How I spent a day at a Dubai beach club on a small budget

I stumbled into a luxury beach club I thought I couldn’t afford. What happened next turned into one of the most unforgettable days in Dubai

I was trying to find a parking spot near JBR when I made a wrong turn and ended up in front of a beach club that looked like it belonged in a movie. Sleek white cabanas, chill music, and a doorman who smiled like I had a reservation. I didn’t. I almost turned away, assuming it was one of those “members only” or “minimum spend 1000 dirhams” type of places.

But something about the place made me pause. I walked up and asked, half-laughing, “Is this only for guests?” The reply: “No sir, anyone is welcome. There’s a minimum spend of 150 dirhams fully redeemable on food and drinks.”

Wait. What? That’s the price of a mediocre brunch at the mall.

So I walked in.

Within minutes, I was lying on a sun lounger under a palm tree, sipping a cold drink, and watching the skyline curve into the sea. I wasn’t dressed like everyone else. No designer sunglasses or fancy swimwear. But no one cared.

I ordered a grilled chicken wrap and a passionfruit mocktail. It was actually good. Not overpriced, not watered-down. Just good.

People around me were working on laptops, couples were sunbathing, and a group of friends had brought a cake to celebrate a birthday. It wasn’t exclusive, it was alive.

I stayed for three hours. Swam, read a book, dried off under the sun. It was simple, and yet felt like a scene from a life I thought I couldn’t afford in Dubai.

Turns out, sometimes what looks out of reach isn’t actually that far. You just have to ask.