Dubai is the big draw to this country and is as brash and in your face as you might expect. It is a huge place (made easier to get around with its excellent Metro system) with a series of superlatives; the World’s tallest building, biggest shopping centre, biggest indoor ski centre, tallest hotel, biggest fountain, the list goes on. Plenty to see in your time off the water, but on it there are fantastic views of this incredible skyline with warm, blue waters under your feet. Kite Beach, Jumeriah Beach and Umm Suquiem Beach all over free access to the usually calm waters. Mornings are the best time for glassy conditions. Several places in the vicinity hire SUPs. When conditions allow, these are Dubai’s surf beaches as well so you may score waves here too.

 

Other Dubai locations include the miriad of inland waterways both here and Sharjah. Going along the coast the buildings decrease in size, at least only slightly, but the beaches become quieter and there are several surf beaches along this area, which include, going east: Ajman and Umm Al Quwain. The Umm Al Quwain Kite Centre offers hire, great food and a relaxed vibe off the water. Further east, plenty of flatwater opportunites can be found at Ras Al Khemiah, with a lovely and large marina and estuary to explore.

On the UAE’s other, East Coast, facing the Gulf of Oman, there is plenty more to paddle. Highlights definitely include paddling to Snoopy Island, a fantastic snorkelling destination just off the coast of Khor Fakkan. Amazing scenery inland abound on this coast, looking towards the Hajar Mountains. Plenty of surf hits this coast, Tim’s Reef near Al Aqah offers the most consistent wave, but Fujairah can get swell too. South of Fujairah, towards the Oman border lies Khor Kalba. A Mangrove laden estuary which gives the paddler the opportunity to paddle up close and personal with Turtles and flying fish, thousands of them. Paddling at Khor Kalba needs to be organised via Absolute Adventure who have exclusive access.