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The best beaches in the Middle East run from powder-white Gulf sand to turquoise Mediterranean coves and coral-fringed Red Sea islands. Here are twenty shores worth the flight, with the luxury beach resorts that frame them.
Updated
At a glance
Few parts of the world offer as many kinds of beach within a single region. The Gulf gives calm, warm, shallow water and wide sand backed by skylines; the Red Sea brings reefs a few strokes from shore; Oman faces the open Arabian Sea; and to the west, Türkiye, Cyprus, Lebanon and Israel share the Mediterranean, while Morocco looks out on the Atlantic.
The calendar works in your favor. When the Mediterranean cools in November, the Gulf coast is at its best, with sunny days in the high 70s to mid 80s °F and evenings made for dinner on the sand. When the Gulf heats up in summer, the Aegean and Cyprus take over. Our guide to the best time to visit the Middle East lays out the months country by country.
Many of these beaches belong to resorts, and the finest of them sit on the coasts of Dubai, Saadiyat Island and the new Saudi Red Sea. Public beaches are clean, lifeguarded in the main cities and often free. Modest swimwear is the norm away from hotel and beach-club sand, and a cover-up is expected when you walk into town.
A long, natural sweep of pale sand where hawksbill turtles come ashore to nest and the water stays calm and clear. The island's five-star resorts, the Louvre Abu Dhabi and a quiet public beach make it the most polished stretch on the Gulf.
Dubai's liveliest public beach lines Jumeirah Beach Residence, with a promenade of cafés and shops behind the sand. Come for sunset over the water and the city's energy within a few steps.
A broad, free beach in Umm Suqeim with a running track, food trucks and a classic view of the Burj Al Arab. Families come by day; kitesurfers take over when the afternoon breeze arrives.
Four man-made islands shaped like coral, ringed by beaches and resorts about an hour from Dubai. It is the site of Wynn Al Marjan Island, the emirate's landmark integrated resort, and one of the Gulf's most-watched waterfront property markets.
On the UAE's east coast, the Hajar Mountains drop toward the Gulf of Oman and the water turns clear enough for snorkeling off Snoopy Island. The mood is quieter and greener than the west coast.
A wild, undeveloped beach about an hour north of Doha, known for soft dunes and as a nesting site for hawksbill turtles. Parts of it close to visitors during the spring and summer nesting season.
The Inland Sea, where tall dunes run straight into a tidal bay, is one of the region's great natural sights. Most visitors arrive by 4x4 from the Sealine area and swim where desert and sea meet.
White sand and dark limestone cliffs on the coast road between Muscat and Sur, with water that changes from jade to deep blue. Pair it with the Bimmah sinkhole and Wadi Shab nearby.
West of Salalah, a long crescent of sand ends at cliffs with natural blowholes that spout during the monsoon swell. During the khareef season the hills behind turn green, a rare sight in Arabia.
The Red Sea destination's islands have some of the most pristine sand in the region, ringed by reef and reached by bridge, boat or seaplane. More than ten resorts were open by October 2026, among them The St. Regis, Nujuma, Shebara, Four Seasons and Raffles.
Sharm's sheltered bay is the easy swimming beach; a short drive south, the beaches of Ras Mohammed National Park sit beside some of the world's celebrated reefs. Snorkelers see coral gardens right from the shore.
A protected island beach reached by a short boat ride from Hurghada, with shallow turquoise water and soft sand. Day visits are carefully managed, which keeps it beautiful.
Jordan's small Red Sea coastline packs in coral reefs a few meters from shore, sandy beach clubs and calm water all year. It is an easy addition to a Petra and Wadi Rum journey.
A small cove of fine sand and vivid blue water at the foot of a gorge, reached by steps from the coastal road. It is the Turquoise Coast at its most photogenic.
A calm lagoon framed by pine-covered hills, with paragliders drifting down from Babadağ mountain above the beach. The Blue Lagoon section is a protected nature area.
Shallow, glass-clear water and a sandbar you can wade across to a tiny islet. Lively in summer and beautifully calm in May, June and late September.
A sheltered bay with soft golden sand, gentle water and a small island just offshore. One of the island's most family-friendly beaches.
Atlantic surf, golden beaches and a growing collection of resorts and golf courses north of Agadir. The village is one of Africa's best-known surf towns, with lessons for every level.
A continuous strip of sand runs the length of the city, from Gordon and Frishman beaches to the old port of Jaffa. A seafront promenade, beach cafés and Mediterranean sunsets make it a city beach without equal.
Pebble coves, rock pools and seaside restaurants around an old Phoenician port town. Summer evenings here are long, social and delicious.
| Coast | Best months | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| UAE (Gulf) | October to April | Resorts, beach clubs, families |
| UAE east coast (Fujairah) | October to April | Snorkeling, mountains meet the sea |
| Qatar | November to March | Desert-meets-sea scenery |
| Oman (Muscat coast) | October to April | Cliffs, wadis, quiet coves |
| Oman (Salalah) | July to September for green hills; October to March for beach | Monsoon greenery, long beaches |
| Saudi Red Sea | October to May | Private-island luxury, reefs |
| Egypt and Jordan (Red Sea) | October to May | Snorkeling and diving from shore |
| Türkiye, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel | May to October | Mediterranean coves, beach towns |
| Morocco (Atlantic) | Year-round; surf best October to April | Surfing, golf, long beaches |
For the full roster of beachfront hotels, see our Top 25 finest resorts and the beach clubs of Dubai and the region. For the Red Sea, start with Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh; for the Mediterranean, Antalya and Limassol. Surfers and kitesurfers will want our guide to surfing and watersports.
Living and investing: beachfront homes in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and on Al Marjan Island are among the region's most sought-after addresses, and several come with residence options for qualifying buyers.
The Gulf and the Red Sea. Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, Dubai's Kite Beach and the Saudi Red Sea islands are warm and sunny from November to March, when the Mediterranean is too cool for most swimmers.
Yes, at hotel beaches, beach clubs and most public beaches in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Türkiye, Cyprus, Israel and resort areas of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia's Red Sea destination. Cover up when you leave the beach. Our customs and etiquette guide explains more.
Most city beaches in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Muscat are free. Beach clubs and resort day passes typically cost about US$50 to US$150 per person (approximate), often redeemable against food and drink.
Calm, shallow water makes Saadiyat, Kite Beach, Fig Tree Bay and Nissi Beach excellent for families. See our family travel guide for resorts with kids' clubs.
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Across the Middle East, the finest resorts and the finest homes now sit side by side, and many international buyers own before they ever visit.
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Checked October 2026. Prices and dates are approximate and can change. See our standard.