The Corniche
Five miles of waterfront with a public beach facing the towers.
Duration
1 hr 30 min – 4 hrs
Best time
After 5pm
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
The Corniche runs eight kilometres along the Gulf, with a separated cycle path, lawns and a Blue Flag public beach. Everything it stands on is reclaimed land: the original shoreline lay several hundred metres back.
The beach is divided into sections, including a family section and a mixed one, with different access charges. It is the one place in Abu Dhabi where the city lives outdoors, and it fills up in the late afternoon as the heat drops.
Getting there
Along the island's north-west waterfront. City buses and taxis serve its whole length; bikes are available from docking stations.
What to bring
- Walking shoes
- Swimsuit
Rules on site
Some beach sections charge for access and others are free: the gates are numbered and the prices posted. Modest dress is expected off the sand, including on the promenade.