Abu Dhabi has two free city beaches, the public section of Corniche Beach and Al Bateen Beach, and paid beaches on Saadiyat and Yas: Kai Beach costs AED 125 on weekdays and AED 200 at weekends, and Yas Beach costs AED 80 from Monday to Thursday. The old public beach on Saadiyat is now Kai Beach, so older guides give the wrong price. This guide lists entry fees, hours, facilities and the rules, and says which beach suits families, groups and women.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Abu Dhabi City Tour from Dubai — From $45 per person, 9 hours.
Are there free beaches in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Visit Abu Dhabi lists the public section of Corniche Beach (Gate 4), Al Bateen Beach, Hudayriyat Island and Mirfa Beach as free. The Corniche family sections charge AED 10 per adult, and Kai Beach on Saadiyat charges AED 125 on weekdays.
This guide also answers:
- How much is Saadiyat Beach?
- Is Yas Beach free?
- Is there a women-only beach in Abu Dhabi?
Four beaches to choose from in Abu Dhabi
#1
Corniche Beach
A 2 km Blue Flag beach beside a boardwalk, gardens, walking and cycling paths, a kids' play area, cafes, showers and changing rooms. The Al Sahil section at Gate 4 is free and suits singles and larger groups. Gates 2 and 3 suit families and charge AED 10 per adult and AED 5 per child up to 12. See our Corniche guide.
#2
Kai Beach, the former Saadiyat public beach
Visit Abu Dhabi lists adult entry at AED 125 on weekdays and AED 200 at weekends, with AED 50 redeemable on food and drink. Children pay AED 100 on weekdays and AED 60 at weekends. You get sun loungers, changing rooms, showers and drink service at your lounger, with a food truck nearby. See our Saadiyat Island guide.
#3
Yas Beach
Visitors who are not hotel guests pay AED 80 from Monday to Thursday and AED 150 at weekends, with AED 50 redeemable on food and drink. Hours are 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and cabanas and sun loungers can be booked. Guests of selected Yas Island hotels enter free, says Visit Abu Dhabi. See our Yas Island guide.
#4
Al Bateen Beach
Free all week, with an 800 m Blue Flag beach, gazebos, sun loungers, day beds, a kids' playground and restaurants nearby. Volleyball and kayaking are on offer, and picnics are allowed. Al Bateen Beach for Women is a separate paid beach with its own rules, described below. Views take in Hudayriyat Island and its bridge.
Best beaches in Abu Dhabi: the short answer
For free, use the public section of Corniche Beach or Al Bateen Beach; for a resort-style beach with loungers, pay AED 125 to 200 at Kai Beach on Saadiyat or AED 80 to 150 at Yas Beach. The figures come from Visit Abu Dhabi's beach guide, as of 2 November 2026. Prices change, and weekends cost more, so check before you go.
One change surprises many visitors. The beach that older guides call the Saadiyat public beach is now Kai Beach, managed by Saadiyat Beach Club, according to Visit Abu Dhabi, and it is no longer a low-cost option. If you want a free swim near the centre, choose the Corniche or Al Bateen instead.
Abu Dhabi beaches compared: entry and facilities
Prices are per adult unless stated. Where a source gives no hours, we leave them out.
| Beach | Entry | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Corniche Beach, Al Sahil (Gate 4) | Free | Public section for singles and larger groups; boardwalk and gardens |
| Corniche Beach, family sections (Gates 2 and 3) | AED 10; child up to 12 AED 5 | Family zones; Gate 2 has a quiet zone; play area, cafes, showers |
| Kai Beach, Saadiyat | AED 125 weekdays, AED 200 weekends | Sun loungers, showers, drink service; AED 50 redeemable |
| Saadiyat Beach Club | Weekday day pass AED 215 for women, AED 275 for men | Chilled pool, restaurants; AED 100 redeemable; 9 km Blue Flag beach |
| Yas Beach | AED 80 Monday to Thursday, AED 150 weekends | Cabanas and loungers; 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM; free for selected hotel guests |
| Al Bateen Beach | Free | 800 m Blue Flag beach, gazebos, playground, restaurants |
| Al Bateen Beach for Women | AED 25; child 3 to 12 AED 5 | Women only; 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM; swimming until sunset |
| Mirfa Beach | Free | Camping and watersports; about 1.5 hours from Abu Dhabi, in Al Dhafra |
Saadiyat: Kai Beach, the beach club and the turtle habitat
Saadiyat has the longest beach: Visit Abu Dhabi describes the Saadiyat Beach Club's beach as a 9 km Blue Flag stretch. The club's weekday day pass is AED 215 for women and AED 275 for men, with AED 100 redeemable on food and drink, and children aged 6 to 12 pay AED 100. Kai Beach is the cheaper way onto the same coast.
Visit Abu Dhabi says the beach club is part of a protected habitat where hawksbill turtles have nested, so follow any signs and keep litter off the sand. A museum plus beach day works well: go to the Louvre when it opens, then the beach later in the afternoon in the cool months. Our 2-day itinerary shows where it fits.
Free beaches: the Corniche and Al Bateen
Visit Abu Dhabi lists Corniche Beach, Al Bateen Beach, Hudayriyat Island and Mirfa Beach as free. The Corniche is the easiest: you can swim there, and the promenade has cafes, so you do not need to plan a day around it. Use Gate 4 for the free section.
Al Bateen is the better choice for a picnic, because Visit Abu Dhabi says picnics are allowed, and it has volleyball and kayaking. Hudayriyat Island is also free; Visit Abu Dhabi describes it as a sports and fitness area with cycling tracks and tennis courts. Mirfa is the long trip: about 1.5 hours from Abu Dhabi, with camping and watersports.
Families, groups and women
For families, the Corniche family sections at Gates 2 and 3 have the play area and the changing facilities, and Gate 2 has a quiet zone. Al Bateen has a playground too. For singles and bigger groups, Visit Abu Dhabi points to the free Al Sahil section at Gate 4.
Al Bateen Beach for Women is reserved for women. Visit Abu Dhabi lists female lifeguards, fences and barriers for privacy, adult entry at AED 25 and AED 5 for children aged 3 to 12. It is open 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but swimming is allowed only until sunset, and boys over 6 are not permitted.
Dress, alcohol and behaviour on the beach
Visit Abu Dhabi says that at a hotel pool or beach you should dress as you normally would on holiday. Away from the sand, short or tight clothing draws attention, so carry a shirt or a light cover-up for the walk to a cafe. Ask permission before photographing people, especially women, because cameras may be banned in areas reserved for women and children.
Alcohol may be drunk only in licensed areas or private homes, according to a Gulf News guide, so do not bring drinks to a public beach. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public in daylight, including on the beach. Our guide to Abu Dhabi rules for tourists covers each rule and its source.
When to go, and beaches from Dubai
Visit Abu Dhabi gives 18 to 28 degrees from October to March and calls March and April good for beaches, at 20 to 30 degrees. From May to September it is 28 to 40 degrees, and it advises indoor activities, so beach hours move to early morning or evening. Weekends cost more at both Kai Beach and Yas Beach, so a weekday saves AED 70 to 75 per adult.
If your base is Dubai, its beaches are closer: see our best beaches in Dubai and Dubai beach rules and safety. Our Abu Dhabi city tour is a sightseeing loop with no time set aside for swimming, so for a beach day stay a night; our guide on where to stay in Abu Dhabi covers the areas and what to ask about beach access.
FAQ
Are there free beaches in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Visit Abu Dhabi lists the public section of Corniche Beach (Gate 4), Al Bateen Beach, Hudayriyat Island and Mirfa Beach as free. The Corniche family sections charge AED 10 per adult, and Kai Beach on Saadiyat charges AED 125 on weekdays.
How much is Saadiyat Beach?
Kai Beach, the former Saadiyat public beach, charges adults AED 125 on weekdays and AED 200 at weekends, with AED 50 redeemable on food and drink. Saadiyat Beach Club's weekday day pass is AED 215 for women and AED 275 for men, with AED 100 redeemable.
Is Yas Beach free?
Only for guests of selected Yas Island hotels. Other visitors pay AED 80 from Monday to Thursday and AED 150 at weekends, with AED 50 redeemable on food and drink. It is open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Is there a women-only beach in Abu Dhabi?
Yes, Al Bateen Beach for Women. Adults pay AED 25 and children aged 3 to 12 pay AED 5. It has female lifeguards and privacy fences, is open 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, allows swimming only until sunset, and does not admit boys over 6.
Can you swim at Corniche Beach?
Yes. Visit Abu Dhabi says you can swim at Corniche Beach, which is 2 km long and Blue Flag certified. The Al Sahil section at Gate 4 is free, and the family sections at Gates 2 and 3 charge AED 10 per adult.
What is the best time of year for the beach in Abu Dhabi?
October to April. Visit Abu Dhabi gives 18 to 28 degrees from October to March and 20 to 30 degrees in March and April, when it recommends beaches. From May to September it is 28 to 40 degrees, so go early or late.
Can I drink alcohol on an Abu Dhabi beach?
Not on a public beach. Alcohol may be drunk only in licensed areas and private homes, and you must be 21. A hotel or club that holds a licence may serve it, so ask before you go.
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Photos: Kai Beach, the former Saadiyat public beach — Florian Kriechbaumer, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons).