A guide to surfing in the Arabian Gulf
Are you planning a trip to Dubai? Are you on a stopover? Or are you looking to become an expat and make this paradise your home?
....but you also like to surf.
Well, you have come to the right spot! Let us give you the down-low on surfing in the Arabian Gulf.
Yes, you read that correct - surfing in the desert. You will be surprised.
HISTORY
Let's start from the beginning. The Dubai surf scene started back around the mid-90s, where a small group of go-getters had the pick of the crop with a number of different options up and down the coast.
But as time passed, coastal construction increased causing a direct impact on the available surf options. Fortunately, water lovers still have some options today, when the conditions are right.
The beauty of Dubai is the mix of cultures, where you can find people from all around the world and surfing abilities. In fact, there are still some Rusty surfboards ambassadors that call Dubai home, check them out on our team riders page.
THE DETAILS
Dubai weather
- Winter: Nov – Feb
- Spring: Mar – Apr
- Summer: May – Aug
- Autumn: Sep – Oct
Average air temperature*
Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Min (°C) |
15 |
17 |
19 |
22 |
26 |
29 |
31 |
31 |
29 |
25 |
21 |
17 |
Max (°C) |
24 |
26 |
29 |
34 |
39 |
40 |
41 |
42 |
39 |
36 |
31 |
26 |
Min (°F) |
59 |
63 |
66 |
72 |
79 |
84 |
88 |
88 |
84 |
77 |
70 |
63 |
Max (°F) |
75 |
79 |
84 |
93 |
102 |
104 |
106 |
108 |
102 |
97 |
88 |
79 |
*Ref https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/united-arab-emirates/dubai
Average water temperature*
Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Temp (°C) |
23 |
23 |
23 |
25 |
29 |
31 |
32 |
33 |
32 |
31 |
28 |
25 |
Temp (°F) |
73 |
73 |
73 |
77 |
84 |
88 |
90 |
91 |
90 |
88 |
82 |
77 |
*Ref: https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/united-arab-emirates/dubai
Surf Season
The Dubai surf season occurs generally between October to April, with December – February the most consistent months.
For the surf enthusiast, you want to keep an eye out for strong low-pressure systems that are created towards Kuwait and the strong Northerly (NW) winds from Bahrain and Qatar.
WHERE TO SURF
Jumeirah public beach is the place to be for easy access to a wave. Street parking is also free for the early birds (till 8 am), which is great for a pre-work session.
What type of board
Pick the right stick and you will not be disappointed.
At Rusty Surfboards, we recommend the following boards for your Dubai surfing experience:
Smoothie was primarily built for small surf, but it ended up being a very versatile board.
Beginner / Advanced surfer. Suited 1-3ft.
Heckler is a Fish with some new ideas. We've utilized a "fishy" outline with a shallow dovetail and pronounced wing to produce a lightning fast small wave wonder.
Beginner / Advanced surfer. Suited 1-3ft.
Suited for the intermediate/advanced surfer, Rusty refined the bottom with the addition of a shallow single concave that feeds into the vee.
Intermediate / Advanced surfer. Suited for 2-4ft.
You can pre-order a custom surfboard from our online surf shop and have it ready for when you arrive. Just start a WhatsApp chat.
Which wax
Follow your standard wax guide for the season, taking note of current water temperature to wax recommendation - our water is often warmer than you think.
Which fins
If you don't have a variety of fins to pick from, then your all-rounders will suit fine. Otherwise, your speed generators will be best for most conditions.
UV Rating
As expected, the hotter months have a higher UV index, reaching an approx index of 12. With December having a lower index of 5
Please remember to apply sunscreen and cover-up.
You can buy a Rusty surfboards hat on our online store - keep your head covered and looking good at the same time. Win-win.
No Surf? No worries?
SUP'ing and Wave surfing are also popular past-time in the United Arab Emirates.
Our online surf shop has you covered with a wide range of boards to keep you busy. We can also assist with your wake surfing experience through exclusive partnerships in the water sports industry. Start a Whatsapp chat so we can help.
Check out our blogs for more information.
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