If you’re looking for another reason to plan a beach day in the capital, we’ve found it
The UAE is claiming another top spot. Saadiyat Beach has officially been named one of the 50 best beaches in the world, earning a spot on The World’s Best Beaches 2026 list and putting Abu Dhabi’s coastline alongside some of the planet’s most iconic stretches of sand.
The stunning beach, located on Saadiyat Island, ranked 19th globally on this year’s list, which was compiled using votes from more than 1,000 travel professionals. Even more impressively, it was the only beach in the Middle East to secure a place in the top 50.
Stretching for eight kilometres along the coast, Saadiyat Beach is famed for its powder-soft white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. According to the judges, the beach offers visitors “an escape from the vibrant, bustling city” while delivering an experience that rivals some of the Caribbean and Maldives’ most celebrated shorelines.
And while its picture-perfect scenery is enough to earn a place on any travel bucket list, Saadiyat Beach’s appeal goes far beyond its good looks.
The protected coastline plays an important role in the UAE’s natural ecosystem and is managed under the guidance of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. It’s one of the country’s most important nesting sites for critically endangered hawksbill turtles, which return to the beach’s shores each year.
Just offshore, the waters form part of the Saadiyat Marine National Park, home to a diverse range of marine life. Keep your eyes on the horizon and you might even spot bottlenose dolphins surfacing and playing in the waves.
Whether you’re planning a staycation, a weekend escape or simply looking for somewhere to soak up the sunshine, it seems the experts agree: one of the world’s very best beaches is right on our doorstep.
Find the list here:
- Entalula Beach, Philippines
- Fteri Beach, Greece
- Wharton Beach, Australia
- Nosy Iranja, Madagascar
- East Beach (Vomo Island), Fiji
- Shoal Bay East, Anguilla
- Dhigurah, Maldives
- Playa Balandra, Mexico
- Koh Rong, Cambodia
- Donald Duck Bay, Thailand
- Cayo de Agua, Venezuela
- Cala Macarella, Spain
- One Foot Island, Cook Islands
- Princess Diana Beach, Barbuda
- Turquoise Bay, Australia
- PK 9 Beach, French Polynesia
- Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
- Cala dei Gabbiani, Italy
- Saadiyat Beach, UAE
- Canto de la Playa, Dominican Republic
- Wineglass Bay, Australia
- Pink Beach, Indonesia
- Paradise Beach, Thailand
- Anse Source d’Argent, Seychelles
- Kalanggaman, Philippines
- Seven Mile Beach, Cayman Islands
- Freedom Beach, Thailand
- Siesta Beach, USA
- Kaputaş Beach, Türkiye
- Cayo Zapatilla, Panama
- The Baths, British Virgin Islands
- Cabo San Juan del Guía, Colombia
- Baía do Sancho, Brazil
- Porto Katsiki, Greece
- Santa Giulia, France
- Blue Lagoon, Fiji
- Playa Xpu-Ha, Mexico
- Ofu Beach, American Samoa
- Playa Cofete, Spain
- Le Morne Beach, Mauritius
- Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico
- Grand Anse, Grenada
- Praia da Falésia, Portugal
- Pontal do Atalaia, Brazil
- Boulder Beach, South Africa
- Porto Timoni, Greece
- Paje Beach, Zanzibar
- La Pelosa, Italy
- Cas Abao, Curaçao
- Keem Beach, Ireland
Also read: Inside Abu Dhabi’s most polished all-inclusive staycation
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