La Mer
La Mer
A stretch of coast in Jumeirah 1. The southern part was demolished and reopened as J1 Beach — a strip of restaurants and beach clubs; the northern part of La Mer still operates in its older, simpler format.
Description
La Mer is a stretch of coast in Jumeirah developed by Merex Investment from 2017. The territory is not uniform: it is split into a northern and a southern part, and they took different paths. The southern part (La Mer South) was demolished for redevelopment and reopened as J1 Beach — an upscale dining strip with licensed restaurants and beach clubs, launched in stages from late 2024.
The northern part of La Mer survived and operates separately. Next to it, the public Jumeirah Beach 1 was rebuilt by Dubai Municipality and reopened in February 2026: about 1,400 m of shoreline, the public area expanded by roughly 50%, with new jogging and cycling tracks. So calling La Mer a free beach with its old infrastructure is no longer accurate — it depends which part you mean.
Tip: Older advice about a free beach with street food and street art describes the old southern part. Check which part you are heading to.
Photos
Photos: Unsplash
Planning your visit
Best time
Evening and sunset. In summer the open promenade is hard going during the day.
How much time to allow
2–4 hours for a walk and a meal.
On the map
Interactive satellite map — zoom and pan to explore the place and its surroundings.
Good to know
How to get there
Frequently asked questions about La Mer
Is La Mer open?+
Partly. The northern part of La Mer is open. The southern part was demolished and reopened as J1 Beach — a different format: licensed restaurants and beach clubs rather than an open beach quarter.
Are La Mer and J1 Beach the same thing?+
No. J1 Beach took the place of La Mer South. Treating the whole historic La Mer territory as identical to J1 Beach is wrong — they differ in area and in status.
Is there a free public beach here?+
The public Jumeirah Beach 1 next to it reopened after a Dubai Municipality rebuild in February 2026. The sand inside J1 Beach belongs to specific venues and follows their rules.
What's nearby
Nearby spots — easy to combine into one route.
Culture Jumeirah Mosque
One of the city's most beautiful mosques and the only one open to non-Muslims as part of guided tours.
Tip: Modest, covered clothing is required; a headscarf is provided to women on site.
Culture Etihad Museum
A modern museum about the founding of the UAE, next to Union House where the agreement creating the country was signed in 1971.
Tip: Take the audio guide or join a tour — the exhibition gains a great deal from context about the events of 1971.
Infrastructure City Walk
A modern open-air pedestrian quarter and mall in the Al Safa area, with boutiques, restaurants and European-style street frontages.
Tip: Come in the evening: the lit façades, the fountains and the restaurant terraces only come alive after sunset.
Similar places
Beaches Kite Beach
A popular free beach in Umm Suqeim with kitesurfing, sports, food trucks and a view of Burj Al Arab.
Tip: The best view of the sail-shaped hotel and an active, sporty atmosphere — come in the morning or around sunset.
Beaches Black Palace Beach (Al Sufouh Beach)
A quiet free beach between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, known as the 'secret' beach — a postcard view of Burj Al Arab without the crowds or facilities.
Tip: Bring water, food and an umbrella with you — there are no cafes, rentals or showers on the beach.
Beaches JBR / The Walk
The two-kilometre The Walk promenade and the city beach at Jumeirah Beach Residence next to Dubai Marina, with restaurants, shops and views of Bluewaters Island.
Tip: Combine a stroll along The Walk with The Beach at JBR — from there you get a clear view of Bluewaters Island and the Ain Dubai wheel.