6 of 7 places fit
Rent a surfboard for AED 75 on a quiet UAQ beach when a winter shamal sends small waves in.
Hourly board rental right on Sunset Beach plus a beginner group session, cheaper than a private lesson.
A small, clean beach break on the Dubai-Sharjah border that works for beginners on swell days and is calm for paddling otherwise.
The UAE's original surf school, a short walk from Sunset Beach, with a kids' learn-to-surf programme and board rental when a swell shows up.
Dubai's main beginner surf beach, with gentle breaks beside the Burj Al Arab when a winter swell comes through.
The pool can throw waves up to 3.3 metres, and a group white-water lesson costs a fraction of the capital's.