The Emirates is not a mecca for kitesurfing. However, there’s the sea, beaches, and occasional winds, so there are many riders. During the winter months, the wind blows for a couple of consecutive days once every 2–3 weeks. From July to October, there’s nothing to catch at all. Autumn and spring are hit or miss, but you can ride pretty often if you have a large kite. In winter, you can ride with a 9-meter kite, but on average, 12, 15, and 17-meter kites are more common for twin tips—or foil boards. The wind is predominantly northwesterly, usually onshore or cross-onshore at the spots. If the wind is offshore (I’ve never ridden in such conditions), it’s said to be very gusty. Moreover, in such cases, the air is filled with dust blown from the desert.
Within Dubai, there are spots like Kite Beach and NessNass Beach. A bit farther away is Jebel Ali Beach. Near Abu Dhabi, there’s a spot on Yas Island. You can find Al Quwain Beach opposite Dubai. Less popular but more interesting in terms of wind are spots closer to Qatar, such as Ruwais, because that area falls within the “wind window” of the Persian Gulf. When there’s no wind in Dubai, there’s usually wind in Ruwais. However, it’s 350 km from Dubai. Most beaches are sandy, so you don’t need shoes. On Yas, there may be shells, rocks, and the like. You might not hurt your feet walking barefoot, but you should be cautious with your gear. There are no kite stations. Recently, the authorities officially opened a kite beach on Yas and claimed that there were even “green mats” on the beach. I haven’t been there yet to see these updates for myself.
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