Mangrove Beach UAQ: Entry Fee, Kayaking & Camping Guide
Mangrove Beach charges AED 40 per car on entry, and the fee is waived if you spend AED 60 or more at the Casa Mikoko café on site. The car fee gets you onto a mangrove lagoon in Khor Al Yeefrah, Umm Al Quwain, where visitors paddle, camp, barbecue and watch birds.
This guide covers what each activity costs, how long to allow and when the lagoon looks its best.
Mangrove Beach overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Khor Al Yeefrah, Umm Al Quwain |
| Access | Public, open 24 hours |
| Car entry | AED 40 per car (waived with an AED 60+ spend at Casa Mikoko) |
| Overnight camping | AED 100 per tent |
| Kayak rental | AED 75 per hour (single), AED 100 per hour (double) |
| Guided kayak tour | From AED 150 per adult, about AED 100 per child |
| Time to allow | 90 minutes to 2 hours for a walk or paddle |
| Drive from Dubai | Just under 1 hour |
| Drive from Abu Dhabi | About 2 hours |
| Phone | +971 50 844 0727 |
| Opened | December 2020 |
Where Mangrove Beach is
Mangrove Beach sits on Khor Al Yeefrah in the emirate of Umm Al Quwain, just under an hour’s drive north of Dubai and about two hours from Abu Dhabi.
It opened to visitors in December 2020 as the emirate’s first mangrove beach. It was also the second mangrove area open to the public in the UAE, after Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi.
Plan on arriving by car and set your maps destination to Mangrove Beach or Casa Mikoko. Entry is charged per vehicle, so the cost drops with every passenger you bring.
Entry fee & the café waiver
Entry costs AED 40 per car, and the charge is waived once you spend AED 60 or more at Casa Mikoko, the café on site.
That sets up a simple choice. If your group plans to eat or drink on site anyway, order at the café and the gate fee costs nothing. If you bring your own food, budget the AED 40, which works out to AED 10 each in a car of four.
Camping is charged separately at AED 100 per tent. The beach is open 24 hours, so a sunrise arrival and a stay past sunset both work.
Kayaking prices & options
Kayaks rent for AED 75 per hour (single) or AED 100 per hour (double), and guided tours start from AED 150 per adult.
| Option | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Single kayak | AED 75 per hour | Solo paddlers |
| Double kayak | AED 100 per hour | Two people sharing |
| Guided tour | From AED 150 per adult, about AED 100 per child | First-timers who want a guide |
Hourly rentals
Two adults pay AED 100 per hour in a double kayak against AED 150 in two singles, so sharing saves AED 50 an hour. A single makes sense when you want to paddle at your own pace or split off from the group.
Guided tours
Guided mangrove tours start from AED 150 per adult and around AED 100 per child. Casa Mikoko runs its own mangrove kayak tour with a guide leading the paddle.
Two adults on a guided tour pay AED 300 or more, three times the hourly double rate. That is worth it when you want someone to lead you through the channels instead of timing your own loop. For rentals and other activities on the day, the beach’s contact number is +971 50 844 0727.
Camping, barbecue & caravans
Camping costs AED 100 per tent, and the beach keeps separate designated areas for camping, barbecues and caravan parking.
- Camping: overnight stays at AED 100 per tent.
- Barbecue: grills belong in the designated barbecue areas only, and rubbish goes home with you.
- Caravans: a dedicated parking area for caravan setups.
- Food: a restaurant and café by the beach, including Casa Mikoko.
Camping suits a late arrival after work as well as a full weekend, since the beach is open 24 hours.
Wildlife & the lagoon
Birds are the main draw after the water itself, and early morning gives the best chance of seeing them.
- Herons and egrets
- Kingfishers
- Cormorants
- Flamingos
- Fish and crabs in the water
Khor Al Yeefrah is the breeding ground for the largest Socotra cormorant colony in the Gulf region. The mangrove restoration project here planted 14,000 saplings in 2023 and 24,000 in 2024, covering 6.5 hectares.
Those young stands are why it pays to stay on the sand and the water’s edge instead of walking into the planted mangroves.
Best time to visit
Early morning is the best window, before the heat builds and while the birds are most active. Summer temperatures in the region push toward 45°C, so a 6:00 AM start is far more comfortable than a midday one.
Late afternoon is the second-best slot. The breeze cools, families gather along the water, and boats offering mangrove tours are out in the golden light.
Budget 90 minutes to two hours for a walk or a paddle. A longer day makes sense only if you are camping or barbecuing.
FAQ
How much does Mangrove Beach cost?
Entry is AED 40 per car, waived if you spend AED 60 or more at Casa Mikoko. Camping adds AED 100 per tent, and kayaks cost AED 75 per hour (single) or AED 100 per hour (double).
What are the opening hours of Mangrove Beach?
Mangrove Beach is open 24 hours, every day.
How far is Mangrove Beach from Dubai?
It is just under an hour’s drive north of Dubai. From Abu Dhabi the drive takes about two hours.
Can you kayak at Mangrove Beach?
Yes. Single kayaks rent for AED 75 per hour and double kayaks for AED 100 per hour, and guided mangrove tours start from AED 150 per adult.
Is camping allowed at Mangrove Beach?
Yes. Camping costs AED 100 per tent in the designated camping area, and caravan parking has its own area.
Next steps
- Choose your arrival time: sunrise for cooler air and active birds, or late afternoon for golden light.
- Decide on food: order AED 60 or more at Casa Mikoko to waive the AED 40 car fee, or budget the fee if you bring your own.
- Pick your kayak: a double at AED 100 per hour for two people, or a guided tour from AED 150 per adult for a first paddle.
- Bring a tent if you are staying overnight, at AED 100 per tent.
