Al Mirfa / Al Ruwais has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Light days run on an afternoon thermal. Shamal and frontal wind keep their own schedule, so read the forecast rather than the clock.
The wind
locals call it Shamal
Direction
Kite sizes
Character
mixed
fills in: Light days run on an afternoon thermal. Shamal and frontal wind keep their own schedule, so read the forecast rather than the clock.
Typical strength
Mostly light thermal wind, usually up to about 20 kt, with stronger Shamal days. Ruwais reportedly gets wind more often than the beaches either side of it.
The quiver, in words
Big kites and light-wind boards are the standard UAE answer; the quiver riders actually carry out here is unconfirmed.
Dominant direction
N to NW, with W and SW also listed for Al Mirfa.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month42
- Feb, riders' month58
- Mar, riders' month40
- Apr, riders' month40
- May55
- Jun48
- Jul47
- Aug40
- Sep, riders' month37
- Oct, riders' month31
- Nov, riders' month28
- Dec, riders' month18
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 42%Jan22°
- 58%Feb22°
- 40%Mar23°
- 40%Apr25°
- 55%May29°
- 48%Jun33°
- 47%Jul34°
- 40%Aug35°
- 37%Sep35°
- 31%Oct33°
- 28%Nov29°
- 18%Dec25°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42% | 58% | 55% | 11.9 kt | NW | 16:00 | 20.6°C | 22.3°C | 62 |
| Feb | 58% | 84% | 68% | 13.8 kt | NW | 14:00 | 21.1°C | 21.5°C | 57 |
| Mar | 40% | 79% | 69% | 13.4 kt | NW | 15:00 | 24.1°C | 23.2°C | 62 |
| Apr | 40% | 68% | 57% | 13 kt | NW | 15:00 | 26.9°C | 25.3°C | 60 |
| May | 55% | 81% | 76% | 14 kt | NW | 15:00 | 31.1°C | 29.2°C | 62 |
| Jun | 48% | 82% | 75% | 13.7 kt | NW | 15:00 | 34.2°C | 32.7°C | 60 |
| Jul | 47% | 85% | 69% | 13.2 kt | NW | 15:00 | 35.5°C | 34.4°C | 62 |
| Aug | 40% | 92% | 73% | 13.1 kt | NW | 16:00 | 36°C | 34.9°C | 62 |
| Sep | 37% | 68% | 57% | 12.1 kt | NNW | 16:00 | 34.1°C | 34.5°C | 60 |
| Oct | 31% | 68% | 52% | 12.2 kt | N | 16:00 | 31.2°C | 32.6°C | 62 |
| Nov | 28% | 48% | 38% | 11 kt | NW | 16:00 | 27.3°C | 29°C | 60 |
| Dec | 18% | 39% | 26% | 10.7 kt | NW | 15:00 | 22.7°C | 24.8°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
flat to chop; lagoon-like shallows and open Gulf water
Standing depth
Shallow at Al Ruwais, lagoon-like at Al Mirfa. Where you can actually stand is unconfirmed.
Tides
High tide recommended for Al Ruwais; Al Mirfa sources warn tide variations
Temperature
34°C summer · 21°C winter
Wetsuit
usually boardshorts or swimsuit; a thin top may be useful for some riders in winter
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
No school names this spot
Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.
On your own
Room to launch: Spacious and quiet next to the city beaches, though how much rigging room you get depends on the beach and the tide.
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
Two anchors: Al Ruwais and Shipwreck Beach near Al Dhannah, and the Al Mirfa and Al Mughirah beaches used for watersport events. Al Dhannah Beach Club is developed. Shipwreck Beach is wild sand about 12 km from Al Dhannah.
Space
Spacious and quiet next to the city beaches, though how much rigging room you get depends on the beach and the tide.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Check the tide before you commit to the drive; Al Ruwais wants high water.
- Pack the light-wind quiver, plus one smaller kite in case a Shamal lands.
- Assume no rescue, no rental and no instructor on any of these beaches.
- Confirm access at Al Mughirah, at Shipwreck Beach and along the mangrove edges before you pump up.
Getting there
Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
Route
Car, or nothing. Al Mirfa is about 90 minutes west of Abu Dhabi on the E11; Al Dhannah and Ruwais sit about 220 km and two hours from Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Transfer
120 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Al Mirfa has Al Mirfa Hotel and Bab Al Nojoom Al Mugheirah nearby; Al Dhannah/Ruwais has Danat Jebel Dhanna Resort and local beach-club/community facilities.
No-wind days
The Al Dhafra Water Festival when it is on, the Al Mugheirah mangrove boardwalk, the Al Mirfa beach and corniche, fishing and the seafood market where it is allowed, Al Dhannah Beach Club, the Sir Bani Yas crossing from Jebel Dhanna, and the Liwa desert further inland.
FAQ
Is this area suitable for beginners?
Sources list it as beginner-friendly, but the remote setting, tide exposure and uncertain rescue mean beginners should ride with local guidance rather than alone.
What is the wind like?
Shamal wind from the N to NW brings mostly light thermal conditions up to about 20 knots, with Al Ruwais considered a higher-probability windy option.
When is the best time to kite?
November through April is the most reliable window, though local sources also highlight spring and autumn as better than the hot summer months.
What hazards should riders know about?
Hazards include a very remote setting with long drives, extreme heat, tide-dependent shallows, shells, and nearby protected mangrove and nature-reserve areas.
Last updated: August 2026