Kite Beach

The completion of Dubai’s 14km long beachside corniche has brought hip cafes and food trucks to the city’s laidback Kite Beach

Barefoot and sandy-haired; it’s a decidedly relaxed affair for the sun and surf crowd at Dubai’s Kite Beach. Once a quiet enclave for fisherman, kite surfers and paddle boarders, this stretch of golden sands in Umm Suqeim 1 has been revitalised with a bustling and landscaped café promenade, while still staying true to its laidback roots.

The rejuvenation of the beachside strip is a result of the completion of the Jumeirah Corniche; more than 14km of walking and running tracks that stretch the length of the desert shoreline from Dubai Marine Beach Resort in Jumeirah, to the Burj Al Arab in Um Suqeim.

Quirky food concepts, snack trucks and health-conscious outlets now sit side-by-side with cool cafes at Kite Beach, elevating a day-out at the beach with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and eclectic mix of outdoorsy families and young couples.

Park House is one such cafe, which draws a busy crowd daily. The relaxed open-plan space exudes just a hint of the Hamptons in summer with its whitewash wood clad walls and ocean-influenced décor.

A homegrown food brand, Park House started with a stall at the popular outdoor Ripe Market prior to launching its first café at Kite Beach. Park House’ menu includes the popular beachside favourites of grilled sandwiches and burgers, all-day breakfast, sweet treats, as well as a range of healthy options from its salad bar.

Other foodie options include the healthy frozen treats from Wanna Banana, a food truck from the popular Bob’s Fish and Chips, Taqado Mexican Kitchen and the Jam Bar desert parlour with its elevated terrace.

The strip’s white sands are also a popular location for public events and activities, the most recent of which was the Emirates’ second annual ‘Flag Garden’ – hundreds of national flags that marked UAE Flag Day, all of which collectively spelt UAE when viewed from the skies.

Meanwhile, the traditional fishing boats and neatly stacked Arabic fishing nets perched nearby, waiting for repair, remind visitors of Dubai’s sea-faring history, while from the sand, others leisurely soak up the rays from sun loungers.

In the spirit of Kite Beach’s most recent incarnation as an outdoor playground, the more adventurous still partake in stand-up paddle boarding, kite boarding and kayaking. Football, beach tennis and beach volleyball sand courts are also found beachside.

But, the most recent addition – one of the city’s first purpose-built outdoor skate parks – comes from the fast-growing XDubai, the team behind Dubai’s action sports scene.

XDubai athlete manager, Morgan Carlson, said, “As an initiative to build the action sports scene in Dubai, it makes total sense to start with a fully fledged skate park at a lively location, such as the Kite Beach.

“With a wide range of sports activities and facilities, Kite Beach is quickly becoming an action zone and now with the addition of the XDubai skate park, riders of all ages and levels will have a fully dedicated park to learn and practice their skills.”

Long a popular family weekend spot with clear views of the city’s striking Downtown skyline, Dubai’s white-sand Kite Beach has had a cosmopolitan makeover but one which still retains its carefree spirit.