Is Saadiyat Public Beach free?

No. Since June 2022 the former Saadiyat Public Beach has been Kai Beach, with a paid day ticket.

How much is the entry fee at Kai Beach?

An adult pays AED 150 (≈ $41) on weekdays and AED 225 (≈ $61) on weekends and public holidays. Children 6–12 pay less, children aged 5 and under get in free, and there is a family ticket.

What is included in the Kai Beach ticket?

A lounger and umbrella, plus part of the price as credit for food and drinks on the beach. Towels cost extra.

Can you see turtles at Kai Beach?

Sometimes. Hawksbill turtles nest here from March to July, mostly in April and May. They come ashore mainly after dark, so by day you are more likely to see the marked nests.

Is there a women-only day at Kai Beach?

Yes. Friday is usually Miss Kai Day, when the beach is for women only. Boys up to 18 months may come with their mothers.

Can I bring a dog to Kai Beach?

No, pets are not allowed on the beach.

Kai Beach, Saadiyat's public beach

Public beach

Wooden boardwalk through the dunes to the beach, Kai Beach

Aerial view of turquoise water and white sand along the Saadiyat shore

Grass-covered dunes and beach umbrellas, Saadiyat

Wide strip of sand and shallow water on a calm morning, Saadiyat

Sunset over the Gulf from a beach in Abu Dhabi

1 / 6

Entry from AED 150 (≈ $41)beach entry
Turtleson the beach
10 minto the Louvre
20 minfrom the city

In short

Kai Beach on Saadiyat is the beach that used to be Saadiyat Public Beach in Abu Dhabi. It was free until June 2022; since then it has charged a day-entry fee under its new name, run by the operator of Saadiyat Beach Club. If you remember a free public beach on Saadiyat, this is the same place.

The beach is 500 meters long, with white sand, low dunes crossed by wooden boardwalks, and macramé umbrellas over the loungers. The water is warm and shallow near the shore. Dolphins are sometimes seen from the beach, and from March to July hawksbill turtles come ashore to nest. The beach opens at 07:00 and closes at sunset.

Entry & prices

Entry from AED 150 (≈ $41) · children under 6 free

Entry is charged per person per day, and part of the fee comes back as credit for food and drinks on the beach. A lounger and umbrella are included.

Weekdays (Monday to Friday)

Adult: AED 150 (≈ $41), including AED 50 (≈ $14) food and drink credit
Child 6–12: AED 75 (≈ $20), including AED 25 (≈ $7) credit
Family (2 adults + 2 children under 12): AED 375 (≈ $102)
Cabana (2 passes, a bottle of sparkling and a fruit platter): AED 425 (≈ $116)

Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays

Adult: AED 225 (≈ $61), including AED 100 (≈ $27) credit
Child 6–12: AED 100 (≈ $27), including AED 25 (≈ $7) credit
Family: AED 500 (≈ $136)
Cabana: AED 525 (≈ $143)

Children aged 5 and under get in free. Towels are not included and cost AED 50 (≈ $14). Friday is usually Miss Kai Day, when the whole beach is for women only; boys up to 18 months can come with their mothers.

as of October 2026

Facilities

Loungers and macramé umbrellas, included in the ticket
Showers, changing rooms and toilets
A café and drinks on the beach, plus a food truck
Parking at the entrance
Towels in the ticket (rental only)
Pets
A pool (for that, see Saadiyat Beach Club)

Nature

Kai Beach is one of the places in Abu Dhabi where hawksbill turtles nest, the only sea turtle species that nests in the UAE.
The season runs from March to July, with most nests in April and May.
The turtles come ashore mostly after dark, and the nests are marked and signposted so that beachgoers keep clear of them.
Hatchlings emerge 50 to 70 days after the eggs are laid.
Behind the beach, native plants grow on the dunes along the boardwalks, and dolphins are occasionally seen close to shore.

Getting there

By taxi
15–20 min from downtown Abu Dhabi. The entrance is right by the car park on the Saadiyat waterfront.
By car
Park at the beach entrance.
From the Louvre Abu Dhabi
About 10 min by car.
By public transport
There is no bus straight to the beach; a taxi is the practical option.