Life's A Beach | UAE | anexpatabroad

“Smell the sea, and feel the sky let your soul and spirit fly.” Van Morrison

I honestly can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than spread out on a curtained cabana on a stretch of white sandy beach with friendly waiters taking care of your every need. The teenager was my plus one as we tried out everything Yas Beach had to offer last weekend, pinching ourselves that we were just ten minutes from our house in this little piece of paradise.

Yas Beach originally opened a few years ago in the capital, in 2013 to be precise, an expanse of private beach located just after the cluster of hotels on Yas Island (free admission for Yas Island hotel guests). It’s open to the public daily for a very reasonable AED 50 admission fee (for a day pass) that includes a towel, use of the infinity pool and kids splash pool, beach and a sunbed. At the end of last year, Yas Beach launched its new look an expansion that accelerated the venue to the top of the capital’s beach scene with its LIVtheday and LIVthenight concepts.

The large sweeping beach overlooks the capital’s mangroves offering guests the choice of relaxing on one of the many sunbeds, hiring one of the thirty-three cabanas or one of the five private chalets. A beach lounge area features an open air DJ booth, complete with a large open sided bar and cabana lined infinity pool. A huge tropical themed Tiki Bar and adjacent restaurant offers an international menu of food and mixology.

For those guests looking for a more casual dining option there are takeaway food kiosks offering pizza from the traditional Italian wood fired oven, grills, Arabic cuisine, fresh juices or waiter service serving beach snacks and drinks straight to your sunbed. On Friday’s guests are invited to enjoy the ELEVEN pool and beach party from 11am – 11pm (21 & over by the pool) or relax at the more chilled out Saturday beachside brunch from 11am – 1pm.

The teenager and I were thoroughly spoilt with buckets filled with chilled water, fresh smoothies and juices, coffees, a delicious lunch, fresh fruit platter and ice cold towels delivered to our private cabana, not a bad place for her to revise for her A levels! As it’s a licenced venue, a range of premium beverages are also available from the beach bar.

Those sporty types or restless sunbathers among us can indulge in some non-motorized watersports offered at an additional charge by activities group, Noukhada. Sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, SUP (stand-up paddle boarding) and more. There’s an outdoor gym and Beach volleyball is also an option, in fact the facilities are so good that National championships are held there bi-annually. As well as being a party spot for adults, families are very welcome and younger members can take full advantage of the splash pool and various kid-friendly related activities throughout the year (check here for details).

Yas Beach is offering something new to the capital’s beach scene, a private licensed beach club, a chilled daytime venue that transforms into a vibrant nightspot once the sun goes down. With a schedule of resident and guest big name DJ’s offering all different genres of music from chilled lounge music to techno, Yas Beach is seeking to attract the party crowd who like to keep their weekends playful at Blue Marlin down the road at Ghantoot which pays homage to Ibiza’s renowned party scene.

Yas Beach is just the ideal spot to relax and soak up the sun with friends and family all week long or play and party with like minded folk around the pool at weekends. Whether you are looking to swim or do some watersports, brunch or grab a light bite, relax on your sunlounger with a good book, build sandcastles with your children or dance poolside with your friends, Yas Beach offers it all right on our doorstep. With the temperature gauge rising daily I recommend you schedule a visit sooner rather than later because we all know it’s getting hot out there.

YAS BEACH

Location: Yas Island

Opening times: Beach – Weekdays: 10:00 am – 7:00pm, Weekends: 10:00am-10:00pm

Telephone: 056 242 0435

Website: www.yasbeach.ae

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Entry fees: Weekdays – AED 50* for full day pass and Weekends – AED 100* for full day pass (*includes sunbed, shade and towel, children 8 and under are free). Click here for Cabana and Chalet booking info. Monthly and annual memberships are also available – click here for details. 30% discount all week for Etihad staff.

Yas Beach offers free entry to all Yas Island hotels guests.

Yas Beach restaurant – 10:00am – last order at 11:00pm and Tiki Bar and VIP bar lounge – 10:00am-1:00am Guests can enjoy the infinity pool until sunset. Monthly and annual memberships are also available – click here for details.