.
• Stay for sunset and dinner — the dining and evening atmosphere are a highlight.

Who La Mer Is Best For

La Mer is ideal for families wanting a free beach plus a waterpark and activities; couples and groups after a beach-and-dining day or a glamorous J1 Beach club experience; anyone wanting variety — beach, food, retail, art and entertainment in one place; and budget-conscious visitors who can enjoy the free beach and control their spend. With both a free family North and a luxury J1 Beach South, it spans a remarkably broad range of visitors. About the only thing it isn't is a quiet, natural beach — for that, the hidden beaches are better. For a vibrant, complete beach-lifestyle destination, La Mer is one of the best.

The Final Word on La Mer

La Mer is Dubai's most complete beach-lifestyle destination — a 2.5km stretch that blends a free, family-friendly public beach with a waterpark, 100+ restaurants, colourful street art, retail and, on its transformed southern end, the glamorous J1 Beach luxury club strip. Whether you want an affordable family day, a vibrant beach-and-dining outing, or an upscale beach-club experience, La Mer can deliver, simply by choosing your zone. It's evolving — worth checking what's currently open — but the free beach, the waterpark and the J1 Beach scene continue to make it a standout. Come for the variety, stay for the sunset and the food, and enjoy one of the city's most versatile beach destinations. Compare more in our free public beaches and beach club guides.

The Meraas Vision

La Mer is a flagship development by Meraas, the Dubai developer behind several of the city's most popular lifestyle destinations. That pedigree shows in the considered design, the blend of beach and urban leisure, the public art and the overall ambition of the place — it was conceived not as a simple beach but as a complete, walkable seaside neighbourhood. Understanding that vision helps explain why La Mer feels different from a standard public beach: it's a curated destination designed for a full day of varied leisure, with the free beach as just one element among dining, retail, art and entertainment.

What's Nearby

La Mer's central Jumeirah 1 location, between Pearl Jumeirah and Palm Jumeirah, places it close to plenty of the city. Downtown Dubai and its attractions are a short drive away, the wider Jumeirah coast and its beaches are nearby, and the development connects to the broader leisure scene of the area. That makes La Mer easy to combine with a wider day out, or to visit as a destination in its own right given how much it packs in. For visitors based centrally, it's one of the most convenient and complete beach destinations to reach.

Accessibility

As a modern, purpose-built Meraas development, La Mer is relatively accessible — the paved, walkable promenade, the organised facilities and the developed infrastructure make it more navigable than an undeveloped beach for visitors with mobility needs, prams or wheelchairs. The beach facilities, dining and attractions are connected by accessible walkways. As with any beach, the soft sand itself is harder to traverse, so basing yourself near the paved areas helps. Given the development is evolving, anyone with specific access requirements can check current provision, but the modern design is generally a point in its favour for inclusivity.

Combining the North & South

One smart way to enjoy La Mer is to experience both its zones in a single visit. Spend the day on the free family beach in the North — swimming, the waterpark, casual dining — then, as evening comes, head to the J1 Beach South for sunset drinks or dinner at one of the glamorous beach clubs or Mediterranean restaurants. That way you get the best of both: the affordable, relaxed family-leisure side by day, and the upscale, stylish beach-club scene by night. The 2.5km development is walkable, so moving between the zones is easy, giving you a full day-to-night range of experiences in one place.

Are Dogs Allowed?

La Mer is a busy public beach and leisure destination, and as a general rule Dubai's main public swimming beaches don't permit dogs — so check current signage and don't assume pets are allowed on the sand here. If a beach day with your dog is the goal, Dubai has dedicated dog-friendly beaches (including at the newer Dubai Islands beach) that explicitly welcome pets, which are the right choice rather than a busy destination beach like La Mer. When in doubt, opt for the official dog-friendly options to be sure.

Common Questions Before You Go

A few final pointers. The beach is free and open 24/7; restaurants, shops and the waterpark run roughly 10am to midnight and require payment. Know your zone — family-friendly North versus luxury J1 Beach South. Check what's currently open, as the development is evolving and some venues have closed. Come in the cooler season for a full day, or favour the waterpark and evenings in summer. Bring the family for the free beach and waterpark, or dress up for a J1 Beach club. Set up that way, La Mer delivers one of Dubai's most varied and rewarding beach-destination days.

La Mer in One Line

To sum up: La Mer is Dubai's most complete beach-lifestyle destination — a free, family-friendly public beach with a waterpark, 100+ restaurants, street art and retail in the North, and the glamorous J1 Beach luxury club strip in the South, all along 2.5km of Jumeirah 1 coastline. Whatever kind of beach day you want — affordable family fun or upscale glamour — La Mer can deliver. Just check what's currently open, pick your zone, and enjoy. Compare more options in our free public beaches and beach club guides.

Our Verdict

Location & Getting There

Jumeirah 1

Get directions →