Pack away those box sets and dig out your swimsuits, people – beach season is back. And after three lazy months spent scurrying from air-conditioned building to air-conditioned building, now’s the time to embrace the great outdoors for all you’re worth. But if you think this means slapping on some factor 30 and crashing on a sunlounger for the weekend, you’re missing out – big time. Not only does the capital boast some world class water sports facilities, it’s also packed full of beaches and beach clubs offering all manner of seaside high jinks worth putting your tan on hold for. So what’s it to be – boredom and burnt bits or sand-flinging, surf-tossing adventure? Read on to peruse your options and we’re confident you’ll make the right choice…
On the sand
Discover capoeira
Remember those strange people the last time you went to the beach? The ones who looked like they were fighting but never actually hit each other? The ones who made you put down your magazine and say aloud, ‘What on Earth are they doing?’ That’s capoeira – a Brazilian martial art-slash-dance that’s slowly taking off in the UAE as an alternative form of exercise. Given that beginners will spend a lot of time falling on their rear, the soft sands are the ideal place to learn the ropes, plus there’s the added advantage of a whopping great sea to jump into when you need to cool off.
Speak to local guru Mestre Caxias on 055 841 7843, or visit www.uaecapoeira.com.
Play giant chess
Looking for something a little more cerebral than I Spy from your seaside fun? Head over to Hiltonia Beach Club and get to grips with their giant chess set. The board is a 4sq m whopper, complete with toddler-sized pawns that you can kick over dramatically when you lose. Nobody to play with? There’s always the option of stacking up all the pieces, Jenga-style, then running away before it all comes crashing down.
Hiltonia Beach Club (02 681 1900)
Get an open-air massage
If lounging on the golden sands isn’t blissed-out enough for you, talk to the folks at Hiltonia beach club about some quiet time in their Balinese cabana. Among other treatments, Thai and Swedish style back and neck massages are available, with a view of the Arabian sea thrown in to help transport you to your happy place. Just remember that other people are waiting, so try not to slip into a snooze as the masseuse works their magic.
Hiltonia Beach Club (02 681 1900)
Try beach yoga
says deputy editor helen elfer ‘You might think that lying spread eagled on the sand is the most relaxing beach activity there is, but we can tell you now – taking a yoga class takes unwinding by the sea into a whole different league. The Yoga Juice hold vinyasa flow classes in a cabana here in the evening and early morning, so the Corniche is at its most peaceful – no wailing babies, noisy adolescents or arguing families to disturb the peace. The classes involve deep breathing and meditation so you get the chance to really soak up the atmosphere of your surroundings – listening to the sea, feeling the sand on your feet and enjoying the light breeze on your face. And, as an added bonus, go to these classes often enough and you’ll shape up pretty quickly – meaning you’ll look sizzling when you return in the daytime for a spot of sunbathing.’
Classes restart this autumn. For a full schedule, visit www.theyogajuice.com
Have a barbecue on a private island
Sandy fun in Abu Dhabi doesn’t start and finish with the Corniche – there are more than 200 islands just off the city’s coast that are yours for the exploring, provided you have a boat (or exceptional swimming arms). Better still, most of them are small, uninhabited patches of paradise where you can pitch up with a group of friends and do as you please, without fear of some unsightly tourists coming along and spoiling your view. A trip to Spinney’s for an ice box full of drinks, meat and a disposable barbecue shouldn’t set you back more than Dhs200, while those without a vessel can charter a ride with Belevari Marine for as little as Dhs600 per hour.
www.belevari.com (02 659 4144)
Practise your spike
Having worked hard for that lithe, toned beach body, only a fool would lie there in the sun and let it get all flabby again. Instead, put on your best Tom-Cruise-in-Top-Gun face, round up some chums and go smack a big leather ball over a net with those sexy fists. Not only will a round of volleyball keep you fit (there are courts on the public beach, as well a few of the hotel beach clubs), but it’s also top fun and fiercely competitive, with tournaments regularly organised on the fly among beach goers. Looking for some more structured fun? Duplays have top class volleyball facilities and set up regular leagues – give them a shout for more info.
duplays.abudhabi.com (055 224 0186)
On the sea
Surf with a kite
Just like turbo chess and fire cricket, some activities need to be combined with others to capture the world’s imagination. Kitesurfing, blending (you guessed it) kites and surfing, sits at the gnarlier end of the watersports spectrum, with fans hitting the waves strapped into large, sail-like kites with the aim of catching serious air. While you can find lessons near the public beach, Abu Dhabi’s serious kitesurfers head to Dabbayah in the western region, or a secluded stretch of beach between Saadiyat and Yas Island. To find out more, visit Kitepro.ae, where you can discover more about the sport and, if you’re feeling bold, book yourself some lessons.
Catch a barracuda
Or a king fish, or a queen fish, a cobia, or any other number of deep-sea dwellers, on a guided, off-shore fishing trip. An escorted day on the water costs around Dhs750 (depending on the boat), and all equipment and a few refreshments are thrown in. Of course, a fishing trip with no fish is a fairly miserable day out, which is why it’s just as well that Hiltonia’s boats are fitted with GPS devices to help track the scaly blighters down. And if they still don’t feel like playing ball, there’s still a fairly good chance you’ll run into some dolphins. Not for catching, obviously, just for looking at and taking pictures.
Hiltonia Beach Club (02 681 1900)
Try stand-up paddle boarding
says page editor rebecca morice
‘It’s a weird one, this. Some say it’s a bit like surfing, only with an oar in your hands, while others liken it to canoeing, except that you’re standing up. Considering how gentle the waters are here in Abu Dhabi, I’d side with the latter – but don’t let that fool you into thinking stand-up paddle boarding is a breeze. The capital’s waters can still get pretty choppy when the wind gets up, and with your centre of gravity so high, expect to be taking a few trips into the drink during your first hour or so. But once you’ve got the hang of constantly correcting your balance (which is a killer on those core muscles, by the way), the feeling of bobbing along through the sea is surprisingly thrilling, especially once you pull a U-turn and ride the waves back to the shore. Of course, the real fun comes when you’ve got a pal to race with – as long as you’ve got greater willpower than me and can resist nudging them into the water with your oar.’
Abu Dhabi Stand Up Paddle Club provides 45-minute lessons for Dhs200. www.abudhabisup.com (050 905 9743)
Get a bird’s eye view
One for those whose former attempts at watersports have resulted in more time spent in the water than gliding gracefully on top of it, parasailing is extremely difficult to get wrong. In fact, as long as you can manage to stay harnessed into a big parachute while a boat drags you (and a friend, if you can find one brave enough) through the air at a terrifying speed, you’re pretty much a pro already. The public beach on the Corniche is the best place to give it a try, giving you an awesome vantage point over Abu Dhabi’s downtown and Emirates Palace.
A flight with Empros (kiosk at gate 2, family beach) will cost you Dhs175. Empros (050 781 2312)
Explore the sea bed
If you’re not content skimming gracefully along the water, why not strap on some gear and plunder its murky depths? Scuba diving may sound like an intimidating activity for a newcomer to experiment with, but, providing you’re not a complete idiot, you should be able to pick up the basics within an hour or two. There are a couple of options for those keen to get involved – Abu Dhabi Sub Aqua Club runs courses for those of all abilities, although you’ll need to be a fully paid-up member of The Club (www.the-club.com) to use their facilities. Elsewhere, beginners can take an extensive introductory course with the Ocean Dive Centre, based at the Beach Rotana hotel. For Dhs700, you’ll get a classroom session, a go in their training pool (to help get you accustomed to all that equipment) followed by two open water dives. Sure, it’s a fairly pricey way to spend an afternoon, but bear in mind that any sunken treasure that you discover while sploshing about is yours to keep.
For information on all courses/dives offered, contact Ocean Dive Centre on 02 644 1696, email info@oceandivecenter.ae or visit www.oceandivecenter.ae.
After dark
No sun? No problem – here are four options for after-hours seaside fun
Fine dining on the sands
Spread across a stretch of unspoilt beach at the back of Emirates Palace, BBQ Al Qasr could well be the most romantic restaurant in the city. Tables are set up on a series of wooden cabanas, with the mood set by candles, a live Spanish guitarist and the sound of gently sploshing waves. It’s not cheap, but alfresco dining doesn’t come any better.
Emirates Palace (02 690 9000)
Late-night partying on a whole new island
Situated a short boat hop away from the mainland, Maya Island has long been the de facto venue for the city’s serious party people, with their weekly beach parties drawing huge crowds. As the sun sets, DJs crank up the volume (with no neighbours to annoy, things tend to get pretty raucous), while revellers take to the sands or the pool’s swim-up bar to let off some steam. Dhs100 including transportation from Al Maya jetty (behind Khalidiya Rotana).
Every Friday. Al Maya Island & Resort (050 792 1905)
Shisha by the sea
There’s something uniquely tranquil about enjoying a good, flavourful smoke while staring out at the watery horizon; able to make a person feel intensely reflective, even if you’ve just spent the day playing Xbox and doing laundry. Yet to try it? Beachcomber, the Sheraton’s waterside bar, offers a selection of different flavoured tobaccos to try out, and the blended drinks aren’t half bad, either.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi (02 677 3333)
A cruise with a view
Sure, the city’s skyline looks awesome by day, but get out on the water during a full moon (the next is scheduled for October 12) and you’ll discover a new level of appreciation for the capital’s twinkly urban vista. Abu Dhabi Dhow Cruise hits the waters practically every night, with a dinner buffet and soft drinks thrown in. Dhs255. per person.
www.abudhabi dhowcruise.com
21st Century beach accessories
Intent on soaking up the rays? Fair enough, just make sure you’ve got these high-tech bits of sun-worshiping kit with you
Amazon Kindle
While tablet computers are nigh-on impossible to use in bright light, the e-ink technology inside e-readers (of which this is the market leader) means using one is just like looking at a piece of paper. As well as storing hundreds of novels, the 3G-enabled devices allow you to access and download new reads in an instant, with no nasty contracts to sign.
Dhs880. Sharaf DG (800 344 357)
iPhone cooling case
With temperatures still in the mid-to-high 30s, your box of musical tricks isn’t going to last long in direct sunlight. Though Apple haven’t yet got round to putting out an official version, you’ll find several types of third party cooling jackets for next to nothing on sites such as eBay and Souq.com. Simply grab it from the freezer before you hit the beach, slip it on and be safe in the knowledge that your pride and joy is protected.
Solio solar charger
Thought only calculators could survive on solar power? Not so. This natty little flip out gizmo comes with a range of adapters that’ll feed power into virtually any brand of phone, MP3 player, games console or electric razor out there (okay, maybe not that last one). Simply whip it out, point it at the sun for a bit, then plug it in.
Dhs330. www.amazon.com
Mobile hammock
Still lying about on a sunlounger like a chump? Put things right with this self-contained solution to your relaxation woes. There are no bolts, screws or other fiddly nonsense to worry about – just fold it out, grab a drink with a big umbrella in it and soak up those envious looks from hammockless passersby.
Dhs440. www.thinkGeek.com
